Hollywood’s It-Girls Are Making Watches Cool (Again)

Watches have been an iconic status symbol for decades, and they’ve recently seen a resurgence in pop culture. Models and It-girls like Bella Hadid, Zendaya, Emily Ratajowski, The Olsens, and Kaia Gerber have all been spotted wearing luxe timepieces from established brands like Cartier, Omega, and Audemars Piguet. Shoppers have taken notice, opting for women's watches as a go-to accessory, as heirlooms, or as a key part of their daily jewelry stacks.

Here at Marie Claire, we also believe watches are an essential wardrobe item. But it can feel like some watches are doing too much—tracking your steps, your texts, and your heart rate. What if you want a watch that does less in the logistics department and more in the style realm? Consider the watches on this list our gift to you. We've gathered the best luxury watches and timepieces at a budget in every material out there, from silicone and rubber watches to stainless steel and solid gold.

We even turned to experts like Brynn Wallner, founder of the mega-popular Instagram account and website Dimepiece, Kim-Eva Wempe, the Managing Director and Owner of Wempe, and J.J Owens, the founder of Daily Grail Official, a website dedicated to melding the worlds of watches, fashion, and celebrity, for their advice on all things watches. Keep reading to check out their picks, discover which of the best watch brands are trending for 2024, and bask in the best watches for women this year.

“I think many watch brands have come to the realization that women equally appreciate the technical aspects and craftsmanship of sophisticated watches and have since catered to that, offering a much more comprehensive range of styles, and not just jewelry watches but haute horology pieces as well,” says Wempe about how she has seen the women’s watch category expand over the last few years.

“When something gets so much attention, it becomes difficult for people to ignore. Soon, you start seeing watches everywhere and realize how impacted by the news/social cycle you are,” echoes Wallner of Dimepiece. “Once you dig deeper, past the hype, you realize how special watches can be.” She also notes that smaller watches like Hadid’s are a major trend in the watch world right now. Technically speaking, a small watch is a timepiece measuring under about 36 millimeters.

Yes, watches can come in at a higher price point than many accessories, but purchasing a watch is more than a single expensive purchase. “They're often an investment from a financial standpoint, yes, but above all, they're a sentimental investment,” Wallner explains. “The relationship one forms with a watch is more intimate than with any other luxury item, like a handbag or shoes. A watch, when worn regularly, becomes a part of you, something you wear for life and then pass down to future generations.”

In a time when logos and brand names have been removed in favor of subtle, smaller branding, the appeal of a watch seems obvious, especially when smaller sizes are trending. The if-you-know-you-know appeal of wearing a luxury piece with a brand name that’s almost imperceptibly small to a passerby on the street is perhaps one of the clearest reasons why timepieces have seen a boost in sales. It’s one of the few luxury items you can wear for only yourself with a bit of versatility—concealed under the sleeve of a sweater or shown more prominently on the wrist whenever you want.

Ahead, shop watches from a range of price points from brands like Cartier, Tory Burch, Shinola, Timex, and more. The selection has been broken down into both large and small-sized options so you can choose the one that’s best for you this season.

The Best Watches for Women at a Glance

• Best Gold Watches
• Best Silver Watches
• Best Black Watches
• Best Colorful Watches
• Best Mixed-Metal Watches
• Meet The Experts

The Best Watches for Women

• Best Small Watch Overall: Tory Burch Eleanor Goldtone Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
• Best Big Watch Overall: Daniel Wellington Iconic Link Rose Gold Watch, 40mm
• Best Luxury Watch: G-Timeless Leather Strap Watch, 27mm
• Best Affordable Watch: Timex Indiglo Easy Reader Quartz
• Best Minimalist Watch: MVMT Boulevard Series Watch, 38mm

Best Gold Watches For Women

Best Silver Watches For Women

Best Black Watches For Women

Best Colorful Watches For Women

Best Mixed-Metal Watches

How to Style Watches in 2024

Gone are the days of wearing only your watch and nothing else. Mixing metals and stacking your watch with the rest of your jewelry is not only trendy, but Wallner actually encourages it. “! I love a two-tone moment,” she says. “I wear my steel Cartier Tank Française with my gold rings and it looks very chic.”

Meet The Experts

Brynn Wallner

Brynn Wallner is a writer, consultant and founder of Dimepiece, a platform dedicated to all things women and watches. She lives in New York City. 

Kim-Eva Wempe

J.J Owens

Having collected watches for half her life, J.J. Owens’ interest for horology was peaked through her father. After being unable to shake her love of timepieces, she turned her passion into a career by launching Daily Grail, a media where culture and horology intersect.