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Cartier Vermeil Vendome

Cartier Vintage Vendôme Quartz 30mm Vermeil WatchSwiss Made, with Box
Cartier Vintage Vendôme Quartz 30mm Vermeil WatchSwiss Made, with Box

Cartier Vintage Vendôme Quartz 30mm Vermeil WatchSwiss Made, with Box

By Cartier

Located in Berlin, BE

A classic Cartier Vendôme reference 590003 in 30mm, Swiss made quartz movement, vermeil case (925 silver gold-plated).

Category

1990s French Aesthetic Movement Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Genuine Cartier Watch. Must de Cartier Vendome Round Argent Vermeil White Face
Genuine Cartier Watch. Must de Cartier Vendome Round Argent Vermeil White Face

Genuine Cartier Watch. Must de Cartier Vendome Round Argent Vermeil White Face

By Cartier

Located in Port Charlotte, FL

Genuine Cartier watch. Vintage Iconic Vendome Argent. Sterling Silver and Gold plated (Vermeil).

Category

1990s Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

Sapphire, Vermeil, Sterling Silver

Vintage Must de Cartier Large Vendome Trinity Watch. ARGENT Cartier 925 Vermeil
Vintage Must de Cartier Large Vendome Trinity Watch. ARGENT Cartier 925 Vermeil

Vintage Must de Cartier Large Vendome Trinity Watch. ARGENT Cartier 925 Vermeil

Located in Port Charlotte, FL

Vintage from the 1990s Band Material: Silver Materials: Silver Power: Battery Readout: Analog Style: Minimalist Genuine Cartier watch. Vintage Iconic Vendome Argent. Sterling Silve...

Category

Early 2000s Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil Classic Round Watch with Lemon-Cream Roman Dial
Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil Classic Round Watch with Lemon-Cream Roman Dial

Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil Classic Round Watch with Lemon-Cream Roman Dial

By Cartier

Located in Zurich, CH

An exercise in pure Parisian geometric balance, the Must de Cartier Vendôme is a masterclass in clean, elegant design.

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Silver

Recent Sales

Cartier Women’s Vendome Tank Vermeil Watch, circa 1990s
Cartier Women’s Vendome Tank Vermeil Watch, circa 1990s

Cartier Women’s Vendome Tank Vermeil Watch, circa 1990s

By Cartier

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Cartier women’s vermeil Vendome Tank wristwatch circa 1990s.

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendôme 590004 – Vermeil – 24mm – Cartier Box & Service Papers
Cartier Vendôme 590004 – Vermeil – 24mm – Cartier Box & Service Papers

Cartier Vendôme 590004 – Vermeil – 24mm – Cartier Box & Service Papers

By Cartier

Located in London, GB

Cartier Vendôme 590004 – Vermeil – 24mm – Cartier Box & Service Papers An excellent example of the classic Cartier Vendôme reference 590004, crafted in Cartier’s traditional vermeil ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier, Must De Cartier Vendome collection Wrist Watch, 30 MM Vermeil, ( Gold Plate on Sterling Silver ) 2 piece case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Vintage Cartier Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil quartz wach
Vintage Cartier Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil quartz wach

Vintage Cartier Must de Cartier Vendôme Vermeil quartz wach

By Cartier

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

The Vendôme case, inspired by Cartier’s historic Place Vendôme, presents a beautifully balanced silhouette that feels graceful, architectural, and unmistakably Cartier.

Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier lady's vermeil Diamond set vendome Quartz wristwatch
Cartier lady's vermeil Diamond set vendome Quartz wristwatch

Cartier lady's vermeil Diamond set vendome Quartz wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990s Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Wrist Watch with Diamonds on the inner Bezel. 24 MM Gold Plated Sterling Silver water resistant case.

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Must 590003 – Vintage Luxury Timepiece
Cartier Vendome Vermeil Must 590003 – Vintage Luxury Timepiece

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Must 590003 – Vintage Luxury Timepiece

By Cartier

Located in London, GB

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Must 590003 – Vintage Luxury Timepiece An elegant and rare vintage timepiece, the Cartier Vendome Vermeil Must de Cartier 590003 is a stunning example of tim...

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Cartier Colisee Ladies Vendome Vermeil Watch - 18K Gold over Sterling Silver
Cartier Colisee Ladies Vendome Vermeil Watch - 18K Gold over Sterling Silver

Cartier Colisee Ladies Vendome Vermeil Watch - 18K Gold over Sterling Silver

By Cartier

Located in Suwanee, GA

We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating. ...

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Cartier Vermeil Vendome Large Blue Dial Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vermeil Vendome Large Blue Dial Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vermeil Vendome Large Blue Dial Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990 Cartier Vendome Wrist watch, 30 MM Gold Plate, Sterling Silver ( vermeil ) Case.

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vermeil Vendome large Quartz Wristwatch, circa 1990s
Cartier Vermeil Vendome large Quartz Wristwatch, circa 1990s

Cartier Vermeil Vendome large Quartz Wristwatch, circa 1990s

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990s Cartier Vendome Vermeil ( Gold plate on Sterling Silver ) Wrist Watch. 30 MM 2 piece case, unusual Burgundy and Gold Dial, Quartz movement, Sapphire Crown.

Category

1990s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Wristwatch
Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Wristwatch

Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990 Cartier Vendome Diamond set wrist Watch, 30 MM Vermeil, Gold Plated Sterling silver, water resistant case.

Category

1990s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Must De Cartier Vermeil Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Must De Cartier Vermeil Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Must De Cartier Vermeil Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in South Pasadena, CA

Cartier Vendome Must de Cartier Quartz vermeil wristwatch, circa 1990s.

Category

1990s Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2005 Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Ladies Wrist Watch, 24 MM 2 Piece Vermeil, Gold Plate on Sterling Silver case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier ladies Vendome Wrist watch, 24 MM Gold Plate Sterling Silver ( Vermeil ) case.

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Large Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Vermeil Large Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Large Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1988 Cartier Vendome collection Wrist Watch, 30 MM Vermeil, Gold Plate on Sterling Silver case.

Category

Vintage 1980s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Vendome, Must de Cartier Ladies Wrist Watch, 24 MM Vermeil, Gold plate on Sterling Silver case, Quartz Movement, Black Dial with Silver Roman Numerals, Sapphire Cr...

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier ladies Vendome Wrist watch, 24 MM Gold Plate Sterling Silver ( Vermeil ) case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Large Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Vendome Collection Wrist Watch, 30 M.M. Vermeil ( Gold plate on Sterling Silver ) 2 piece case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vermeil Diamonds Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990 Cartier Vendome Diamond set Wrist Watch, 24 MM Vermeil, Gold Plate on Sterling Silver, Water Resistant case, quartz Movement, cream Dial with Black roman Numerals, Later S...

Category

1990s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Vermeil

Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990s Cartier, Must De Cartier Vendome collection Wrist Watch, 30 MM Vermeil, Gold Plate on Sterling Silver case.

Category

1990s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vermeil Must De Cartier Vendome Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vermeil Must De Cartier Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vermeil Must De Cartier Vendome Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Wrist Watch, 30 MM Vermeil, Gold Plate Sterling Silver water resistant case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vermeil Large Vendome Quartz Wrist Watch
Cartier Vermeil Large Vendome Quartz Wrist Watch

Cartier Vermeil Large Vendome Quartz Wrist Watch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1990 Never Worn Cartier Vermeil ( Gold Plated Sterling Silver ) Vendome Collection Wrist Watch. 30 MM Water Resistant case, Quartz Movement, Brown Dial with Gold Roman Numerals...

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wrist Watch
Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wrist Watch

Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wrist Watch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Vendome collection Ladies Wrist Watch, 24 M.M. 2 Piece Vermeil case ( Gold Plate on Sterling Silver ) Sapphire Crown, Quartz Movement, White Dial with Roman Numera...

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Watch
Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Watch

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Watch

By Cartier

Located in Dallas, TX

Cartier Vendome Vermeil Ladies Watch - Quartz. Vermeil ( 24 mm).

Category

20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier ladies Must De Cartier Vendome Wrist watch, 24 MM Vermeil ( Gold Plate on Sterling Silver ) case.

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Vendome Large Must De Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Vendome Large Must De Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Vendome Large Must De Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier, Must De Cartier, Vendome Wrist Watch. 30 MM 2 Piece Vermeil ( Gold Plate on Sterling Silver ) case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Large Vendome Must de Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Large Vendome Must de Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Large Vendome Must de Cartier Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Vendome, Must de Cartier Wrist Watch, 30 MM Gold Plate, Sterling Silver ( Vermeil ) Case.

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Ladies Vermeil Vendome Must de Cartier Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2000 Cartier Vendome Must De cartier Collection ladies Wrist watch, 24 MM Vermeil Case, Quartz Movement, Gold Mirrored Dial and a Sapphire Crown.

Category

Early 2000s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch
Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

Cartier Must de Cartier Vendome Ladies Vermeil Quartz Wristwatch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2005 Cartier Must De Cartier Vendome Ladies Wrist Watch, 24 MM 2 Piece Vermeil, Gold Plate on Sterling Silver case.

Category

Early 2000s French Wrist Watches

Materials

Vermeil

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Cartier Vermeil Vendome For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate cartier vermeil vendome for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, Vermeil and Gold Plate — can elevate any look. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. You’re likely to find the perfect cartier vermeil vendome among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 20th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but versions are of considerable interest. A cartier vermeil vendome can be a stylish choice for most occasions, but Diamond rings, from our inventory of 5, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a cartier vermeil vendome, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Cartier Vermeil Vendome?

On average, a cartier vermeil vendome at 1stDibs sells for $1,295, while they’re typically $695 on the low end and $2,150 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Cartier for sale on 1stDibs

For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.

Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.

Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)

Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.

One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.

Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.

On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.

While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.

Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Wrist-watches for You

Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.

Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.

Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.

Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.

In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.

Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.

Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.