The best luxury watch brands for women include those established by historic watchmakers, designers, and brands such as Cartier, Patek Philippe, and Omega. Before you head over to your nearest jewelry store or luxury watch boutique, though, you’ll want to consider a few factors that will play into which of these women’s luxury watch brands is your perfect fit. There are many on the market, and designer watches for ladies are not simply smaller versions of the same models designed for men.
Here are the best luxury watch brands for women, as well as what BriteCo founder and CEO Dustin Lemick, a major watch enthusiast, advises about the watch shopping process.
What You Will Learn
What are the Best Luxury Women’s Watches?
The best luxury women’s watches combine style with utility and value, and watches from brands such as Cartier, Omega, and Patek Philippe do this seamlessly. Why do these three factors matter most? Well, of course, you want a watch that looks good, but if you’re going to spend the money on a luxury women’s watch, you’ll also want to make sure it fits your lifestyle and retains its value over time. In short, you want something that also doubles as an investment piece.
Here are a few specific models to consider.
The Cartier Tank
If you love the look of classic jewelry from the Art Deco period, you’ll likely appreciate the Cartier Tank’s Art Deco-reminiscent design. “Like a lot of the classic watches, it actually hasn’t changed that much over time,” Lemick says. Launched in 1917, this watch easily could have been incorporated by your grandmother into a stylish outfit, and you can do the same today.
The Cartier Tank is defined by its rectangular case (Cartier designed it after finding inspiration in the shape of a military tank, hence the name) and Roman numerals on the face, as well as its accessible price point. You can choose from multiple band options; there are metal links and leather bands available in various finishes. Some versions likewise include extra embellishments, such as diamonds surrounding the face.
The Omega Constellation
If you don’t particularly love the Cartier Tank’s rectangular design, though, you might choose to add the Omega Constellation to your wishlist.
This one is a sleek, slim, classic watch with a round face and feminine touch, with multiple variants at various price points. Some feature slender Roman numerals along the bezel, while others feature a diamond setting. They come in an array of colors and precious metals, too, including yellow gold, steel, and Sedna gold, which is Omega’s proprietary rose gold that the brand claims is more durable than typical rose gold.
At prices ranging from around $6,000 to upward of $35,000, Omega is “a step down in terms of how expensive the watch is,” Lemick says.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4
While some expensive watches for women are indeed merely counterparts to the men’s watch of the same design, that’s not the case when it comes to the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 collection, which was designed specifically for women.
You get two options when it comes to these timepieces: a rectangular, Art Deco watch with a quartz movement, or a round case with a self-winding movement. There are multiple models within the collection, so you have even further options beyond shape and movement. Choose between various dial colors, as well as accents such as diamonds and precious metals like stainless steel or gold.
Furthermore, if you prefer to wear matching accessories, Patek Philippe has produced an exclusive collection of matching earrings and rings that perfectly complement the Twenty~4 watch collection.
The Bulgari Serpenti
If you really want to splurge on one of the best luxury watches for women, you might want to go with an absolutely iconic timepiece from Bulgari: the Serpenti watch. The entire Serpenti collection from this Italian brand has garnered attention from discerning collectors and celebrities alike. If you take a look, you’ll immediately understand why.
Ranging in price from around $6,000 to nearly $100,000, the Serpenti watches all offer a gorgeous serpent-inspired design, combining precious metals and gemstones into scale-like configurations, for a bracelet that wraps around the wrist in one smooth motion.
“That’s a cool watch,” Lemick says. “Unbelievably unusual watch, very different from anything else in the market. It’s one of one. It’s super interesting and can get quite expensive.”
Other Brands that Sell High-End Watches for Women
If you’re not seeing anything you’re interested in, in the above suggestions, you might consider also looking into luxury watches from the following brands:
- Breitling
- Tudor
- Hermes
- Chanel
- Longines
- Tag Heuer
- Oris
- Panerai
Whichever brand you end up going with, though, you’ll want to consider a few key things throughout your watch search to avoid making a potentially very costly mistake.
What to Think About When Buying Luxury Brand Watches for Women
Before purchasing a watch, you’ll want to consider your lifestyle, how you’ll wear it, your personal preferences, your budget, and whether you’d like it to serve as an investment.
How Will You Wear the Watch?
Women’s watches can generally be broken down into three categories: dress watches for special occasions, sports watches for wear during outdoor activities, and everyday watches that are suitable for a range of situations.
If you’re just looking for a nice watch to wear to the office or one that works with any outfit, an everyday watch is the way to go. It can still be luxurious and from a high-end watchmaker, but it may not be as pricey or embellished. “The Cartier Tank is very versatile,” Lemick says. “That could be worn every day. The Patek is kind of the same.”
In contrast, a luxurious dress watch often features more precious metals and gemstones, as well as a design that may not be suitable for everyday wear. “Bulgari is much dressier, I think, just because the style of it is very fashion-forward,” Lemick says.
If, though, you engage in a lot of outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, boating, etc., then you might want a more durable watch that you can wear during those activities without worrying about damage. Additionally, sports watches often offer extra features designed with your activity in mind, like a high level of water resistance for diving or sailing watches.
Do You Want an Investment Watch?
Some shoppers are drawn to luxury watches because they believe they make good investments; you can purchase a high-end watch now and then sell it at a later date for a profit.
If this is your ultimate goal, you’ll want to pick a watch from a watch brand that reliably retains its value. “For a ladies watch, Cartier probably tends to hold the most value,” Lemick says. “Rolex is very close, and Patek also is very close.”
What is Your Budget, and What are Your Personal Preferences?
Lastly, you always want to keep your budget in mind when shopping for a luxury watch, as well as your own personal preferences.
“I always say, first and foremost, buy what you like,” Lemick says. “These watches are expensive. You want to make sure that a year from now, three years from now, and five years from now, it’s still going to be versatile enough that you’ll still enjoy it and be able to wear it all the time.”
Even if a watch makes a great investment, if you don’t personally like it, you won’t wear it, and it’ll sit in its box. Similarly, if you can’t afford a watch, you shouldn’t overextend your budget. Many of the watches mentioned here have multiple versions at a wide variety of price points, so you may just need to purchase a more affordable model of the same watch.
Try Before You Buy
Lastly, before you purchase a women’s watch, consider going into a local jewelry store or boutique to try some on. What looks great in a store window or on a website might not work quite as well on your wrist.
Depending on factors such as your wrist and hand size, the watch design, etc., some watches may look better on you than others. Small watches may look comically tiny on some wearers, and, conversely, large, chunky watches may overwhelm someone with particularly slender wrists.
Moreover, watches have weight to them. You may find some watch designs or materials to be too heavy to wear around all day, every day.
Women’s Watches FAQs
What are the best brands for women’s watches?
Whether you’re looking for classic elegance or a contemporary design, certain women’s watch brands have been beloved for generations, including Cartier, Omega, and Patek Philippe.
Why are luxury watches so expensive?
Luxury watches are typically expensive due to a few factors: the use of precious and rare metals and gemstones, expert craftsmanship, and the brand’s reputation.
What is the most expensive women’s watch?
The most expensive women’s watch in the world is the Graff Hallucination, which is estimated to be worth $55 million.
How much should you spend on a women’s watch?
If you’re buying your very first luxury women’s watch, expect to spend around $5,000 for an entry-level watch from a major luxury brand.
What do you need to consider when buying a women’s watch?
Consider your intended use, your budget, personal style, and whether it’s important to you that the watch also be an investment piece.
When You’ve Picked Your Perfect Watch, Protect It
After you purchase your new watch, make sure that it’s protected from life’s little mishaps. Damage, loss, and theft can all happen when you least expect it, but comprehensive luxury watch insurance can help you replace or repair your watch without spending a penny more.
Learn more and get your free luxury watch insurance quote now.
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