Watches may have initially been worn for practical purposes, allowing the wearer to easily tell time, but they’ve since evolved into fashion accessories. These days, they’re more often strapped around wrists to complement or contrast with an outfit than to serve as literal timekeepers.
These days, you can find watches for women in every style, though a few are emerging as key trends for 2026. They’re vintage-inspired, borrowed from the boys, jewellery cues, statement makers and, the always popular, classic investments.
Below, we’re explaining why each watch trend is popular now, alongside the models we feel exemplify it best. From vintage-inspired, to jewellery-look and statement makers, these are the styles we’re predicting will be wrapped around every fashion editor’s wrist in 2026.
Read: 10 Watches You’ll Want To Keep On Your Wrist Forever
Vintage-Inspired
There are several reasons why vintage and vintage-inspired watches are trending today: They feature timeless designs, carry a sense of nostalgia, and, in the case of second-hand pieces, are eco-conscious — less damaging to our planet. They’re a clear shift away from the oversized, ‘bigger is better’ styles of recent years, in line with the quiet luxury aesthetic.
HEAVEN MAYHEM
The Icon Watch
CASIO
Vintage A168WG-9W
CENDRE
Bridgette Watch
CENDRE
Mila Watch
Borrowed From The Boys
This year, the boundary between men’s and women’s watches is thinner than ever, with genderless timepieces more and more common. For women, wearing men’s watches can also play into the ‘power dressing’ ethos, strategic use of fashion to communicate authority and confidence. Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston both regularly wear men’s-style watches.
DANIEL WELLINGTON
Iconic Chronograph Link Onyx G
PHILLIP PLEIN
Hyper Shock 44MM
MICHAEL KORS
Lexington Silver Chronograph Watch
TAG HEUER
Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph
Jewellery Cues
Brands are increasingly designing watches with bands as important, or sometimes even more important, than the dial. The Cartier Baignoire and the Bvlgari Serpenti were designed to be worn as cuffs or bangles. Watches with covers over the dial are also becoming popular, and understandably so. In an era of constant digital notifications, they’re discreet.
LOVISA
Gold Molten Vintage Round Watch Cuff
ROSEFIELD
Studio Edition 6 Bangle Oval Watch Gold
ROBERTO CAVALLI
Snake Stainless Steel Gold
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
Orb Button 25mm Gold Strap Watch
Statement Makers
A ‘statement watch’ doesn’t necessarily mean it’s big, it can also simply have visual impact, catching the eye through artistry. They might feature unconventional silhouettes, vivid dial colours or bands or untraditional materials. In some cases, they’re wearable art, reflecting the wearer’s unique narrative.
BREDA
Jane Revival Watch
DANIEL WELLINGTON
Bound Crocodile Champagne Sunray Gold
TED BAKER
Lileey Black Dial Gold Bracelet Watch
MOVADO
Museum Bangle
Classic Investments
Investment watches are timepieces you’re hoping to have for years. Because of that, you won’t want their style to be too trendy, so it will date; instead, opt for timeless designs, no pun intended. Look for real leather, stainless steel or yellow gold. You also want the watch to go as well with a white tee as it would with a suit.
When shopping for one, consider the craftsmanship too — Swiss-made movements, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and quality case materials are signs that a watch is built to last, not just look good on arrival. The Tissot SRV 30mm ticks every box: its Art Deco-inspired rectangular silhouette draws from Tissot’s 1920s archives, meaning it has already stood the test of time once before, and its carnation gold Milanese bracelet gives it that effortless polish that works just as well dressed up as it does dressed down.
EMPORIO ARMANI
Two-Hand Brown Leather Watch
ROSEFIELD
Mini Oval Silver-Tone Woven Mesh Watch
TISSOT
SRV 30mm Watch
FOSSIL
Gilmore Brown Analogue Watch
Measuring your wrist is a simple but essential step to ensuring a watch looks balanced on your wrist and that it’s comfortable to wear. Your wrist circumference helps determine both the strap length and the case diameter. Choose your measuring tool – flexible measuring tape or a piece of string you wrap around your wrist and then lay flat on a ruler – and then find the right spot to measure. Keep your palm open and hand relaxed and measure just below the wrist bone where a watch would naturally sit.
Definitely! In the fact the ‘borrowed from the boys’ watch style is currently trending. Men’s watches can be chunkier than women’s jewellery, which might be the wearer’s preference. They might also be investment pieces, holding their value so you can re-sell them for a similar amount later. And they’re often endorsed by A-listers, like Charlize Theron, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston.
The ‘best’ everyday luxury watch is defined by versatility – it should work for a morning gym session, high-stakes boardroom meeting and a dinner date. This typically means it’s made from durable stainless steel or two-tone case that resists the wear of a busy lifestyle. Beyond the physical piece, it should also feature a clean, timeless design, so it works no matter what you’re wearing or doing.
