A fine watch isn’t simply a handy way to tell the time – you can do that on your mobile anyway. It’s an expression of good taste and style and in the case of the most sought-after makes, it’s an appreciating asset

Photography by Chris Haylett
Styling by Jennifer Watton
Hair and makeup by Sonia Leal-Serafim

THENIGHTWATCH

by TONY WHITNEY

Fine wristwatches have enjoyed a boom in recent years, with top Swiss makers posting year-by-year records, even in  challenging economic times. And while much of the focus has been on increasingly gadget-festooned men’s  watches, few prestige brands have ignored women’s designs and many specialize in that market. After all, women were wearing wristwatches well before men, who stuck faithfully to their bulky pocket watches long after the ladies had discovered the convenience of a timepiece worn on the wrist. It took the demands of WWI troops to popularize the wristwatch as a “unisex” item combining  practicality with stylistic flair.

The great watchmakers long have included women’s watches in their catalogues – usually with a charm, design and individuality of their own and sometimes as downsized versions of men’s watches. Rolex, Omega, Longines, Tissot, TAG Heuer, Concord, Zenith, Ebel, Baume & Mercier and many other (mostly Swiss) makers offer outstanding designs for every 
imaginable occasion from formal evenings to sports. 

Watch designs often are  influenced by wider trends and many fashion houses market their own timepieces – names such as Hermes, Gucci, Armani and Burberry. Even writing instrument icon Mont Blanc has a wide range of watches now.

Recent years have seen the return to favour of mechanical watches with self-winding movements and many 
women’s timepieces – even very small ones – boast this feature. Even so, the smaller and slimmer women’s designs 
often use precision quartz movements, which are highly accurate and far easier to engineer into a case of 
restricted size.
The quietly distinctive Patek Philippe Twenty-4 timepiece is made in stainless steel with 36 
diamonds, $13,800 (opposite page). Also seen is matching Patek Philippe Calatrava Cross ring in 
18-carat white gold with 48 diamonds, $9,360 – a luxurious combination to slip on for the Crystal 
Ball, a fundraiser for B.C. Children’s Hospital. Patek Philippe is available exclusively at Brinkhaus 
Jewellers in Western Canada.

The wonderful “cocktail” designs of the 1920s and ’30s have all but disappeared in an age 
when women want – and need – chronographs, waterproofing and other practical features, but 
some makers still carry updated versions. Of course, there are lots of Art Deco watches to be 
found in antique shops, but they can be tough to fix if there’s anything wrong. The best place to start looking for a vintage Art Deco watch is a well-established jeweler that handles some estate sale business.

Vacheron Constantin’s 1972 Cambrée – paved timepiece (on this page), as seen at Palladio, is made of 18-carat white gold with a full diamond pave set case and buckle on a pale blue fabric strap – an ideal piece for this month’s sold-out VSO 
Lovers Ball, supporting the Vancouver Symphony. $32,600.

As always, watch cases may be made of a variety of materials. Since almost all watches must be considered jewelry pieces, gold is still an obvious choice. In recent years, white gold and rose gold have become very popular and some makers combine the colours with great effect. Even more desirable is platinum, which is offered by many top-end watchmakers, but expect to pay a high price for such an heirloom. Modern watch cases might be made of anything from high-impact plastic to stainless steel, titanium or even carbon fibre. The best choice for most people with busy lives is probably stainless steel, which is super-durable with the bonus that a good watchmaker can easily polish it and restore its original finish.

The show-stopping Gucci Chiodo timepiece from Rodeo Jewelers, Oakridge 
Centre – seen here in sterling silver with diamonds and mother-of-pearl dial – is the only one in Canada (centre). It’s an eye-catching 
statement to make at this spring’s Diamond Ball to 
benefit the Canadian Cancer Society. $68,500.

A fine watch isn’t simply a handy way to tell the time – you can do that on your mobile anyway. It’s an expression of good taste and style and in the case of the most sought-after makes – Rolex, Omega, Patek Phillipe, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre and others – it’s an appreciating asset. It’s a reminder, perhaps, of a loved one’s caring. It’s a technical marvel that we tend to take for granted – especially if it’s a mechanical watch that may have hundreds, of parts. A wristwatch is a cherished companion that in many cases can last a lifetime and even span several generations. mv