Best Luxury Watches For Women

There comes a time in every watch-loving girl’s life in which she’s ready to take the plunge into the pool of luxury. To ascend from the endless eBay lowballing and bidding on eBay watches under 100 bucks, and start stashing away cash to save up for the big purchase. For the “future heirloom” watch that haunts her dreams. While that day has yet to come for me, I have amassed an ever-growing wishlist of pieces that might one day be my first, big watch splurge – once I stop dipping into the proverbial piggy bank, that is. Below, I have gathered what I believe to be the best luxury watches for women available today. 

Before we get into the fun part, I want to state first that I like to think of luxury as a state of mind. There are going to be some pretty “pie in the sky” watches on this roundup, which, no matter how frivolous I dare be, I will probably never be able to go into a store and purchase. But what we can distill from these extravagant, top-tier luxury watches is certain design codes, case shapes, and aesthetic choices that catch our eye, and bring us closer to finding a more reasonably priced option. If you, like me, cannot drop thousands of dollars on a watch without bringing shame and ruin upon yourself and family, think of this as digital window shopping. I have thrown some pieces on the list that are a little more reasonable as well, which to me, capture the essence of luxury and have made me feel luxurious while trying them on, in pursuit of making this roundup more, um, well-rounded. Concession over. 

[toc-section heading="Longines Dolce Vita Mini"]

My tried-and-true favorite on the more attainable end, Longines Dolce Vita Mini has been among my favorite women's watch releases of the past few years. I get cuteness aggression from its teeny tiny case every time I see it (even more so when I get to take it for a spin on the wrist). Inspired by designs from the brand’s late 1920s design archive, this watch is Art Deco reimagined for today, especially paired with the bracelet with chocolate-bar shaped links. 

What I really am drawn to about the Dolce Vita Mini, other than its adorably petite frame, is that Longines has pulled out the stops to make the line incredibly versatile. From the sheer amount of strap options (including the quite edgy triple leather strap), to diamond-adorned cases and varying degrees of gold thrown into the mix, the collection ranges from the more approachably priced all steel models to the extreme luxury end with all gold cases and bracelets. Given its teensy 21.50 X 29.00 mm, it comes as no surprise that this thing is quartz powered. If you really have your heart set on an automatic movement, the large size of the Dolce Vita is mechanical, and I still think perfectly versatile enough for the girls out there. 

[toc-section heading="Frederique Constant Classics Manchette"]

Another heater of a women’s watch release that hit the scene earlier this year, Frederique Constant’s Manchette is a sophisticated take on cuff watches. This is more in the realm of the jewelry-meets-watch category, as the watch itself is quartz-powered and not really attempting to be anything horologically groundbreaking. Still, the brand really nailed the bracelet. It’s slinky and articulates perfectly around the wrist and the Clous de Paris (also known as hobnail) motif on each link adds a lot of dimension and playful geometry into the mix. The onyx and malachite stone dial variations strike as the most compelling to me, managing to make the piece feel at once classic and a little punk rock. 

[toc-section heading="Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini"]

AP brought its mini-sized Royal Oak, last seen in 1997, in 2024, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Shrinking down all that Genta-designed goodness into a teensy 23mm package, the newest fleet of Mini Oaks is only available in gold ( white, rose, and yellow), all with a “frosted” finish that makes these things sparkle and shine as the light hits. All three models are quartz-powered and have the ability to disengage the battery with the pull of the crown.  

[toc-section heading="Rolex Lady-Datejust"]

There are plenty of Rolex watches that have unisex appeal and look good on just about everybody. Maybe it's my love for The Sopranos clouding my judgment, but I still can’t shake my favoritism towards the brand’s smallest take on its everyday carry – the incomparable queen Lady-Datejust. The current size of the Lady-Datejust is 28mm (boosted up from the 26mm standard in 2015), and I gotta give the Crown some props for equipping their tiniest take on the Datejust with a Superlative Chronometer Certified movement. These things are also built like tanks and are readily available on the pre-owned market, so feel free to do some sleuthing to find a good vintage model, which is the route I am most likely to take. 

[toc-section heading="(Almost) Anything Cartier"]

There has been no other brand that has so adeptly captured (and maintained) the interest of female consumers quite like Cartier. Likely, this ability has a lot to do with its presence in the fine jewelry space as well, and the knowledge of presenting a range of products that women actually want time and time again.  And, there’s something about that quintessential red box that never gets old. So much of luxury is experiential….

Because I couldn’t pick just one singular Cartier for my guide to the best luxury watches for women, I’m going to rapid-fire through a few standout favorites. The Tank in all forms and sizes is a forever classic. The Panthère is Cartier’s resident “It Girl” watch, and the signature bracelet is just killer. The Baignoire is the girl of the moment, my favorite being the yellow gold mini version on the bangle. A two-tone Santos is probably my Cartier grail (particularly a mechanical one from the 90s). I also have a lot of affection for the Tank Française, as it strikes me as a more sporty take on the classic Tank.

[toc-section heading="Bvlgari Serpenti"]

There’s just something about the slithery drape of the Serpenti that never gets old. A very literal (yet still quite sensual) take on its serpentine inspirations, the Serpenti collection is defined by its snake-head shaped case, and if its the Tubogas, it's a double or triple wrapped articulating bracelet.

Another mainstay in the lexicon of iconic women’s watch designs, Bvlgari also recently unveiled the next mechanical innovation for the collection, equipping several Seddutori and Tubogas models with the BVS 100 caliber – one of the smallest automatic mechanical movements on the market today. The Serpenti is where luxury meets a little taste of danger. 

[toc-section heading="Chopard Happy Sport + Alpine Eagle"]

Another brand that I couldn’t choose just one watch. Chopard is equally well-known for its jewelry as its watches, and the Happy Diamonds and Alpine Eagle are at opposing ends of the aesthetic spectrum. I am not typically drawn to a ton of bling or gem-setting on watches, but when they’re skating across the dial, I can’t help but get giddy. The Happy Sport is almost overwhelmingly feminine, but even within that petite, 33mm frame, Chopard has packed many of the models with in-house automatic mechanical movements – a move that is still rare even at the most luxurious end. 

The Alpine Eagle, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of the Happy Sport with its sporty, integrated bracelet design. Another standout working in the Alpine Eagle’s favor is that richly textured dial, which is something I recommend checking out in person if you have the chance. Even the smallest in the model family (34mm, and seen above) is powered by an in-house, chronometer-certified movement (CHOPARD 09.01-C). 

[toc-section heading="Grand Seiko STGK031"]

The STGK031 captures so many of Grand Seiko’s signature strengths and distills them into a preciously tiny, 30mm case. The smaller scaled sibling of the brand’s popular 38mm SBGH341 (which, I find, is a little large for my personal watch-wearing tastes), the immediate standout element of the STGK021 is that richly textured pink dial in the brand’s Sakura-Kakushi finishing pattern. Pulling from the brand’s quintessential 62GS case architecture, despite its more petite frame, this watch still boasts a mechanical movement within the 92S7 automatic caliber with manual winding. 

[toc-section heading="Hermès Cut"]

Since its debut in 2024, the Hermes Cut has continued to be one of the most exciting new watch designs specifically made with women in mind to hit the scene. It’s 36mm, quite organically shaped, curved case is right within my own size and proportionality sweet spot, and I really like that the sporty yet versatile design ethos that guides it. The typography is killer, and a great mix of playful and legible. This year, Hermès went a little more mechanically experimental with the Le Temps Suspendu rendition of its Cut, in which the running seconds subdial reverses counterclockwise, and time can be temporarily stopped and then restarted, accounting for the correct amount of elapsed time. My preference still lies with the original Hermès Cut, which is powered by the H1912 automatic movement, and is water-resistant 100 meters. I also have a soft spot for the Hermès Kelly watch, which impracticality only makes it more luxurious. 

[toc-section heading="Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso"]

Inarguably one of the most iconic watch designs of all time with its signature swiveling case, the Jager LeCoultre Reverso has, from the beginning, been an impressively unisex design. Even the largest sizes look great on just about every wrist. And the reversible case isn’t just a gimmick; the Reverso is, at its core, a sports watch, initially designed to protect the dial and watch from damage during polo and similar activities. 

There is a broad range of sizes, material construction, and expense in the contemporary Reverso lineup, but a good place to start is the Classic Duetto. It’s got an in-house manual movement via the 854B, and, unlike the Monoface, you have two dial options in one watch. The first being a very classic yet minimal white dial with Arabic numerals and a blued handset. With a flip of the case, you’ll find the sleek, Art-Deco-inspired black dial with a diamond-embellished case. It’s a perfect day-to-night watch. If you’re less concerned with getting a manual movement, there are also more petite, quartz-powered takes on the Reverso. I have also highly romanticized the idea of engraving the solid caseback on a Reverso Monoface with my cat’s name. Another standout from this year, even more on the luxury end, is the pink gold Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds on the killer matching gold Milanese bracelet.