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Without this article veering head-on into a catastrophic car-crash-debate about controversial topics surrounding gender-defining terminology, and who believes what (and before I get accused of being narrowminded with my rather traditional views on the matter!), let me say that, on this occasion, women can actually wear men’s watches without making a gender claim.

It has nothing to do with social acceptance, or discrimination, or a need to have the option made available to us purely out of principle. I’m a girl and I like to wear men’s watches. It’s that simple. I own a Mr Jones Golden Hour (yes, the one with the bee).

It’s a behemoth of a timepiece – 45mm in diameter, to be precise. It’s not intended as a lady’s watch as such, nor is it a men’s watch. I wear it because it makes me smile and I’m a sucker for boyfriend jeans, boyfriend shirts, and the beloved boyfriend watch.

For far too long, there has been an unspoken narrative that women’s watches need to be dainty, delicate, diamond-festooned things. And while there is nothing wrong with the latter, these characteristics don’t define a woman’s watch (now I’m sounding woke!).

The Appeal of the Large Watch Face

If you’re a female and you’re becoming increasingly drawn towards watches with larger diameters, you’re not alone. Maybe you want to rebel against the “dainty” constraints you once believed you had to adhere to. Perhaps a larger watch with a bigger presence aligns with your new role at work.

Or perhaps you love gender-neutral styles, or prefer the masculine undertones that a broader diameter naturally brings to the wrist.

As I mentioned earlier, there are numerous advantages to a larger watch face. For starters, watches with larger faces are easier to read the time from.

This enhanced legibility often accompanies additional features and high-end complications. A larger case means a larger crown and push-pieces and, generally speaking, a watch that is easier to manipulate.

All that aside, larger watches create great visual balance and double up as a status symbol, reflecting one’s success and sometimes marking a significant milestone in life.

If you’ve come to this guide for some inspiration, I’ll cut to the chase. Here are some of the best large watch faces for women currently dominating the market.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403

There are no prizes for guessing why this Oris watch automatically passes the “feminine” test. Its sumptuous terracotta dial verges on pink territory, adding a zingy splash of color to the wrist.

Fundamentally, the Oris Big Crown Pointer watch is a pilot’s watch. Many models from the collection feature crisp Arabic numerals around the hour track and Oris’s stylish jet turbine-inspired fluted bezel, adding an extra touch of aviation detail.

Yet, the recent batch of Big Crown Pointer Date watches released by Oris post 2021 look different. They feature polished bezels, straight pencil-style hands (that replace the traditional-looking syringe hands that the series was once synonymous with), and convey an overall aesthetic that is more aligned with the everyday dress watch.

If you’re a lady looking for a timepiece to wear with smart attire, but one that gently carries some subtle touches of nostalgia, this 40mm Oris Big Crown Pointer Date, with its in-house Calibre 403, packs a whole load of “big watch” character into its design, and secures to the wrist with a practical H-link bracelet for a snug fit.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca

Yes, this is a large watch for a female wrist (40mm), and it does feature a unique Verzasca Green dial, which is sure to turn some heads. However, the real star of the show is the Tonda PF’s Split GMT complication, which Parmigiani Fleurier utilizes to display two time zones simultaneously.

Two superimposed hands sit against this textured teal-like dial in different metallic finishes. One is rhodium-plated in gold and displays the local time, while the other is rose gold and displays home time.

But how does it work, you ask? Well, if you look over to the 8 o’clock location on the case, you’ll see a pusher that moves both the local and home time forward in one-hour increments.

The rose gold hand, however, remains in position until you activate it with the 3 o’clock pusher, where it will spring back or “fly back” to the home time hand when you need it to.

The clever complication allows you to align the hands when you don’t need to track a second time zone. All in all, it’s a GMT watch, but only when you want it to be. Now, let’s discuss the captivating Grain d’orge dial guilloche dial pattern….

Full of depth, the textured dial adds a rich and creamy layer to an already well-layered cake. A mesmerising display of light comes into play at certain angles, allowing this large dial to reinvent itself depending on where and how you wear the watch.

This large women’s watch features a brushed and polished steel bracelet and is powered by the Caliber PF051, which provides a 48-hour power reserve once fully wound.

H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept                    

If you’re a fan of a concept watch, the Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Pop is worth some consideration. It goes without saying that the brand’s choice of colour will appeal to both genders with an attractive green and pink palette spanning a diameter of 40mm.

The Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Pop is one of those watches that’s going to garner lots of attention wherever you wear it, purely for the fact that it looks like nothing else on the market.

The simplicity of its minimalist dial, in shades of “Burmese jade and pink opal,” achieves both futuristic and retro vibes simultaneously, with just the central hour and minute hands pulling the time together.

The flying tourbillon, exposed through the dial’s surface, also showcases some of Moser & Cie’s finest work and will appeal to female horophiles who have a genuine appreciation for top-tier engineering.  

MeisterSinger Kaenos Sunburst Ice Blue

The Meistersinger KS914 Kaenos Sunburst Ice Blue watch features a sandwich dial, comprising an upper layer with cut-out Arabic numerals and hour markers, revealing a bottom luminous layer that pierces through the upper surface to display the time at night.

The German watchmaker is renowned for making watches that tell the time using a single hand. And although the concept sounds confusing, Meistersinger watches like this actually promote a more relaxed approach to timekeeping.

This watch wears larger than it suggests on paper, and if you ask me, it’s all due to the unconventional dial layout.

Elements are more spaced out across this dial, and with only one hand to tell the time, this 40mm steel model, featuring a captivating blue dial, takes Meistersinger watches in a whole new, elegant, and sporty direction. 

H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Concept Purple Enamel

Another Moser & Cie watch, this time the Endeavour Concept on a hypnotic purple dial. The watch is equipped with a purple central seconds hand that seamlessly blends into the texture of its enamel dial, leaving only the hour and minute hands to take center stage.

The watch unites the ancestral art of enamelling, which (if you know anything about coloured enamel dials) is no mean feat. The margins between a perfect dial and a complete fail are unforgivingly thin, and when watches cost this much to manufacture, there is no room for error.

With a 40mm stainless steel case and a matching purple leather strap to echo the intense colour of the dial, this is a large watch by women’s standards but one that leans more into technical depth than an ornamental style, with the automatic Calibre HMC 201 comprising a double hairspring for improved efficiency and accuracy.

Glashutte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phases

The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase is another watch that provides a fascinating insight into a finely crafted and finished movement.

This watch supports the notion that women don’t need fancy gemstones and decadent diamond decoration to appreciate a well-made wristwatch.

The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence watch features a large date window in the unusual location of 4 o’clock, dressed against a deep blue background to match the blued feuille hands and, of course, a beautifully decorated moon phase indicator at 11 o’clock.

I love the watch’s informal layout. Glashütte Original abides by no rules to make this watch work, yet it somehow does. The dial still feels balanced, despite being housed within a vast 40mm diameter.

The use of a copper-frosted dial hints at femininity in a very unofficial way. This watch features an innovative bayonet mount, which secures the movement into position, affixing it to the case as a means of shock resistance.

Additionally, the copper-frosted dial is inspired by the Ore Mountains, which were mined for their mineral resources. The Panorama date, of course, is no stranger to a Glashütte Original watch.

If you like a watch with traditional elements, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with more subtle nods to its maker’s heritage, and for a similar price, than the Senator Excellence. 

DOXA SUB 250T GMT Divingstar

Big into dive watches? You don’t have to exhaust the market looking for one small enough and discreet enough to pass as a “lady’s diver”. You have the entire range of men’s dive watches to explore.

The truth is, dive watches are meant to look big and chunky, so you can really go to town with an oversized watch here.

The DOXA Sub 250T GMT Divingstar pays homage to the brand’s legendary role in crafting professional watches for divers. The brand is associated with ocean conservation, having been the choice of watch for underwater adventurer Jacques Cousteau during the 1960s.

If you know anything about DOXA, you’ll be familiar with its signature orange diver dial. However, over recent years, DOXA has expanded its colour options and now features models in Caribbean, Aquamarine, White Pearl, and Sea Emerald, to name just a few examples.

This model, presented in a “Divingstar” yellow, is going to get you noticed. Its sporty, supple yellow rubber band is perfect for sports as well as swimming and water sports. What’s more, DOXA watches even come on a beads-of-rice stainless steel bracelet for those who prefer the look of the vintage dive watch.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatic Pink

Just to prove that feminine shades can also take the form of rugged and ready sports watches, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is dedicated to women.

It’s still a broad companion, measuring 38mm in diameter, but combines an athletic profile and large, chunky luminescent dial appliques with a touch of pink.

This stainless steel model is water resistant to 300 meters and features no diamonds. It’s ready for action. A sapphire unidirectional rotating bezel will allow you to track elapsed time underwater without any difficulty, while the white mother-of-pearl dial features pink indexes that have been treated with Super-LumiNova for exceptional legibility underwater.

Fitted with all the features needed in any dive watch, including the sapphire crystal glass, a screw-down crown, and a rugged three-link stainless steel bracelet, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch will take you from the beach to a mountain hike without you even needing to think about it.

The watch is powered by one of Blancpain’s in-house automatic movements – the Calibre 1153, which will keep accurate time for 100 hours without relying on the movement of your wrist.

Finally, although this watch looks as though ot weighs a substantial amount on the wrist, Blancpain experts have chosen a lightweight titanium case for this Fifty Fathoms design, making it even more ideal for runs, hikes, swims, and general day-to-day wear throughout the week.

Omega Aqua Terra 150M Turquoise

If there is one brand that masters the art of catering to both male and female audiences with its universally appealing designs, it’s Omega.

In particular, the brand’s Seamaster range is not only one of the world’s largest dive watch collections by any single brand, but it’s also a treasure trove of unisex designs that resonate with women who choose quality craftsmanship over everything else.

The Aqua Terra 150M watch, as its name suggests, is a 150-meter water-resistant model, but doesn’t necessarily feel like a bold tool watch. If you don’t like the generic bulky look of a dive watch, something like this Aqua Terra 150M could be just the ticket.

It features this stunning teal dial colour with the familiar shard-like hour markers and faceted hands delivering legibility in every environment. The dial boasts a black gradient effect around the edge and features a clear trapezoid date window at 6 o’clock.

This is certainly a large watch face for a female wrist, measuring 41 mm in diameter. Still, thanks to its symmetrical case and integrated metal bracelet, it wears surprisingly small on the wrist. One advantage of any Omega watch is its promise of reliability.

The brand commits to kitting its watches out with METAS-certified movements that feature the Co-Axial escapement, which Omega acquired the rights to in the 1990s. Since then, every Omega watch has been able to promise superior accuracy of the very highest kind.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Mint Green Ceramic

If oversized and unconventional is your thing, Hublot watches are worth checking out. These watches are inherently masculine, and women who seek them out are naturally drawn to timepieces that are more than just an accessory.

Hublot watches, such as the Big Bang Unico, evoke confidence and power, conveying a sense of contemporary luxury. This model is packaged in mint green ceramic, offering a unisex design that showcases the inner workings of the watch through the dial side.

A small seconds sub-dial is situated at 3 o’clock in the same mint green, while the smooth ceramic bezel features the signature H-shaped screws that all Big Bang watches are recognised for.

This sporty chronograph features Arabic numeral hour markers that glow with luminous material at night, as well as a mint green minute scale on the flange and luminous-treated central hands.

Under the hood is the in-house UNICO movement. It’s a flyback chronograph function, meaning that the stopwatch features of this watch are much easier to activate than in a standard chronograph.

While the 2 o’clock pusher begins a stopwatch timing in the traditional way, the 4 o’clock pusher can stop a timing, reset the hands back to base, and begin a new timing with one fell swoop.

The movement also features a column wheel mechanism, providing an overall smoother mechanical performance and a power reserve of 72 hours once fully wound.

Bremont Terra Nova 38 Turquoise

This would be no Exquisite Timepieces guide without mention of one of our proudest collaborative efforts to date. Henley-on-Thames watchmaker Bremont and we here at Exquisite Timepieces teamed up to create a Terra Nova watch a couple of months ago, resulting in this 38mm field watch with a striking turquoise dial.

Since the Terra Nova arrived, marking a significant overhaul of the Bremont catalogue as we knew it, its distinctive 904L steel barrel-shaped case and oversized crown have been whispered on the lips of hardcore female fans eager to expand their collection with an attractive proposition built for the slender proportions of their wrist.

The Bremont Terra Nova 38 Turquoise is our answer to the woman’s field watch. Its striking green-blue dial is a revitalising and refreshing colour to sport over the summer months.

It features Super-LumiNova-treated Arabic numerals and pencil-shaped hands, which enhance legibility and clarity. This is a no-date watch, powered by a beautifully engineered automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.

Though not exactly a lady’s size, the watch has the slim profile and tapered lugs needed to make it more wearable on the female wrist. Limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, it’s a unique collector’s item that truly distils the essence of the ruggedly elegant women’s field watch.

Flip the watch over, and you’ll find an engraved caseback depicting a map of the world. This decorative element perfectly captures the bold and adventurous spirit of Bremont and our proud, ongoing partnership with the British brand.

Nomos Glashütte Tangomat GMT

Don’t get me wrong, there are more aptly sized Nomos watches for women’s wrists. Take the 36mm Club Campus, for example, which comes in an array of crazy beautiful dial colours.

But we’re talking watches with large faces, and if there is one brand that masters the art of a vast, spacious dial, it’s Nomos with its broad range of Bauhaus-inspired watches.

The Nomos Tangomat is a minimalist design that promotes timekeeping in a very straightforward fashion. Everything about these watches is clean and pure, underscored by a distinct German flair.

This model just so happens to be a GMT, making it an even more practical companion than the standard time-only model and proving itself useful to frequent travelers.

The 24 time zones are presented in airport codes through an aperture at 9 o’clock, while the hour features on the opposite side of the dial, achieving great balance.

The Tangomat takes on a clear and angular form on the wrist, stripping things back to basics and achieving additional presence through its slightly taller profile.

Overall, the Tangomat promotes clarity, making it the perfect companion for a day in the office or when travelling on business. It comes fitted on a comfortable Horween Shell Cordovan black strap for a subtle injection of masculinity.  

Doing Away with the Narrative

Look around. Women all over the world are embracing the large watch face. There has been a seismic shift over the last few years from fashion-forward thinking to larger, bolder, more robust watches that not only look good but also deliver on a practical level.

More women are wearing larger watches because they no longer feel the need to conform to a particular social standard. It’s a compelling reflection of where society is today.

Women are choosing watches based on their personal preferences and what works best for their lifestyle. No longer are genders being defined by the historical and traditional notions of what was once the social norm.

Women like to wear large-face watches because they look good and serve a practical purpose. With more options to choose from than ever before, now is the perfect time to embrace the trend and roll with it.

There was once a time when people believed that ‘his and hers’ watches masked individuality and felt a little dated. After all, why should a couple feel compelled to look the same or dress the same when everyone is entitled to their own interests and tastes?

While I do agree that two people’s uniformity in wristwear does not measure the strength of a relationship, there is an argument for wearing watches that look like a pair but aren’t necessarily the same.

Likewise, there is nothing written in any book to say that mixed or same-sex couples can’t like the same thing, either.

Couple watches don’t have to be identical; instead, they reflect a mature understanding of the shared interests and tastes between two people rather than a loss of identity. In fact, wearing watches that match can be one of the most deep and meaningful ways to express your partnership.

The Best His and Hers Watches

Prepare to be amazed at the sheer amount of choice out there if you’re just about to start shopping for couple watches. You’ll be pleased to know you have a lot of options, whether you’re keeping to a strict budget or going all out with a dual investment to celebrate a milestone.

Here are some options to get you started. These chosen picks coordinate class, allowing you and your partner to synchronize your style in a non-clichéd way.

Cartier Ballon Bleu His and Hers

Curves aren’t just for ladies. In fact, the simple, rounded, pebble-smooth silhouette of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier has been appealing to men for years. The concept of the Ballon Bleu centers around the idea of a floating balloon or bubble above the wrist.

The Ballon Bleu de Cartier is designed to feel timelessly familiar, though there is nothing else quite like it on the market.

Whether you’re enjoying it from a male or female perspective, its ethereal grace, tied to examples of top-quality craftsmanship, is a testament to Cartier’s commitment to reaching excellence in all that it does.

Let’s start with the differences. The men’s Ballon Bleu watch measures 41mm and features an independently crafted automatic movement housed within its 30-meter water-resistant case.

The lady’s version, measuring a more discreet 28mm diameter, is powered by a quartz movement, allowing for a more compact and slimmer case design that won’t overpower the wrist or look “blocky.”

Both the men’s version of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch and the women’s version feature a silver-colored dial with blued steel hands, crisp black Roman numeral hour markers, and a blue synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel. The 41mm model, however, features a guilloche effect on its dial, adding a touch of detail.

The versatility of the Ballon Bleu watch by Cartier impresses beyond measure since it is equipped with an interchangeable strap system, allowing you and your partner to switch things up whenever you fancy a change.

Suffice to say, the Ballon Bleu is one of those timeless gems that always seem to adapt to any scenario, making it one of the most easy-to-wear dress watches to enjoy as a matching pair.

Tissot PRX POWERMATIC 80 His and Hers

If you know a lot about luxury, you’ll already be familiar with the name Tiffany & Co. Furthermore, you’ll have seen the robin’s egg blue dial color that the company became so synonymous with during the late 1990s.

It’s names like Rolex and Patek Philippe that have enjoyed an exclusive partnership with Tiffany & Co. over the years. The 2020 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise Blue, for example, shares a close resemblance to the original blue color of Tiffany & Co’s beautiful trademark blue packaging and was superseded by the Nautilus 5711/1A-018 by Patek Philippe just a year later. It supercharged a trend that still very much creates a buzz today.

Now, more affordable Tiffany blue dial watches are dominating the market. The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 watch collection offers an iteration in a pale turquoise blue.

And guess what? You can get the women’s version too! The lady’s Tissot PRX is a nice compact 35mm size and echoes the precise shade of its male counterpart perfectly.

The matching pair belongs to the brand’s much larger series of sports watches, which have become a go-to for anyone seeking more affordable alternatives to icons like the Nautilus and Royal Oak.

Personally, what I’ve always loved most about the Tissot PRX collection is the brand’s commitment to detail. Tissot adds a stamped waffle pattern to the surface of these PRX watches, giving them great visual appeal and an enhanced level of depth and three-dimensional value.

The waffle pattern invites light to dance across the upraised levels of the display and cascade into the deeper pockets of the dial, creating an interesting interplay between light and shade.

The integrated bracelet of the Tissot PRX forces the case ends to taper, giving it a subtle tonneau shape and allowing it to be worn more compactly on the wrist.

Indeed, both the male and female iterations of this affordable sports watch promote balanced proportions and rugged elegance. Of course, the inaugural POWERMATIC 80 movement fitted within provides a full 80 hours of power reserve once fully wound, too.Piaget Polo His and Hers

Some brands don’t prioritize matching watch sets for couples. Sometimes, you have to do the donkey work yourself and find two compatible models that complement one another, even if they’re not intended to be sold as a pair. Other brands, however, go the extra mile.

Piaget is one of the latter. The brand taps into those who want to express a bit of synchronization in their choice of watch and even produced this special 150th anniversary ‘his and hers’ Polo watch last year for that very reason.

Both models are limited to just 300 pieces worldwide and won’t come cheap. However, if you’re looking for a truly exquisite pair of matching ‘his and hers’ watches that tease a subtle dose of flamboyancy, you’d have to admit Piaget really scores a home run here.  

This special blend of sumptuous materials, chocolate-latte-rose tones, and even the odd scintillating diamond personifies the “sports luxe” aesthetic for the modern-day collector.

The 42mm men’s model features a steel case, a soft brown dial, and a sapphire caseback that exposes circular Côtes de Genève decoration, a circular-grained plate, beveled bridges, blued screws, and an engraved Piaget Coat of Arms oscillating weight via the in-house Calibre 1110P.

The lady’s version of the Piaget Polo is daintier and more exuberant, measuring 26mm in diameter and featuring a grey dial, with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds on the hour markers, as well as a 60-diamond set bezel.

The soft, golden hues of both dials feature the iconic gadroons that have made the Polo so recognizable, and they boast ribbed rubber bands in colors of chocolate brown (for men) and latte brown (for women).

Both straps, however, are interchangeable, so if you want to dial up your matchy-matchy efforts, you could opt for the same-colored rubber strap or dress things up with two steel bracelets.  

Rolex Datejust His and Hers

The Rolex Datejust was the first ever self-winding waterproof chronometer with a date function. It arrived in 1945 and has since been a symbol of enduring style and timeless beauty.

The Datejust watch boasts several key characteristics that give it an instantly recognizable look, including a fluted bezel, a Cyclops date feature, and a 5-link Jubilee bracelet – all of which are also available in the female variety.

These two Rolex Datejust watches one for him and one for her, are a perfect way to express the bond shared between two people with very similar tastes.

The set unites a shared love of undulating style and quality craftsmanship, bearing the most influential name in the watch industry across their respective Rose and chocolate-colored dials.

The Datejust watch doesn’t just offer legibility and quality but marks a historical moment in the brand’s story, where our relationship with time began to change.

Watches became precious instruments and were worn as status symbols. Not much has changed since then. The Rolex Datejust remains as iconic today as it was back then.

While the men’s Rolex Datejust reference 126301 is a 41mm size, the women’s Datejust 279171 is a much more compact 28mm. Both are crafted from Oystersteel and Everose and bear the fluted bezel as a mark of distinction.

Meanwhile, the Jubilee bracelet on the lady’s Datejust is designed for comfort and is expertly engineered to curve and conform to the shape of the wrist, providing a dressy finish.

The 41mm Datejust, however, is more classic and features a three-link Oyster bracelet with an EasyLink 5mm extension system, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments.

Omega Seamaster His and Hers

The Omega Seamaster is a watch associated with travel, exploration, and adventure. It’s a mainstay in the Swiss marque’s catalog and boasts a vast range of different designs that you can really get creative with.

Those who embrace a sporty lifestyle will appreciate the Seamaster’s balance of durability and sophistication. Take, for example, this ‘his and hers’ Omega Seamaster duo.

Both models belong to a sub-collection from the Seamaster range named the Aqua Terra Shades. As you’ll have guessed, the series is all about dial colors, giving collectors some alternative options to the mundane blue and black dive watch offerings.

Although robust, these models are perfect for combining with both casual attire on the weekend and something dressier by evening.

The lady’s Omega Aqua Terra Shades watches come in a variety of different colors. I particularly like the ‘sandstone’ version, a shimmery purple-grey hue that Omega experts accompany with shard-shaped hour markers and faceted sword-shaped hands, treated with lashings of luminous material for nighttime legibility. The famous minute hand features the arrow tip, while the date function sits inside a tapering rectangular frame at 6 o’clock.

For men, the Aqua Shades 38mm in a matching dial color balances neutral tones with the contemporary luster of stainless steel. Both models are fitted with a stainless steel bracelet incorporating roll-like links that give the watch a more softened, modern silhouette.

You certainly get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to Omega Seamaster watches. Both models are fitted with an in-house, METAS-certified movement and feature the Co-Axial escapement, which Omega acquired the rights to in the 1990s.

A chance to admire the movements at work is granted through the caseback on each watch, which Omega fits with a see-through sapphire exhibition window.

If you’re looking for a matching pair of ‘his and hers’ watches that balance sportiness with dressiness, these Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades watches tick every box needed for outdoor adventure and sophisticated outings.

Cartier Tank His and Hers

Considering the prestige and allure surrounding one of the world’s most famous classics, the Cartier Tank watch is relatively affordable by today’s standards.

It’s still an icon in its own right. Still, because it manages to transcend generations as a traditional dress watch, it remains one of the most universally appealing designs to own.

Even better – the women’s versions appear totally aligned with the archetypal military-tank-inspired look of the men’s range.

The pairing of a rose gold case with a brown leather strap is a heavenly combination in any dress watch. Still, the male and female versions of the Tank Louis Cartier demonstrate how the difference between a light brown and dark brown strap can significantly alter the look of a classic timepiece.

The men’s Tank Louis Cartier watch measures 33.7 mm x 25.5 mm and has been fitted with a dark brown alligator leather strap, allowing the blued steel hands to pop against a guilloche silver dial.

On the other hand, the alligator leather strap chosen for the women’s variety is a lighter, toffee-brown, creating an altogether more natural and casual style.

The Tank Louis Cartier couple watches are powered by a traditional manual-winding movement, which is arguably the biggest draw if you both consider the ritual of connecting with your watch important.  

TUDOR Black Bay S&G His and Hers

The TUDOR Black Bay S&G appeals to young collectors seeking a watch with vintage charm. These neo-vintage watches meld the distinctive look of TUDOR’s first dive watches with modern materials, reimagining the rugged, adventurous spirit of the Big Bang with a touch of radiant gold.

The precious metal accents in these dive watches are not overbearing. Moreover, they sit in the background, enabling the signature features of the Black Bay watch, such as the iconic Snowflake hands and the domed dial, to take center stage.

The desire to own ‘his and hers’ sports watches, of course, stems from the need for practicality first and foremost. The two-tone Black Bay will take you straight through a day at work to an evening of drinks and roll with you into the weekend.

Both these 31mm and 39mm models feature an 18ct yellow gold and steel bracelet, a black dial, and a gold bezel to match a screw-down crown designed to uphold a water-resistant rating of 100 meters.  

Zenith Defy His and Hers

Couple watches don’t necessarily have to mirror one another. Sometimes, the coolest matching sets are those that show some versatility but still manage to look coordinated.

Zenith, master of the famous El Primero movement, offers a super cool range of Defy watches, including this women’s Midnight Borealis-inspired 36mm model with a gradient green-blue dial framed by a diamond-encrusted bezel.

You can’t directly match the men’s version to this stunning Northern Lights watch, complete with delicately glistening diamonds on the hour markers. But for something a little more technically sophisticated, you can opt for the Defy Skyline Tourbillon.

The 41mm steel model displays a piece of the automatic El Primero 3630 caliber through the surface of its blue sunray dial, adorned with a special star print.

The tourbillon cage is a work of art and a technical revelation all rolled into one, keeping the movement suspended and protected from the effects of gravity at 6 o’clock.

Both Zenith Defy watches, for him and her, complete their elegant, sporty look with an integrated bracelet, creating a seamless, unified appearance.

Closing Remarks

The idea of collecting and wearing couples watches is not an outdated one. It’s actually more relevant now than it has ever been before. The watch industry is abundant in unisex designs, and we now exist in a world where the lines between the two genders are blurring.

Men and women wear whatever they feel comfortable in, whether that be small case proportions, oversized boyfriend watches, or designs festooned with diamonds and gemstones.

The good news is that many brands offer a smaller-sized version of their most popular watch. The appreciation of a complex mechanical watch is no longer reserved for men alone.

In that same vein, smaller, more compact case sizes are also on the rise, which opens up a whole range of options for those with smaller wrists.

As women’s and men’s tastes in watches become more aligned, many couples are enjoying the opportunity to wear a pair of watches that serve as a matching statement piece.

Now, couples can share their appreciation for a hobby that they both enjoy and have access to, with more choices available than ever before. It means that ‘his and hers’ watches are no longer dictated by convention and are more governed by a shared appreciation for horology.

In a market where the average watch size tends to be upwards of 46mm in diameter, it’s pretty clear that the target audience isn’t necessarily female. It’s hard enough for most men to reasonably pull off a watch of that size! 

To find a good fitness watch for women, you can’t just peruse any number of the other fitness watch articles available online. You need something specific and dedicated. Here’s just that very article you’re looking for!

These 12 watches all share one key advantage over your typical hulking fitness watch: they actually look good, too. Instead of raw titanium and oversized electronics, these ladies’ watches are wearable and stylish, to the point where they’d be attractive even to many men.

If you’re tired of the oversized fitness trackers out there and are looking for something new, look no further!

What to Look For in Fitness Watches for Women

Just as I briefly mentioned above, a key trait you’ll want to keep an eye on first with these watches is their aesthetic appeal and style.

After all, the style is the first thing you see with any watch you take a look at, and it might as well be the first thing to consider while you’re at it. 

We’ll be keeping the watches to a minimum in terms of their diameter and height, which is a bit of a prickly business in the world of fitness watches.

Thankfully, not a few of the major companies out there are great at covering all parts of the market, including the female side, so there are plenty of good-looking options to choose from.

After that, let’s talk about the fitness tracking features. Just as the aesthetic appeal of any fitness watch is a personal matter, so too will be the selection of trackers and apps that the watch has to offer.

If you’re a professional athlete (or a dedicated amateur!), a full suite of sport modes and training plans is critical to pushing yourself to the limit and hitting new PRs. 

If you’re just looking for something to stay on top of your everyday health, you’ll really only be shopping for something with a heart rate monitor and step count tracker.

This is definitely something to keep an eye on, as you can end up drastically overpaying for a watch that has more features than you’ll actually use, or can end up buying something that doesn’t even do what you need it to.

I’d encourage you to spend a moment thinking through the two criteria I just discussed. What kind of aesthetic are you looking for from your watch? A hybrid smartwatch or a full digital one? What features do you need from it?

Once you have a few ideas, go ahead and get right into the list, and you’ll be able to compare my description of each watch with what you need.

The 12 Best Fitness Watches for Women

Whether you’re looking for something everyday or an intense trainer, I have a watch for you on this list! Since I’ll just be doing a brief overview of each watch here, feel free to go ahead and search up any watches that interest you to find out more. Let’s get right into it!

Garmin Venu 3S – $350

Garmin does a great job at offering their models in a huge variety of colors and even usually a range of size options, so with the 3S you’ve got 5 different choices to go with the smaller case size indicated by the S in the name—which is just 41mm.

That size leaves the watch with a well-proportioned display (1.2” across, with AMOLED for brightness) as well as a reduced wrist presence. 

The Venu 3 also supplies both everyday health tracking and dedicated fitness features in spades, with some of the headline features being Garmin Coach for developing training plans and energy tracking to follow how you’re sleeping and how energized you’re feeling each day, as well as menstrual cycle tracking. 

Notably, you’re also able to track and manage stress well thanks to built-in meditation exercises and mindful breathing, stress tracking, and respiration throughout the day.

If you’re looking for primarily everyday health support as well as a decent suite of fitness and exercise features, the 3S is a great option for you.

Fitbit Charge 6 – $160

The Charge 6 is a great budget option that still manages to check all the boxes of a more expensive fitness tracker, like blood oxygen, skin temperature, stress management, and sleep score. It’s simple, straightforward, unobtrusive, and dependable. 

That classic Fitbit silhouette is a svelte 36mm in length, 23mm wide, and 11mm tall, meaning it’ll only carve out a little sliver of your wrist space. Plus, since it clocks in at just 30 grams, you’ll hardly notice it at all on the wrist.

There are three case and band color combinations to choose from, which allows you to choose between two monochromatic looks (black and light gray) as well as my personal favorite, the coral strap and “champagne gold” case. 

Do be aware that this watch works best when paired with the Fitbit app, and thus, if you want to unlock its full potential, you’ll need to pay for a Fitbit Premium subscription, which adds a bit to its price.

However, for such an affordable watch that performs like it’s top-of-the-line, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially considering it’s optional based on your needs.

Apple Watch Series 10 – $399

If you’re looking for something a little more than just a fitness tracker and are a proud Apple user, this one is for you. It’s the most iconic watch in the world at this point, having sold well over 100 million watches, and it just keeps getting better. 

Like I said, most of the other watches on this list are primarily limited to health and wellness features—the Series 10 does that and adds in all of the Internet access and everyday use features that you could ever need.

It’s simultaneously the slimmest and largest display Apple Watch on the market today, and its high-gloss case is absolutely stunning in almost any lighting. 

Out of all the tech features, the Vitals app is going to be your key to staying on top of your wellness, as it’s the hub for easy access to metrics like respiratory rate, sleep duration, and wrist temperature. 

There’s also a separate Cycle Tracking app for women’s health. The Activity app supplies daily fitness goals, and you can also access a large variety of sport modes and see training load metrics. For the ultimate do-it-all watch, this is the best option out there for Apple users.

Garmin vívomove Luxe – $500

Your average fitness watch is far from luxurious. It’s more often a hunk of titanium on the wrist that just so happens to be wrapped around a large electronic heart that powers the display.

The vívomove Luxe, however, manages to deftly bridge this gap and fill a unique niche in the watch world by offering a hybrid smartwatch with a truly beautiful appearance. 

In particular, the Milanese mesh band that comes with each model is well-crafted and adds a distinct touch of class. The vívomove Luxe comes in two models: stainless steel and my personal favorite, the 18K rose gold-plated edition. 

Both models feature the same suite of features, which includes step tracking, sleep score, women’s health tracking, and energy monitoring.

It doesn’t quite have all the electronic advantages that you’d get with a suped-up Garmin, but it is without a doubt an exceptional everyday wear watch with tremendous class and charm.

Polar Ignite 3 – $350

The Ignite 3 is a little larger than others at 43mm in diameter, but it remains wearable and eye-catching, thanks to its slim profile and beautifully crafted case and dial.

In particular, you’ll be a fan of the textured case flank, which has a beautiful patterning that depends on the model that you opt for. 

The display is large and sumptuous, which leaves almost no bezel and maximizes the 43mm profile to stunning effect.

For such a thin watch, Polar packs in a shocking density of features, such as a sleep score, daily activity target, and guided breathing. But what’s most striking to me about this watch is what it offers that I haven’t seen anywhere outside of Polar. 

For example, you can get an analysis of your aerobic fitness just by laying down and relaxing for a few minutes, which makes it easy to get an idea of how much you can progress.

Another particularly interesting one is the after-exercise Energy Sources feature, which lets you know how much of each type of energy source you used, including fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. 

The Ignite 3 is one of those fitness watches that does just about everything in a beautiful frame at a reasonable price—what more could you ask for?

Garmin Lily 2 – $200

The Lily 2 is a true ladies’ watch in the most traditional sense of the term, which in watchmaking history has meant an extremely small and unobtrusive profile that feels more like an article of jewelry than a watch.

In this case, that means a shockingly slim 35.4mm diameter and 10.1mm thickness, paired with a hidden display to maximize its unobtrusiveness on the wrist. 

The screen of the watch is patterned with a lovely style of your choice and wakes up with a tap, allowing you to have access to whatever you need on demand and for the rest of the time remain as nothing more than a patterned jewelry piece.

In terms of the electronics inside, the Lily 2 is a great everyday watch, but unfortunately little more than that. 

The fitness features are extremely limited—although, interestingly, are best at tracking various dance fitness activities.

Thankfully, the rest of the health trackers are spot-on: morning report, women’s health tracking, meditation, stress, mindfulness, pulse oxygen, and more. For such an affordable price, the Lily 2 is one of the most elegant and well-made options on the market.

Garmin vívosmart 5 – $150

The vívosmart 5 is simple, easy to use, and a great budget option. You’ll barely notice it on your wrist at just 19.5mm x 10.7mm and a weight of only 24.5 grams, but you won’t be able to ignore its great suite of health trackers.

Energy monitoring, stress, mindful breathing, respiration, and women’s health, among others, are all displayed on demand on its minimalistic screen. 

It also syncs with Garmin Connect on your phone, allowing for easy access to your health data from anywhere, even if you’re not wearing the watch.

Like the Lily 2, it’s not great for exercise tracking beyond a simple step count and a few built-in sports apps, but as a budget everyday wearer, it’s all you could want.

COROS PACE 3 – $230

Swinging all the way to the opposite side of the spectrum from the vívosmart 5, the PACE 3 is one of the best options on the market for dedicated athletes despite its shockingly affordable price. 

Its case size is not overbearing at just a hair under 42mm in diameter, and its profile is simple and unobtrusive. If you’re an endurance athlete, you’ll love the 15 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 38 hours of continuous use in GPS mode.

COROS packed a huge suite of sport modes for athletes and even features personalized training guidance from expert coaches on their team. 

Elite athletes make use of COROS’ Training Hub tool online, which syncs with your watch and provides every insight imaginable into your overall wellness and health.

There are so many other sensors that I couldn’t possibly list them all out here. For the price of just $230, the PACE 3 is without a doubt one of the best fitness watches out there.

Polar Unite – $175

Another simple budget option, the Polar Unite is a smartwatch that meets all your everyday needs and does nothing more. It’s neither the most elegant nor the most slender at 43mm by 10.4mm, but for its price, it manages to get a heck of a lot done. 

Every day, you’ve got both a step counter and activity tracker that follows your percentage of progress toward meeting a daily activity goal as a strong motivation to keep active.

There are even daily workout suggestions coupled with animated demonstrations of how to do each type of suggested exercise with proper form. 

Mindful breathing, sleep score, and an advanced heart rate tracker round out the everyday features. It’s nothing to write home about, but for the price and for those of us who don’t need the top-of-the-line fitness features, it’s an exceptional watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra – $650

For the Android users among us, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a great one to consider for as long as you’re determined on keeping the group chat messages green. I kid, but this is seriously a great watch for fitness and it just gets better when paired with a Galaxy phone. 

It’s a decently good-looking watch with its cushion form case, but it’s really for the fitness and everyday features that you’ll be picking this one up.

The price reflects that this is a watch that doesn’t just do fitness things like most of the others, it’s a full-blown smartwatch with Internet access and the works to meet all your everyday needs, not just the health ones. 

On the health side of things, the headliner feature here is the inclusion of Galaxy AI to provide insights on all your training and data, as well as your daily readiness for exercise and activity. 

Plus, instead of sleep score like all the other watches, you’ve got a Sleep Coach, with insights on how to improve your rest. It’s one of the most expensive watches here, but for a do-it-all that pairs perfectly with your Android phone, it’s just about perfect.

Withings ScanWatch 2 – $370

The ScanWatch 2 is one of the loveliest hybrid smartwatches available today, but don’t let the fact that it looks so much like a normal watch fool you—it’s got a superb suite of health features under the hood, no matter how discreetly displayed they may be. 

Pulse oxygen sensing gives you insights into your respiratory health, a medical-grade ECG can give you a full cardiovascular assessment, and 24/7 skin temperature tracking can alert you if you’re starting to get sick. 

You’ve got a variety of sport modes and fitness features, and you can even use the skin temperature tracker to avoid overheating and thus losing energy due to heat exhaustion.

Like Fitbit, you can connect easily to the Withings app, and if you’re looking to go deeper into your insights, you’ll want to sign up for a Withings+ subscription. 

It’s a clean, elegant, and simple watch whose classy appearance hides a superbly cutting-edge electronic heart.

COROS APEX 2 – $450

Last but certainly not least, we’ve got a great offering from everyone’s favorite all-caps brand designed for outdoor athletes, especially mountaineers and hikers. 

COROS has put a lot of thought into the GPS features for this one, even going so far as to redesign the exterior GPS antenna, and improve the navigation features, so no matter where you’re journeying, the APEX 2 will be there to support you. 

The sleep tracker follows each stage of your sleep to determine how ready you are for physical activity, and you get access to the COROS Training Hub where you can get coaching plans along with automatic data syncing from your watch. 

Plus, the APEX 2 automatically tracks how many sets and reps you’ve done for each exercise, so if you’ve preloaded one with a set number of sets and reps, you’ll be able to easily tell when you’re done and just focus on form. 

It’s not the most elegant or the most wearable fitness watch for women, but it is one of the most purpose-built and has one of the best suites of outdoor fitness options. If that’s what you’re looking for, no one does it better than the APEX 2.

Conclusion

While that may be it for this list, the world of fitness watches is a wide and wonderful one, so if you didn’t find something for you here, this list can also be a great starting point for your own search to find the watch that’s just right for you. 

Whether you’re a dedicated athlete or just following your day-to-day routine, there’s a watch tailored to your wants and needs!

There’s something timeless and enduring about a gold watch. Many people get one as a symbol that they’ve finally “made it,” especially a gold Rolex Datejust. Others will buy them to celebrate special occasions, or to treat themselves. 

All, however, will agree that the pairing of gold with a traditional watch is a uniquely beautiful one, like fine wine and a good sharp French cheese.

Gold and a watch movement are both something, when cared for well, that will endure for generations. There’s a reason gold watches so frequently become family heirlooms.

Whatever your reason for interest in a gold watch, it’s hard to go wrong with a well-crafted timepiece by a prestigious Swiss brand.

After all, if you’re going to splurge on the case material, you might as well ensure that the movement inside is of the same level of quality! 

So here are the 20 best gold ladies’ watches, a list that encompasses all the best brands and all the best gold timepieces. Let’s get right to it!

What to Look for in Gold Watches

One of the first things you’ll want to look at, when you’re searching for a gold timepiece, is to ensure that the watch is not just gold-plated but is actually made from gold.

This is usually reflected in the price tag, but you can also tell from the watch’s description whether it’s, for example, “18K gold plated” or “18K gold.” 

Gold-plated watches are a good way of getting the gold look for much cheaper, but they’re not nearly as enduring as a true gold watch, as the plating will rub off after a number of years (depending on how frequently you wear it) and will become pretty much unwearable at that point, unless you have it replated for a costly fee.

You’ll also want to examine the rest of the watch beyond the gold case, to ensure that the rest of it is equal in quality to the beauty and craftsmanship involved in the gold. 

Preferably, you’ll want a mechanical movement, which from any of the prestigious brands I’ve listed below will be exceptionally well-made and well-finished.

The dial as well should bear the signs of artisanal craftsmanship, such as featuring guilloché patterns or grand feu enamel. 

Finally, ensure the strap is of as high quality as the case, whether it’s of fine leather or a polished metal bracelet.

A gold watch is something valuable and timeless, made to last for years. If you’re in the market for one, be sure you know what you’re looking for!

The 20 Best Gold Watches for Women

Whether you’re looking for something sporty or dressy, mini or larger, there’s something here for you! I’ve curated a list of the very finest gold ladies’ watches, each from a prestigious brand. 

Each one of these may come with a rather large price tag, but each one is also a beautiful heirloom watch that can and should be enjoyed for generations. These watches need no further introduction—let’s get right into the list!

Breguet Reine de Naples 8918BA/58/964 D00D 3L – $45,700

Where else could we start but with a modern version of the very first ladies’ wristwatch ever made? The original Reine de Naples was, as one would expect, crafted for the Queen (reine) of Naples, Caroline Murat, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Shockingly, it was made all the way back in 1812, which is around a century before the first men’s wristwatch, the Cartier Santos-Dumont. Aside from its impressive historical record, a Reine de Naples is immediately recognizable at a glance thanks to its stunning oval case and center lug. 

Its numerals take playfully to the shape and size of the oval case, filling the open area where the circular dial is not and yet remaining elegant despite their disproportionate size.

The rehaut and bezel, studded with diamonds, add an extra level of glimmer to the yellow gold case, and the crown is likewise set with a larger briolette-cut diamond. 

Heat-treated Breguet hands and a hand-guilloché offset dial circle complete the elegance of this watch, which combines so beautifully gold and diamonds with lasting craftsmanship.

Finally, you’ll want to take note of the lovely automatic movement, which is a rarity for a watch of this size (which would typically be quartz) and yet manages to achieve a significant 45 hours of power reserve.

Rolex Lady Datejust ref. 279178 – $29,900

The quintessential “I’ve made it in life” watch, but in a ladies’ size! This beautiful yellow gold Lady Datejust clocks in at a diminutive 28mm diameter which, coupled with the beautiful polished Jubilee-style bracelet, makes for a watch that feels far more like an article of jewelry than a timepiece in all the best ways. 

I find the silver-toned dial to be particularly appealing when paired with the yellow gold case and bracelet, as it creates a slight pop of color while remaining firmly in the color palette of precious metals.

You’ll also want to take a particular look at the fluted bezel, which Rolex has mastered and which will capture the light and sparkle like a many-faceted diamond. 

Overall, however, what I love most about this watch is just how well-proportioned it is. Many women’s watches that are like the Lady Datejust in that they’re a feminine version of a men’s watch tend to suffer from being disproportionate, just a shrunken version of a men’s watch that ends up feeling unbalanced. 

With the Lady Datejust, it’s clear at a glance that Rolex has designed this model from the ground up as a ladies’ watch, and because of that it’s become something beautiful.

On top of the lovely case and dial finishing, your new Lady Datejust will run on the superb caliber 2236, an in-house movement by Rolex that has a stunning precision of just +/- 2 seconds per day, a shockingly impressive rate for such a small mechanical movement. This watch proves without a doubt that it’s not for nothing that Rolex is called the Crown.

Blancpain Ladybird Colors Phases de Lune ref. 3662 2954 55B – $38,300

With this lovely Blancpain, we’re adding a healthy dose of color to our lineup, thanks to the exquisite mother-of-pearl dial and rich blue strap and numerals.

The complement of the blue on the mother-of-pearl and with the red gold is frankly stunning, and really, in my opinion, is what makes this watch so appealing, more than any other single trait. 

The watch is bedecked with diamonds, but not in a way that feels overbearing, as they’re all tastefully set to be unobtrusive aside from the lovely sparkle that they bring to the piece. 

The hands are beautifully shaped, in a rather unique fashion that manages to avoid the trap of simply picking a standard hand shape that you’d find in many other watches and following that.

A final playful touch that I particularly enjoy is giving the moon in the moonphase complication a feminine face, which adds to the watch’s charm.

Under the hood, you’ll find the spectacular in-house caliber 1163L, which is made up of no less than 243 individual parts and features a stunning 100-hour power reserve. 

It’s also automatic and will wind itself back up as you move throughout your day with a beautifully skeletonized red gold rotor. For one of the most elegant and yet remarkably playful ladies’ watches out there, this Ladybird is a great choice.

BVLGARI Serpenti Tubogas Yellow Gold – $49,500

Perhaps one of the most iconic and instantly identifiable ladies’ watches today is the serpentine BVLGARI Serpenti Tubogas, which coils sensuously around not only your wrist but also the lower forearm. 

Thanks to its gently narrowing form and ergonomic coils, it turns a timepiece into a piece of jewelry like no other watch available today. BVLGARI’s yellow gold has a gorgeous luster to it, just as one would expect from such a prestigious jewelry house. 

The textured white dial is a perfect complement to the gold strap, adding a profound dimension of class and charm that’s carried to perfection by the diamonds that frame it. 

Although it does feature a quartz movement instead of mechanical due to the size of the head of the watch, it’s without a doubt one of the most elegant ladies’ watches imaginable, and one that pushes the boundaries of form and style in modern watchmaking.

Hublot Big Bang Gold Diamonds 38mm – $25,200

This one is a little larger than most women’s watches, and it’s a whole lot more bold and eye-catching thanks to Hublot’s unique style and flair. Here, the case is stunningly crafted from 18K 5N rose gold, and the alternating polished and brushed surfaces complement to beautiful effect. 

The dial, finished in a lovely black, is adorned with large and prominent hands and numerals crafted from the same rose gold hue. Most notably, however, your eyes will be drawn to the bezel, which is set with 126 diamonds totaling 0.87 carats to add a beautiful sparkle to the piece. 

Most strikingly, this watch (like almost all other Big Bangs) is paired with a rubber strap, which is a nod to Hublot’s “art of fusion” in pioneering the combination of different materials to push the boundaries of watchmaking. 

While the movement in this one is also quartz in order to improve the slim profile of the watch, it’s still a spectacularly well-made and well-finished timepiece that suits any woman who prides herself on being bold and avant-garde.

Cartier Panthère de Cartier Medium Yellow Gold – $28,200

The elegant, sinuous, and beautifully crafted Panthère de Cartier has been one of the most desired ladies’ watches since its release in the 1980s. Supermodels and actresses of the highest level alike have been spotted wearing it over the decades. 

And for good reason: it’s a stunning timepiece whose shape evokes the classic Cartier Santos-Dumont while putting a uniquely feminine spin on it.

It has all the quintessential Cartier hallmarks, like the Roman numerals, blued sword hands, chemin de fer (or railroad) minutes track, and blue cabochon set in the crown. 

The bracelet it’s paired with is what named the watch, as it was so supple and sinuous that it evoked in the minds of Cartier’s watchmaking department the panther that is often used as Cartier’s logo.

Here, the medium model will be a perfect size for most female wrists, and the quartz movement that powers it ensures that the watch maintains a delightfully slim presence on the wrist.

L.U. Chopard Flying T Twin Ladies – $45,000

Chopard was never as much of a watchmaking house as they were a jewelry house… until the L.U.C. collection came out. L.U.C. has had the watch nerds raving for quite some time now, and for good reason. 

This particular example is the proof in the pudding, as you might say: a flying tourbillon is nothing to sneeze at.

The rest of the watch is just as gorgeous as this poetic complication, with a lovely 18K rose gold case set with 1.95 carats of diamonds across the case, lugs, indices, and crown. A mother-of-pearl dial evokes gentle fluffy clouds, sure to send you into a rêverie. 

Lastly, for the exterior, I want to touch on those lovely hands, which are a unique shape and have a beautiful faceted shine.

This little beauty runs on the in-house L.U.C. 96.24-L, a seriously impressive movement with automatic winding, two stacked barrels which contribute to a power reserve of 65 hours, and of course, the eponymous Flying T[ourbillon].

This movement is also so spectacular that it’s adorned with the Poinçon de Genève from the city of Geneva for its quality and finishing. That’s what I call watchmaking.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz – $38,000

The recent reinterpretation of the Royal Oak Mini (a collection which was conceptualized in the late 90s and was reintroduced less than a year ago) was launched to tremendous acclaim.

It’s a beautiful little watch that takes Gerald Genta’s original Royal Oak design into a new realm, with a lovely frosted gold case. 

That frosting gives the watch a jewel-like appearance and makes it sparkle beautifully in any light. When paired with the watch’s characteristic tapisserie dial, I find that the effect is only heightened all the more.

Plus, at just 23mm in diameter, the watch clearly wears like a small and elegant piece of jewelry, with an unobtrusive yet eye-catching presence on the wrist. 

Due to its exceptionally small size, this one is also quartz-powered, but that remains perhaps the only drawback for such a well-executed and charming timepiece.

Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R – $40,920

Patek Philippe’s beautiful Golden Ellipse collection was designed following the golden ratio, which explains only part of its instant aesthetic appeal.

The fluidity of the case shape and bezel, paired with the sumptuous dial and simplistic hands and numerals, makes for an elegant dress watch that shines in any formal occasion. 

I’m a huge fan of the pairing of rose gold and black, and this Golden Ellipse executes that combination perfectly. Take a look as well as the way the black leather strap flows seamlessly into the case, without any visible lugs, leaving the lovely elliptical dial to shine on full display.

Patek Philippe is one of the best watchmakers out there, period, and it shows with the exceptional caliber 240 that powers this watch. It’s automatic with a micro-rotor, which allows it to be extra slim and thus shockingly wearable for a mechanical timepiece. 

Plus, the movement is beautifully finished to the point where it’s adorned with the Patek Philippe Seal for its quality and craftsmanship.

Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris Rose Gold – $87,500

The Midnight in Paris is one of the most beautifully romantic timepieces you can imagine. It displays the movement of the starry night sky above the City of Love in real-time, making it actually quite useful for Parisians and exceptionally romantic for all others. 

The entire base dial makes one rotation every year, as powered by Van Cleef & Arpels’ special Quantième de Saison movement, which also puts the aventurine base of the dial on full display.

Since this is a mechanical and manual-winding watch, you’ll need to be careful to keep this one wound, or simply accept the need to reset the night sky every time you wear it. 

The rest of the watch is just as elegant as its dial and complication, with a beautifully-crafted rose gold case with well-proportioned lugs and bezel. I’m convinced it’s one of the finest and most romantic timepieces imaginable.

Piaget Polo 79 Yellow Gold ref. G0A49150 – $75,000

The little Polo watch, known for the way its case and bracelet seem to flow seamlessly into and through the dial, is another incredibly iconic timepiece that was invented, like its name suggests, back in 1979. 

Polished gadroons (there’s your new vocab word for the day) and satin-finished gold links alternate to create a striking appearance that remains fully unique in the world of watchmaking today.

Every element of this watch works with a palette of only 18K gold to somehow create an appearance with marvelous depth and texture.

The Polo 79 is powered by an exceptional caliber 1200P1 movement, an ultra-thin automatic movement with a micro-rotor and beautiful finishing that’s visible through the sapphire caseback.

With a power reserve of 44 hours on a full charge, it’s a movement that in every way lives up to the quality and craftsmanship of the rest of this elegant timepiece.

A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 ref. 181.063 – $46,200

The Lange 1 is one of the most eye-catching yet classic designs in watchmaking, a beautiful timepiece that plays with proportion and layout of each of its elements to create something refreshingly new and yet beautifully timeless. 

Its smaller cousin, the Little Lange 1, is no different, presenting the same classic appearance in a smaller 36.8mm case. I find the combination of its sunray-finished blue dial and pink gold case to be absolutely gorgeous, and I have nothing but praise for the sculpted structure of its case. 

If you flip the watch over, you’ll be treated to the most beautiful movement you’ll see all day: the gorgeous caliber L121.1, which is crafted from German silver and features some mouthwatering finishing, most notably of which is a hand-engraved balance cock. 

Upon closer examination, you’ll also spot polished châtons (those are the gold rims around the red jewels you see) and heat-blued screws, as well as Côtes de Genève (or Geneva stripes, the texture you see on the large metal plates). 

It’s almost impossible to get any better than that, which makes this the ideal watch for someone looking for an elegant watch that excels in the watchmaking realm.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Duetto Manual Pink Gold – $23,900

I promised you elegant and iconic watches, and that’s exactly what you’ve been getting all throughout this list. With the JLC Reverso, we’re just kicking things up a notch.

The instantly recognizable (by any dedicated watch fan, at least) Reverso was invented in the 1930s as a watch for polo players, who needed a way to protect their watch from being smashed while playing. 

Originally, you could flip the watch around to reveal the solid steel caseback and hide the dial, which provided extra protection.

In this modern version, JLC has actually adorned the Reverso (which, yes, still flips around) with two faces, one a little sportier in a muted gray tone and the other extremely elegant with diamonds and a glossy black face. 

Thanks to this two-faced appearance, the Reverso Duetto becomes an extremely versatile option both for everyday and extremely formal wear.

While you won’t get a glimpse of the movement since it’s sandwiched between both dials, you can rest assured it’s one of the finest: JLC’s caliber 844, which has an impressive 38-hour power reserve for such a small movement. 

If you’re curious, it features the same time on both the front and the back by basically extending the post from the gear that drives the hour and minute hands through both sides of the watch so that hands can be mounted on it on either side. Pretty clever for such a seemingly simple watch!

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Yellow Gold and Onyx – $8,850

This watch is an homage to the prestigious jewelry house’s Alhambra motif, which was introduced in jewelry in 1968. It’s inspired, of course, by the four-leaf clover: the idea is that it brings good luck to the wearer, supposedly. 

Regardless, it does bring good looks, thanks to its beautifully crafted and beaded yellow gold case and exquisite onyx dial. If you can’t tell from my diction there, I’m a huge sucker for onyx dials, which achieve such a rich inky blackness compared to a more simple lacquer or enamel black. 

A little detail I also want to call your attention to here is the font used for the brand’s signature on the dial: it just feels so vintage and classy, just like the rest of the watch.

Also, since this watch is just part of Van Cleef’s comprehensive Alhambra jewelry collection, it goes really well paired with an Alhambra ring or bracelet—but I won’t try to tell you how to wear this watch, since it goes great with almost everything dressy. 

As a final note, this watch is also quartz-powered due to its diminutive and slim size.

Patek Philippe Calatrava 4997/200R – $42,700

This is one of those absolutely stunning ladies’ watches that makes me start to wonder (rather hopelessly) if I could somehow pull this one off. While that answer seems to be no, you’ll have to go ahead and wear this beauty of a watch in my honor. 

That purple-colored dial, crafted from flinqué enamel (which means transparent enamel over guilloché, which is the pattern you can see) is radiant and stunning.

The indices are slightly elongated, to mimic the shape of the hands and reduce negative space while showing off the beautiful finishing and shaping used on each index. 

The dauphine hands are large and beautifully faceted. The rest of the case is just there to highlight the dial to perfection, from the subtle lugs to the sparkle of diamonds on the bezel.

Not only is this one of the finest ladies’ watches, but it’s also one of the finest Patek Philippe Calatravas—and that’s actually saying a heck of a lot, as this is one of the most well-loved and appreciated collections in all of watchmaking.

This beautiful watch runs on an equally stunning movement, the caliber 240, which features automatic winding thanks to a micro-rotor and has received the Patek Philippe Seal for its lovely finishing and craftsmanship. I’m confident in declaring this one to be one of the most beautiful ladies’ watches ever made.

Omega Constellation ref. 131.50.29.20.58.001 – $28,400

This beautiful 29mm Omega Constellation is actually one of the only watches on this list of ladies’ watches to be part of a collection originally designed by a woman: Carol Didisheim, in 1982. 

It’s an absolutely exquisite design—one, admittedly, that I wasn’t too fond of when I first got into watches, but which has been steadily growing on me since then, thanks in part to an enlightening visit to an Omega boutique. 

I’m particularly fond of this model because it features Roman numerals on the bezel instead of diamonds. Somehow, to me, that just feels even more classy. The case is beautifully faceted, and flows well into the integrated bracelet. Finally, I want to call your attention to the sunray brushing of the dial. 

This is a finishing pattern that almost always radiates out from the hands, to call attention to them and to lead your eye inward. In this case, however, Omega centered it around the star at 6:00, making this symbol of excellence the focal point of the watch.

This Constellation runs on the excellent caliber 8701, an automatic winding movement with—interestingly—a rose gold rotor. 

Almost the entire movement is finished in a style of Côtes de Genève that spirals outward, which makes for a lovely twist on a traditional technique. 50 hours of power reserve and Omega’s special Co-Axial escapement round out the stats line for this lovely watch.

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic PFC804-2020001-300182-EN – $39,000

Okay, I admit it—I have a bit of a thing for purple dial watches. To make matters worse, I also have a thing for Parmigiani Fleurier. You can imagine then that this watch has got me hook, line, and sinker: it’s just absolutely gorgeous! 

Take a look, first of all, at the barley-corn guilloché dial, which is rendered in that lovely plum hue. The texture is so fine as to be barely visible at a distance, but its depth and complexity becomes apparent close-up. 

The indices are kept small so as to leave a maximum amount of space to appreciate the dial, and each one is a sparkling baguette-cut diamond. The case is complex and feels architectural in composition, especially with its contrastingly finished surfaces. 

As a final note for the exterior, I really love the alligator leather strap that comes with it, which is just a perfect color match for the dial.

The Tonda PF runs on Parmigiani Fleurier’s caliber PF770-HM, an automatic in-house movement with skeletonized rotor, beautiful finishing, and 60 hours of power reserve. Enough said.

Longines Mini Dolcevita L5.200.6.71.0 – $6,250

Another one of the relatively affordable watches on this list, this is a petite and elegant watch executed in the style of the Cartier Tank, but which puts a fresh spin on its inspiration. With a profile of just 21.5mm x 29mm, the watch remains unobtrusive and yet not so small that it practically disappears. 

The silver patterned dial, blue numerals and hands, and small seconds at 6:00 all make for a classic appearance, but certain small details like the square shape of the small seconds also breathe a certain freshness and modernity into it.

Due to its small size, the Mini Dolcevita runs on a quartz movement, which is perhaps the only possible drawback of this watch.

Vacheron Constantin Égérie ref. 8005F/000R-H030- $43,100

Another purple dial! I must be on a bit of a tear lately. The Vacheron Constantin Égérie collection was created in collaboration with designer Yiqing Yin, who clearly brought a fresh style of watch design to the table here as this watch is innovative and yet traditional. 

The placement of the moon phase at 2:00, for example, is particularly striking, and so is the ribbed rehaut around the numerals as well as in the center of the dial.

Most of all, I’m just a fan of that gentle lilac hue, which is overlaid on mother-of-pearl so that the color gently shifts and changes over the area of the dial as well as in different lightings. 

Égérie, if you were wondering, is French for “muse,” and I can’t help but wonder if in this case the Moon was a muse for the design, thanks to the prominent placement of the moon phase as well as the moonstone set into the crown.

The caliber 1088L is what keeps the Égérie ticking, an automatic mechanical movement with hacking seconds and a moonphase complication (obviously).

It’s got a solid power reserve at 40 hours as well as beautiful finishing, which you can see through the skeletonized rotor. This is Vacheron Constantin at its finest.

Cartier Tank Américaine Small Yellow Gold – $12,000

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Tank Américaine, and it’s not just because I myself am an américain. There’s something about its profoundly elongated and ergonomically curved case that is just a perfect natural evolution of the original Tank model that has also become something uniquely captivating and beautiful. 

This is no Égérie: it’s simple, minimalist charm, which plays with the very fundamental constraints of design and form to create its appeal.

Take a look, for example, at the shaped minutes track and the faceted octagonal crown, both of which contribute to the design in a way that I find gorgeous and yet can’t quite express why. Or how the brushed surfaces at 12:00 and 6:00 contrast with the polished flanks of the watch. 

This is timeless yellow gold charm at its finest. While it may be quartz-powered due to its diminutive size, it remains an exceptional timepiece and one of Cartier’s finest—and that’s saying something.

Conclusion

There you have it: 20 of the finest gold watches ever made, that also just so happen to be crafted especially for women.

Whether you’re a fan of the modern charm of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini or more into the classic appeal of a Breguet Reine de Naples, there’s a gold watch out there for you, made to be cherished for decades. I hope you found it on this list!