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WATCH WARDROBE The wristwatch has been described as the “ulti-
where. Thus, the multi-talented timepiece has
mate accessory.” For women, it offers so much
evolved into an essential tool for everyday living,
more than a belt or a handbag, or even a great pair
including office meetings, favorite sports, the
of shoes. Beautiful, functional, colorful, and versa-
expression of personal style, and exhibiting your
tile, the ladies’ wristwatch serves every function
appreciation for the beauty of a hand-crafted
from black-tie spectacle to funky fashion state-
mechanical instrument.
ment, and keeps you on time in the process.
The ideal watch wardrobe can be divided
For a man, a necktie is not always required,
according to the functions that define each aspect
and cuff links are rarely worn while scuba diving.
of a woman or man’s lifestyle. Here, we break it
Just the right watch, however, can take you any-
down into five essential categories.
CA R O L
B E S L E R
As every man or woman of style knows, a wardrobe starts with staples. The same principle applies to building a watch wardrobe ...it begins with five essential starter pieces.
CLASSIC Understated and sophisticated, this is the iconic timepiece that exudes status without flamboyance. Every woman needs a true passe-partout watch that takes you from office to evening and epitomizes a personal style characterized by confidence and restraint. It is the little-black-dress of
Frederique Constant Classics Art Deco Joaillerie. High Precision Quartz, fine “Clou de Paris” guillochage in silvered dial centre.
watches, characterized by Roman numerals, neutral shades and is often solid gold, with diamonds as accents only.
Gucci U-Play. Each model comes with an interchangeable bezel and bracelet set in three different tones and materials
DRESSED UP The dressed-up watch is somewhere in between the daytime classic and the formal high jewelry watch. It works for important occasions such as cocktail parties or royal weddings — anything up to formal black tie. It should contain some diamonds, but stops just
Chopard Imperiale Quartz. Dial : Silver with Mother of Pearl Center, Roman. 42
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short of full-on bling. Other dressy elements might include mother-of-pearl dials, enamel details and marquetry.
Tissot New Helvetia gold with white strap.
JEWELRY Astrale watch, with yellow gold case (36mm), black dial and double Bulgari logo engraved on the bezel. Yellow gold and diamond demi pavé.
Jewelry watches are really exquisite bracelets that happen to tell time. They are usually limited in production, sometimes just to a single piece, and the finest examples demonstrate the highest level of gem setting, with important diamonds or other gemstones. Gems are custom cut and matched to fit case and bracelet, and set by
Rado Sintra Jubile, High Tech Ceramic, 40 diamonds, quartz.
hand. A good jewelry watch is a must — for black-tie dinners, red-carpet affairs and in case you marry a prince.
MECHANICALS This is the category that reveals your status as a connoisseur of fine timepieces. Today, most brands carry watches with mechanical movements for women, offering everything from standard automatics to complications such as dual timers, chronographs, tourbillons and minute repeaters. Wearing one of these mini mechanical wonders demonstrates some understanding of the complex and fascinating (and previously men’s) world of watch movements.
Piaget Limelight Round Watch, round 18kt white gold case, case and dial set with round brilliant diamonds (approx. 6.50ctw), black alligator leather strap with diamond-set, white mother of pearl dial pave set with diamonds in the center.
Frederique Constant Double Heart Beat. 18K Rose gold, bezel set with 56 diamonds.
SPORTS Chronographs are the world’s most popular complication. Technically a stop watch, a chrono is one of the most stylistically versatile of watches. It can be big, bold, clunky and colorful or sleek, scaleddown, diamond studded or understated. The look is sport-chic feminine, and you don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate the style.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ceramic Ladies
The Tissot Veloci-T sports watch is perfect for life in the fast lane. The modern design has elements of daring color and material combinations that make it equally at home with sports gear or urban chic. K AY ’ S
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CLASSIC The men’s classic dress watch never goes
Jaquet Droz Grande Heure Minute Réhaut. Opaline black dial, snailed silvered subdial. 43mm, Numerus Clausus of 88.
out of style. Tough-guy timepieces are fun, but at a certain point, the multifunction, rubber-strapped, rocketlaunching
watches
should
be
changed for something that simply exudes a sense of cultivated style. Gold, steel or two-tone cases and bracelets dominate this category, and common elements include Roman numerals and simple, hour-minute functions and minimalist dials. Bvlgari Sotirio Bulgari Date Retrograde stainless steel case.
SPORTS A popular choice of Tissot motor-sport ambassadors, the Tissot TRace is also a winner off the circuit. This sporty timepiece boasts a dramatic design with bike-racing inspired elements.
Technically, in order to be called a sports watch, a timepiece must be water-resistant to at least 50 meters. Many sports watches are also distinguished by the subdials that identify them as a chronograph, the world’s most popular watch complication. The pilot’s watch, with it’s large numerals for high legibility, also fits the category, as does the diver’s watch, which should always have a unidirectional rotating bezel to time dives.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Automatic Chronograph.
EXTREME SPORTS While the sport watch is appropriate for any occasion, the extreme sport watch is a purpose-built tool — a watch with a mission. Diving to the depths of the sea, checking the weather and the barometric pressure while climbing Mount Everest, or simply whacking the tennis or golf ball with all your might requires a watch that is extra tough, with super functions such as helium valves, all designed to bring out your inner James Bond. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver ISO Certified. Non-reflective crystal. One-way rotating elapsed-time bezel. Screw-back case and screw-down crown. 44
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Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST with tapered titanium and stainless steel bracelet with patented folding buckle & extension system. Water resistant to 3,000m/9,850ft.
as accessories
COLLECTIBLES Avid watch collectors tend to look for new versions of iconic watches from brands that carry a certain cachet at auction houses and on the pre-owned market in general. But even noncollectors covet a watch that is collectible, yet serves its original purpose in style: to be worn every day. When you are ready to trade it in, it’s good to know you have invested in a watch that could be one day resold for a good price.
Romaine Jerome, The new Steampunk model is born of a hightension creative impulse and accents all the attributes of a devastating personality.
The Hamilton X-Landing features a stainless steel, grey PVD and sapphire crystal dial with an integrated leather strap and a automatic Cal. 7754 movement.
MECHANICAL Although the quartz movement generally keeps perfect time and powers many fine watches, there has been a tremendous renewal in the interest of mechanical watches over the past decade. There is something appealing about a tiny mechanism — small enough to sit on the wrist — with its miniature wheels and gears and springs. Every watch wardrobe should have at least one automatic wristwatch — that is, a mechanical watch that uses a rotor to harness the power of human movement. Other options include a mechanical hand-wound movement, and a host of complications — any function other than hours, minutes and seconds is a complication.
Hublot Big Bang Aero Bang Gold 44mm men’s watch.
Piaget Altiplano 43mm 50th Anniversary Limited Edition watch, limited edition of 235 pieces, ultra-thin round 18kt white gold case with transparent caseback, black alligator leather strap with 18kt white gold clasp. Caliber 1208P self-winding mechanical movement. K AY ’ S
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