LIST: 14 of the best women’s watches, just in time for Mother’s Day
Felix ScholzEditor’s note: Sunday in Australia is Mother’s Day, so we thought it was the perfect time to share these 14 excellent women’s watches from NOW, our buying guide — which you can download here.
SEIKO PRESAGE “COCKTAIL TIME”
The Seiko Cocktail Time is a cult classic amongst the Seiko enthusiasts. First launched in 2010, it was designed with the help of master mixologist, Shinobu Ishigaki. So when Seiko expanded the Presage line to outside of the shores of Japan and introduced a handful of newly styled Cocktail Times in 2017, the crowd went wild. In 2018 they’ve added yet another dose of after-five glamour with new models like this, sized for the feminine wrist. $699
LONGINES LA GRANDE CLASSIQUE DE LONGINES
Originally launched in 1992, La Grande Classique de Longines epitomises the ‘elegance is an attitude’ tagline of the winged hourglass brand. There have been countless variations over the years, with different sizes, styles and dial colours. The latest update sees stunning sunray blue dials added. Here, it’s combined with Roman numeral hour markers and a delicately slim case profile. $1525
MÜHLE GLASHÜTTE LUNOVA LADY
Lasting style, versatile, affordable, and accessible to the widest market possible with a neutral colour, the little black dress (LBD) is prescribed by the fashion world as a must for any woman’s wardrobe. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s exactly what Mühle Glashütte seeks to offer with the Lunova Lady. A subtle slate grey graduated dial sits inside its polished stainless-steel case, and a colour-matched leather strap is decorated with chain-link rings to suit any outfit. $2575
TUDOR 1926
A brand-new collection for the Tudor catalogue, the 1926 takes its name from the year Tudor was created by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. Reflecting the brand’s elegant past, it takes original design cues such as domed dials with an embossed waffle-like pattern, which creates a subtle contrast against the golden indices and sword-shaped hands. Available in four sizes, this 36mm example can just as easily be worn by him, or her. $2090
NOMOS TETRA PEARL
You don’t need a sweet tooth to appreciate this latest addition to the Nomos Tetra collection. Inspired by the delectable French pastry, the Petit Four, Nomos have added four new dial colours to the collection, and the Tetra Pearl is the cherry on top, with its powdery pink dial, violet hour markers, and golden centre hands. It also features a sapphire display case back that lets you appreciate the Alpha calibre in all its glory. $3150
CHANEL J12 UNTITLED
Entering the world of high-tech ceramic-cased watches in the year 2000, Chanel continue the artistic spirit of the J12 here, presenting two new additions to the collection. This version in white features a ceramic case and a ceramic bracelet along with a steel screw-down crown inset with a white ceramic cabochon. While limited to 1200 pieces, for an extra degree of exclusivity there is also a set of 12 one-of-a-kind watches. $8100
CHANEL BOY.FRIEND BEIGE GOLD WITH BLACK ALLIGATOR STRAP
Chanel’s Boy.Friend made its first appearance back in 2015. It extends Coco Chanel’s famous love of twisting elements from the masculine wardrobe into a slightly more feminine form. It also pays tribute to the French Maison, with an octagonal case that is reminiscent of the legendary Chanel No5 bottle, with polished stepped angles framing an opaline guilloche dial and a delicate small seconds display. The finishing touch is its manually wound mechanical movement inside. $21,000
CHANEL CODE COCO CERAMIC
There are many things to admire about Chanel’s watches. From their impressive in-house movements – like their latest, the Calibre 3 – to the way that they all manage to stay faithful to the soul of the brand. The Code Coco Ceramic takes its inspiration from the iconic 2.55 bag – designed by Mademoiselle Chanel in February 1955. It uses its recognisable clasp to adorn the dial and features a “quilted” ceramic bracelet, a very visual reminder of the 2.55. $15,850
CHANEL BOY.FRIEND SKELETON CALIBRE 3
High fashion house Chanel was founded on the notion of gender fluidity, incorporating traditional masculine elements into women’s designs and blurring the lines between gender norms. While it’s pitched as a women’s watch, the Boy.Friend Skeleton could just as easily be worn by him. Whatever you do, do not disregard the significance and quality of this Boy.Friend. The movement powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 3 manual-wind movement, which is both technical and delicate. $36,500
PIAGET POSSESSION
Not every watch needs to be a marvel of mechanics. Sometimes all it takes is a captivating design to take things to the next level. Such is the case for the latest women’s watch collection from Piaget, the Possession, with an assortment of case designs, gem sets, and colours available. It’s this rose gold-cased number, set with 53 brilliant-cut diamonds, and an interchangeable lapis blue alligator strap that steals our heart. $19,500
PATEK PHILIPPE CALATRAVA PILOT TRAVEL TIME 7234R
Founded in 1851, Patek Philippe remain ever true to their traditions, yet every now and then they show that they can move with modern times. This was never more apparent than when they unveiled this very watch, the latest addition to the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time collection. Announced via Instagram, this Travel Time is aimed at ladies’ wrists, introducing a 37.5mm rose gold case and brown graduated dial. $56,000
FRANCK MULLER VANGUARD LADY GRAVITY
In watchmaking there are few complications as prestigious as the tourbillon and this one has an extra claim to fame. It is the crowning complication in the first feminine interpretation of the Vanguard Gravity collection. Large pink highlighted numerals in the classic Franck Muller style sit above an open heart where the tourbillon beats and twirls to life in all its gravity-defying beauty. $165,000
CARTIER RÉVÉLATION D’UNE PANTHÈRE
As with some of life’s great wonders, only when you see can you believe. And this latest marvel from the French Maison is the perfect example. With a simple turn of the wrist, what was once a blank dial begins to fill with tiny gold beads, flowing from top to bottom and revealing a stylised panther’s face. And then almost as quickly, it disappears, the beads resting at the bottom of the dial. POA
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS LADY ARPELS PLANÉTARIUM POETIC COMPLICATIONS
Fans of Van Cleef & Arpels know that the Maison loves a bit of poetry. And their latest astronomical complication puts the solar system on the wrists of those with the world at their fingertips, with Mercury, Venus and Earth – each represented by a tiny polished bead – orbiting an aventurine dial in real time. Adding yet another rhythmical verse is the brilliant-cut diamond, rotating around the Earth in 29.5 days, offering a moon phase like no other. POA