The hottest new trend in the haute horlogerie watch world is the acknowledgement that women want mechanics, too.
Today, more than ever before, top watch brands are recognizing that savvy women want more than just a pretty face on the watch on her wrist. Many enjoy the concept of a mechanical watch. As such, mechanical watch category – once reserved for men – is no longer an all-boys-toys arena.
Additionally, mechanical watches for women are being created in a host of sizes, shapes and colors – and, more importantly, with complex functions that take them above and beyond being just a nice mechanical watch; they tend to gravitate toward timepieces that go the distance – in the board room, and on the weekend. Typically these mechanical calibers are hand assembled and are elegantly finished with engraving and detailing that makes the watch a work of art. It can take weeks – even months – for the most complicated of movements to be assembled before being fit into a watch case of distinction.
Among the most coveted complications on the market for women’s mechanical watches today are tourbillons (watches with an escapement that compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity when the watch is in certain positions), calendars and multi-time zone watches. But in some instances, a woman just wants a beautiful three-hand watch whose gears and wheels tick inside to time perfectly.
Van Cleef & Arpels has long been a master at offering women’s watches with a twist. From its complex retrogrades to its wildlife-inspired and whimsical themed kite and butterfly watches, this brand regularly goes the extra step in finishing and detail. One of its most coveted mechanical wonders is the iconic Fairy watch with retrograde movement. Part of the Van Cleef & Arpels Poetry of Time collection, the Fairy watch features retrograde hands that indicate the time on an arc before returning instantly to their initial positions to begin yet another journey. In the instance of the Fairy watch, the retrograde hand is the fairies’ wand for the hours and wings for the minutes.
In its Velvet collection, Roger Dubuis offers an array of choices for women – all with the Automatic RD821 mechanical movement that displays hours, minutes and seconds. The movement, as with all Roger Dubuis calibers, is stamped with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. This stunning version is a blend of femininity and sophistication thanks to the 100 diamonds (weighing approximately 1.77 carats) and the champagne colored strap and rose gold case.
In its Velvet collection, Roger Dubuis offers an array of choices for women – all with the Automatic RD821 mechanical movement that displays hours, minutes and seconds. The movement, as with all Roger Dubuis calibers, is stamped with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. This stunning version is a blend of femininity and sophistication thanks to the 100 diamonds (weighing approximately 1.77 carats) and the champagne colored strap and rose gold case.
Perrelet, considered the inventor of the automatic watch, utilizes the double-rotor automatic movement for its floral line so that the lotus flower on the dial actually spins as the automatic rotor in the back moves. Essentially, the automatic rotor of the movement is connected to a second rotor on the dial that spins the artistic element of the watch (in this case, a flower) – bringing a beautifully artistic appeal to a mechanical timepiece.
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