Men might be the primary audience for luxury watch brands, but many women enjoy the hobby of watch collecting just as much. For women, wearing a luxury watch can be a great way of showcasing a sophisticated personal style.
Most luxury watch brands have a dedicated ladies' catalog, but they rarely market it well. It leaves a lot of excellent luxury watches for women in obscurity.
At the same time, a lot of women’s watches from high fashion brands don’t have the quality to match their price, which hurts the reputation of women’s luxury watches as a category.
So today, we’d like to highlight some of those beautiful, elegant timepieces. We’ll focus on luxury Swiss-made ladies' watches that offer true value in terms of quality and horological heritage. Our selection includes timepieces from the big names in watchmaking as well as from jewelry brands that have managed to create notable timepieces.
So are you a woman with an interest in luxury watches? Perhaps you’re a man who would like to introduce one of the ladies in your life into the wonderful world of horology? In any case, keep on reading to learn about the best watches for women!
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
If you want a watch that you can wear every day, you can’t go wrong with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The Oyster Perpetual is one the most important watches from Rolex, and for a good reason - it’s a refined, elegant timepiece for every occasion.
Rolex’s lineup of Oyster Perpetuals for women includes models in several different sizes that will suit most women’s style and wrist size. These are the 28 mm (ref. 276200), the 31 mm (ref. 277200), the 34 mm (ref. 124200), and the 36 mm (ref. 126000).
The Oyster Perpetual is one of the best watches for women because it’s versatile and stylish. The design is a little unisex, in a way that simply takes on the gender of the wearer. There is also room to showcase your personal style with a unique dial color, like the very popular Candy Pink or Turquoise Blue.
All Oyster Perpetuals have an Oystersteel construction, the standard and reliable material Rolex uses for all its sports watches. The smaller timepieces have the 2232 movement inside, whereas the 36 mm has the high-end caliber 3230.
Another great option if you want a watch for more formal occasions is the Lady Datejust. This classic Rolex comes in several configurations that include precious metals and diamonds on the dial and bezel, for a more glamorous style.
Patek Philippe Nautilus “Ladies Automatic”
Moving on to the second horological giant on our list, Patek Philippe also has an extensive catalog of watches for ladies. This isn’t a great surprise, as the first-ever Swiss wristwatch was made by Patek Philippe as a special order from Countess Koscowicz of Hungary over 150 years ago.
Patek Philippe offers a plethora of watches for women, but our pick is its most popular model; the ladies’ version of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The ladies Nautilus comes in multiple stunning configurations.
For daily wear, there’s the standard stainless steel variation with its different dial colors. For upscale events, we think the yellow gold and rose gold models could be real head-turners. There’s even a glamorous option with diamonds on the bezel, which could make a marvelous gift to mark important occasions.
All of the automatic variations come in a 35.2 mm case with the Patek Philippe caliber 324 S C inside. There’s also a smaller and more affordable ladies Nautilus at 32 mm that features a high-quality quartz movement by Patek Philippe. Interestingly, the women’s Nautilus is much easier to find than its male counterpart, which requires you to be on a waitlist for years.
Cartier Tank Must Watch
Cartier should be no stranger to women, as it’s one of the largest producers and distributors of luxury jewelry. Aside from jewelry, Cartier also produces some of the best luxury watches for women and men. The prices are affordable for the quality you get, and the quality of the watches measures up to the offerings from the horological giants. This makes it an ideal purchase for anyone.
The Tank Must Watch (ref. WSTA0051) is essentially the smaller female version of the famous Cartier Tank. This timepiece comes in a signature square case in 29 mm. This shape and size give it a sophisticated elegance, and with a metal strap, it feels dainty and bracelet-like. Plus, its high autonomy quartz movement means you won’t have to worry about your watch’s power for approximately eight years.
Another popular model from Cartier is the Santos-Dumont which is similar to the Tank but with a larger case diameter. Finally, there’s the Panthère de Cartier, a watch that Cartier relaunched in 2017 after discontinuing it in 2004. The Panthère de Cartier is a very popular timepiece due to its flexible steel bracelet.
Omega Constellation
Omega is an iconic watch brand that offers excellent value for money in the luxury watch market. It also has a wide assortment of different models, including ladies' models for all of its signature lines. This makes Omega watches some of the best Swiss ladies' watches.
While you can opt for the female versions of the legendary Speedmaster or the movie icon Seamaster, we think the Omega Constellation is an underrated glamorous option. The Constellation line has traditionally included Omega’s dressier timepieces, and the ladies' collection is particularly dazzling.
The Omega Constellation (ref. 31.23.29.20.99.002) is made of Omega’s Sedna Gold, a proprietary 18K rose gold alloy, and comes with the co-axial caliber 8700. This particular reference has a bright red dial and a matching leather strap, but there are also other colors with matching straps.
If you prefer a more traditional look, there are many options on steel bracelets with neutral dial colors, and glamorous touches like diamond-covered bezels.
On the other hand, if you want a very affordable and fun timepiece to wear on a daily basis, check out the Omega X Swatch Moonswatch collaboration - Mission to Venus in pastel pink could definitely fit a high-femme aesthetic!
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
A brand like Audemars Piguet needs little to no introduction. It has an extensive history behind it, and it’s a part of the holy trinity of luxury watch brands. Audemars Piguet’s catalog for female watches is less vast than other high-end luxury watch brands. However, you can still find its most popular model, the Royal Oak, in several configurations for ladies.
The most famous Royal Oak for women is the Ref. 15550ST.OO.1356ST.02. It features Audemar Piguet’s signature octagonal case in 37 mm and a Grande Tapisserie pattern on the dial.
There are several dial colors to choose from and standard bezels or diamond ones. There’s even a unique configuration with an all-black ceramic case and bracelet with rose gold accents on the dial.
Inside the Royal Oak beats Audemars Piguet’s in-house caliber 5900. It’s an automatic movement with a large 60h power reserve. You can also find configurations of the Royal Oak that come with the quartz-powered caliber 2713 and a smaller 33 mm case.
Breitling Chronomat
Breitling is one of the most underrated luxury watch brands, when Breitling watches are some of the best value for money watches you can buy.
A great option for an everyday timepiece from Breitling is the Chronomat family of watches. The ladies’ variation comes in two sizes, 32 mm and 36 mm. Depending on the size, you either get Breitling’s SuperQuartz movement or the automatic caliber 10.
You can find the Chronomat in a few different dial colors, like mint green, with or without diamonds on the bezel, and on a classic leather strap or its signature Rouleaux bracelet.
Other options from Breitling’s female catalog include the SuperOcean, which is an excellent dive watch and the perfect companion for the beach, or the ladies' version of the Navitimer, a legendary aviation timepiece.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori
Bulgari (BVLGARI if you're feeling fancy) is not the first name you think of when it comes to luxury watches, as the brand primarily deals in jewelry. In recent years, Bulgari has made significant steps in the world of watchmaking, and it’s become synonymous with high-end mechanical movements.
When it comes to women’s watches, Bulgari takes a different approach and produces stylish and unique designs that are also great jewelry pieces. One of its most popular timepieces is the Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori, a unique watch with a case shape that resembles a snakehead. Some variations of the timepiece come in a bracelet that looks like a snake’s body.
The Serpenti Seduttori is a true fashion statement that will draw the attention of anyone who spots it. You can get it in stainless steel or precious metals, with or without diamonds on its bezel.
The only downside to the watch is that it uses a quartz movement rather than a mechanical one. Nevertheless, the watch’s main selling point is its design and appearance, rather than its mechanical parts.
Your Wrist’s New Best Friend
We all know the cliche that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Well, we think diamonds on the bezel of a wristwatch count could certainly count. A luxury watch can be an excellent addition to your accessory collection and provide you with extra functionality.
We understand that the world of luxury watches can seem daunting. But, if you follow our advice and look at some of the best watches for women we mentioned, you’ll definitely find something you like.
Our passion for luxury watches drove us to establish Operandi Firenze in the first place. Our premium watch rolls made from high-quality Italian leather will provide you with a stylish and secure way to store your precious timepieces. Consider purchasing one to go with your brand-new luxury watch.
So, go out there, find your wrist’s new best friend, and don’t forget to keep an eye on the time!
