12 Great Gifts for Women Who Collect Watches, From Cartier to ...

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Image Credit: Audemars Piguet

Well, ladies, we’ve been asking for it, and here it is: smaller versions of watches that are classically men’s. The RO Mini is a 23 mm interpretation of the mighty icon. It was inspired by a 20mm mini Royal Oak launched in 1997, just as the watch industry was entering a renaissance of sorts. The new one is quartz, which has been trending lately in luxury watches, particularly gold dress watches (presumably to counteract the skyrocketing price of the precious metal). The RO Mini is in frosted 18-karat gold only—white, yellow, or rose—on a bracelet. Each has a petite tapisserie dial matching the gold case and bracelet. $34,400

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Harry Winston Emerald Green Image Credit: Harry Winston

Harry Winston, who founded the eponymous brand in 1932, at the height of the Art Deco era, loved the geometry and symmetry of emerald-cut emeralds and the gem’s color. The shape became his company logo and is pervasive throughout many of the collections even today, including the Emerald watch, which was launched in 2016. This version, with a double-tour strap and 18k rose gold case, is set with 53 diamonds on the lugs and bezel. Prices start at $13,600 for the collection, which includes several colors, bracelet options, and diamond treatments.

BUY NOW: $13,600

A Dictionary of Wonders: Van Cleef & Arpels Image Credit: Flammarion

This coffee table tome is no ordinary book about watches and jewelry. Instead of a long chronology of brand history, it gets right down to the magic of it with an alphabetical guide to the themes and codes of the famous Maison. It’s like a reference guide, with archival information and gorgeous photography of emblematic jewels, precision watchmaking, and jewelry-making techniques, along with artistic collaborations. Written by French luxury editor Fabienne Reybaud.

BUY NOW: $85

Hermès Cut Image Credit: JVA Studios

It’s not easy to design a dress watch since there is only so much you can do with the classic, minimalist three-hand formula without crossing over to another genre, like sports or high watchmaking. Hermès cracks the code with a round but also cushion shape that tweaks the dress watch aesthetic without violating it. It’s part fashion watch with a sporty vibe thanks to its rubber strap, which comes in eight colors, and part serious watchmaking, with the Hermès in-house H1912 movement. It comes in asteel or in a two-tone combination of steel and rose gold, with or without gem setting. $16,300 for the two-tone with diamonds model shown here.

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Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001 Image Credit: Patek Philippe

The Ellipse, originally launched in 1968, is one of the many shaped watches that emerged in that era. Patek relaunched it this year with a new, bracelet (the model is known for its distinctive chain bracelets) that was 15 years in development, with links assembled and finished by hand in a woven braid-like pattern. The dial is ebony-black sunburst, like the original. It contains the caliber 240 ultra-thin automatic movement, which means it is now slimmest watch in the Patek Philippe catalogue. $60,097

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Bulgari Bulgari Bracelet Image Credit: Bulgari

Sometimes, the best accessory is one that accessorizes your watch. Wearing a gold bracelet with a gold watch has long been a style statement, one that distinguishes an elegant woman’s timepiece from its more utilitarian tool-watch counterparts. This Bulgari Bulgari chain bracelet in 18k rose gold is designed with mother-of-pearl and onyx on round disks that echo the shape of a classic round dress watch. 

BUY NOW: $4,500

Image Credit: Cartier

You can never, ever go wrong with a Cartier Tank on any occasion. This is the original Tank design created by Louis Cartier in 1917, with its distinctive flat vertical brancards, railroad track chapter ring, and Roman numerals. It has since inspired countless variations and sub-collections and is still one of the world’s most classic watch. This version, set with diamonds in rose gold on a red strap, seems made for the holidays.

Buy Now: $24,800

Watches and Wonders 2025 VIP Pass Image Credit: Watches and Wonders

If there is a watch lover on your Christmas gift list with a wish list beyond your scope, you can get the next best thing with the Watches and Wonders VIP Pass. Think of it as a ticket to the watchmaking circus of the year, the Eras tour of watchmaking. It’s available for pre-sale (www.watchesandwonders.com) from December 3 to 20 only, and includes priority access, a dedicated VIP Lounge with complimentary lunch and refreshments, private small-group guided tours, exclusive product presentations  and a commemorative gift. CHF 550 or about $620.

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Julie Kraulis Custom Watch Illustration Image Credit: Julie Kraulis

A passion for watches can take many forms. For artist Julie Kraulis, it involves making detailed, true-to-life renderings of iconic models and movements. Kraulis’s collection of graphite drawings, called Making Time, was inspired by an article on iconic timepieces she saw in a magazine. “I discovered a fascinating world of soul, story, and craftsmanship,” she says. Kraulis has since worked with brands, auction houses, leading editorial publications, and individual collectors. Price upon request.

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Buben & Zorweg Katherina Safe Image Credit: Buben & Zorweg

This combination jewelry-cabinet/watch-winder/high-security safe is named after a customer who asked Buben & Zorweg to create a custom luxury mirrored cabinet as a housewarming gift for her daughter (Wouldn’t you love to see the house?). The company thought it was such a good idea now, you can have one too, for €349,000 (about $366,000). Materials include eucalyptus inlaid wood, Nappa leather, and gold. There are 16 watch winders, eight drawers for jewelry, two safes, and an integrated flying tourbillon with a moon phase indication.

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L’Epée + Louis Vuitton Decorative Clock Image Credit: Louis Vuitton

When LVMH acquired L’ Epée, the luxury Swiss clock maker, last June, it seemed at first like an offbeat addition to its stable of watch and jewelry brands. It makes sense, though, when you consider that L’ Epée is at the luxury end of the clock world. Now, LVMH puts the company to work for its Louis Vuitton brand, with the Montgolfière Aéro, a hot-air-balloon-themed table clock that represents Louis Vuitton’s connection to travel and its signature trunks – the base of the clock is a small, hand-made trunk that houses the winder for the clockworks and serves as the basket for the hot air balloon. It’s a limited edition of eight pieces.

BUY NOW: $61,500

Piatnik Timepiece Puzzle Image Credit: Amazon

Putting together this 1,000-piece puzzle will not only be fun, but might correspond to the time it takes to put together a complicated watch movement. The watches in the puzzle are unbranded, but the composition includes a fascinating and true-to-life assortment of mostly pocket watches with complications and decorative pieces, including a wonderful example of the many hand styles.

BUY NOW: $29

Carol Besler