IWC Schaffhausen 14 Karat Gold Pocket Watch
By IWC
Located in Stamford, CT
Schaffhausen 48mm pocket watch, never engraved. circa 1925-1930 Length: 62.54mm Width: 48mm Case thickness: 8.79mm Crystal: Acrylic Dial: Gold Inside Case: 803264 Outside Case: 77...
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
IWC Open Face Pocket Watch Yellow Gold
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
IWC A 14ct Gold Keyless Lever Art Deco Open Face Pocket Watch C1920s Dial: The beautiful Silver two tone satin finish dial fully signed International Watch Co Schaffhausen with Bre...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
IWC Retro Gold Buckle Honeycomb Bracelet Watch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Retro mid century 18k gold honeycomb buckle design bracelet with IWC watch.
Gold
18K Yellow Gold & Natural Diamond IWC Ladies Watch
By IWC
Located in Lexington, KY
This elegant ladies' timepiece was made by the renowned International Watch Co. (IWC) in striking 18k yellow and white gold with bright white natural diamonds.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Kt Gold Iwc Wrist Watch Caliber 83
By IWC
Located in Antwerp, BE
18 kt Gold Iwc Wrist Watch Caliber 83 Extremely rare IWC in mint condition collectors watch Movement: Mechanical Manual Winding caliber 83 Case: 18kt Yellow gold, Diameter 36.1 mm...
Gold
IWC Portofino Automatic Rose Gold Wristwatch Ref. IW353320
By IWC
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pre-owned IWC Portofino Automatic wristwatch (ref. IW353320), featuring a self-winding automatic movement; black dial with date display at 3 o'clock; and 38mm, 18k rose gold case on ...
Rose Gold
IWC Vintage Rose gold case and Pink dial
By IWC
Located in MADRID, ES
This is a collector piece from 1960s. This IWC for gentleman has a rose gold case and leather bracelet, and an unusual dial with pink color.
Rose Gold
Vintage IWC Watch, c.1950s
By IWC
Located in London, GB
Designer: IWC Age: 1950s, Pre-owned Metal: 18ct Yellow Gold
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage IWC Watch, c.1960s
By IWC
Located in London, GB
Designer: IWC Age: Pre-owned, 1960s Metal: 18ct Rose Gold
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
IWC 38mm Unworn NOS Electronic Old Tuning Fork Yellow Gold
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A mens yellow gold IWC Electronic Old Tuning Fork wristwatch. Featuring a champagne dial with applied hour markers, a date aperture and a yellow gold bezel.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
IWC Portuguese Tourbillon Mystere Limited Edition White Gold IW504207
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A Portuguese Tourbillon Mystere crafted in white gold. Features a tourbillon escapement at 12 o'clock, a small seconds sub-dial, a power-reserve display and a white gold bezel.
White Gold
18Kt Yellow Gold IWC Wrist Watch, Caliber 89, Diameter 36.5mm
By IWC
Located in Antwerp, BE
18Kt Yellow Gold IWC Wrist Watch, Caliber 89, Diameter 36.5mm Calber: 89 Movement: Manual winding Functions: Hours, minutes Case: 18kt Yellow gold case 36.5mm x 9mm Dial: Goldi...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Kt Gold IWC Wrist Watch Automatic Caliber 8541 / 810A
By IWC
Located in Antwerp, BE
18 Kt Gold IWC Wrist Watch Automatic Caliber 8541 / 810A Extremely Rare Iwc in super condition,collectors watch.
Gold
Vintage 1950s IWC Schaffhausen 18k Yellow Gold Manual Wind Dress Watch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Finished with a black leather strap, the piece carries an elegant vintage presence equally suited for formal occasions or everyday refined styling. Brand: IWC Schaffhausen Case Siz...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
IWC 18kt Gold Limited Edition Antoine Saint Exupéry Pilot Chronograph Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in Antwerp, BE
IWC 18k Rose Gold Limited Edition Antoine De Saint Exupery Pilot Chronograph Gents Wristwatch This is a SOLD OUT limited edition piece of only 250 manufactured and sold worldwide, ...
18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
IWC Portugieser 18k White Gold Chronograph Wristwatch with rare Panda Dial
By IWC
Located in New York City, NY
The Essence of Luxury Timekeeping: IWC Portugieser Chronograph 18k White Gold Panda Dial Experience the pinnacle of watchmaking with the IWC Portugieser Chronograph 18k White Gold w...
18k Gold, White Gold
IWC Portofino Romana Perpetual Calendar, Moon Phase, 18 Karat Gold, IW2050
By IWC
Located in Berlin, DE
IWC Portofino Romana Perpetual Calendar 18 Karat Gold, IW2050 From private collection.
Gold, 18k Gold
IWC Schaffhausen Asprey Savonette/Hunting Case Pocket Watch 18 Kt Gold
By IWC
Located in Antwerp, BE
Unique Beautiful and Collectable IWC Savonette/Hunting Case Pocket watch made For Asprey. 49mm 18k yellow gold hunting case with double caseback.
Gold
Vintage IWC Schaffhausen 18K Yellow Gold Dress Watch Gilt Black Dial -Circa 1958
By IWC
Located in Zurich, CH
Contrasting perfectly against the warm honey reflections of the 18K gold case, the dial is adorned with applied yellow gold baton indices, a minimal peripheral dot-minute track, and ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Art Deco IWC Schaffhausen 18k Gold Rectangular Watch (c.1930's)
By IWC
Located in Wailea, HI
Rare Art Deco IWC Schaffhausen 18k Gold Rectangular Watch with Engraved Case (c. 1930s) Description: Presenting a truly exceptional example of Art Deco horology by the renowned Int...
18k Gold
18 Karat Gold limited IWC Pocket Watch, Scarabaeus by Ernst Fuchs, Ref. 5420
By IWC
Located in Berlin, DE
IWC precision lever movement caliber 98.2F with fine adjustment, engraved by hand and 18K gold-plated, chronometer quality.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
IWC 18K Rose Gold Vintage c1950's Manual 17 Jewels Hooded Lugs 21mm Ladies Watch
By IWC
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
This sophisticated ladies’ timepiece by 18K Rosy Yellow Gold IWC (International Watch Company) is a versatile vintage watch, dating from 1950’s, yet it’s in beautiful condition & i...
Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
International Watch Company Gold Open Face Pocket Watch C1920s
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Stauffer could not keep up with supply and demand so they purchased movements from companies like IWC, to fill the gap. The movement was supplied by IWC with Stauffer making the gold...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
International Watch Co. A Rose Gold Full Hunter Pocket Watch C1900
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
The inner gold cover signed International Watch Co Schaffhausen.
14k Gold, Rose Gold
International Watch Company, A Rare 14k Rose Gold Pocket Watch with B&P C1900
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
The gold inner cuvette is fully signed with the cases all signed IWC, numbered and Swiss Hallmarked.
14k Gold, Rose Gold
I.W.C. 18Kt Solid Yellow Gold Art Deco Oversized Tank Watch circa 1930's
By IWC
Located in Long Beach, CA
It has the original silvered dial with solid gold applied numbers. Circa 1930's the watch is entirely hand-made.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
International Watch Company Rose Gold Keyless Lever Open Face Pocket Watch C1920
By IWC
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An International Watch Company 14ct yellow gold, keyless lever open face pocket watch, C1920s with it's original presentation box. Dial: A Beautiful White Enamel Dial in perfect con...
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage IWC Schaffhausen Rose Gold Wrist Watch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1950 IWC International Watch Company Schaffhausen Wrist Watch, 37 M.M 18k Rose Gold 3 Piece case with Fancy Flared lugs, Rose Gold crown, Caliber 89, 17 jewel nickle lever, mec...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
I. W. C. Schaffhausen Yellow Gold Art Deco Style Mechanical Watch
By IWC
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: International Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Tonneau Shape / Art Deco MOVEMENT / CALIBER: 17 Jewels / Cal. 87 DIAL / HANDS: Arabic and Baton Numbers, Gilt Style Ha...
Tiffany & Co. I. W. C. Watch Company Rose Gold Manual Wind Watch
By IWC
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: International Watch Company for Tiffany & Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Round, Classic METAL: 14 Kt. Rose Gold CIRCA: 1930's MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Je...
J.E. Caldwell by I.W.C. 18Kt Yellow Gold Open Faced Art Deco Pocket Watch, 1930s
By IWC
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: International Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Open Faced / Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Yellow Gold and Enamel DIMENSIONS: Diameter 45mm CIRCA: 1920's / 1930's ...
Tiffany & Co. by Schaffhausen International Watch Company Art Deco Watch, 1949
By IWC
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: International Watch Company, Schaffhausen Switzerland / Tiffany & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Round Style METAL / MATERIAL: 14 Kt Solid Yellow Gold DIMENSIONS...
14k Gold
IWC Schaffhausen Yellow Gold Pocket Watch for Raymond Yard
Located in Chicago, IL
Original Excellent condition Silver Satin Dial with Raised Gold numerals, sub seconds chapter and Gold hands.
14k Gold
IWC Da Vinci MOON PHASE CHRON Perpetual Calendar YGOLD 18K 750 Men's Wrist Watch
Located in New York, NY
IWC Da Vinci MOON PHASE CHRON Perpetual Calendar YGOLD 18K 750 Men's Wrist Watch Model IWC Da Vinci Reference Number IW3750 Number of Jewels 36 Features T...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,500
IWC Rose Gold Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
A elegant 18k rose gold watch by IWC with subsidiary seconds.
Unavailable|$3,408
IWC Yellow Gold Wristwatch circa 1950s
By IWC
Located in Verona, IT
18k yellow gold IWC wristwatch, circa 1950s. Two-tone dial, signed Hardy Bros Ltd., with gold applied faceted indexes and dauphine hands. 35mm diameter case with plastic crystal, aut...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$5,400
IWC Yellow Gold Automatic De Luxe Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage IWC Yellow Gold Automatic De Luxe Wristwatch circa 1960s.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$5,940
IWC for Cartier Yellow Gold Automatic Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Dial: Silver with applied yellow gold bâton index. Tritium-coated yellow gold "baton" hands.
18k Gold
Unavailable|$12,500
IWC Portuguese IW545409
By IWC
Located in Willow Grove, PA
18K Rose Gold IWC Portuguese IW545409 watch, water resistance to 30m, with leather strap.
Unavailable|$13,869
IWC Rose Gold Portuguese Descoberta do Brasil Chronograph Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in Munich, Bavaria
IWC Portugieser Ref. 3714 Descoberta do Brasil Case 18k rose gold, screwed back, sapphire crystal, 41mm Movement caliber IWC 79240, automatic Bracelet croko-leather s...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Unavailable|$18,900
IWC Rose Gold Ingenieur Wristwatch with Date circa 1960s
By IWC
Located in Paris, FR
An 18k rose gold IWC Ingenieur wristwatch with date, self-winding movement.
Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Unavailable|$18,806
IWC Yellow Gold Moon Phase Chronograph Wristwatch Ref. 3710
By IWC
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Ref. 3710 Very rare. the first important moon phase wristwatch from IWC Case screwed case, yellow-gold, sapphire crystal Movement cal.
Yellow Gold
Unavailable|$7,490
IWC Vintage 18 Karat Rose Gold Automatic Men's Watch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Brand: IWC Band Color: Brown Gender: Men's Case Size: 32-35.5mm MPN: Does Not Apply Lug Width: 18mm Features: 12-Hour Dial, Gold Bezel, Luminous Dial, Sapphire Crystal, Swiss Made...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$3,200
Vintage IWC 18 Karat Yellow Gold Watch, 1948
By IWC
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1948 Vintage International Watch Company (IWC) Cal. 89 18k Yellow Gold Watch with Black Dial with Applied Gold Beveled Pointed Stick/Bar/Baton Markers. 36mm x 43mm lug to lug (1.42 i...
IWC White Gold Portuguese Skeleton Minute Repeat Wristwatch circa 2010
By IWC
Located in Paris, FR
IWC limited edition 18k white gold skeleton minute repeating wristwatch with manual-wind movement, circa 2010.
White Gold, 18k Gold
IWC Lady's White Gold Diamond Lapis Lazuli Dial Bracelet Wristwatch
By IWC
Located in London, GB
IWC 18k white gold and diamond lady's bracelet watch, Ref. 7556.
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, White Gold
Unavailable|$26,000
IWC Portugleser Perpetaul Calendar Men's watch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
-IWC PORTUGIESER PERPETUAL CALENDAR MEN'S WATCH new condition worn once shop with confidence Swiss Made - Slate Grey Dial - Day/Date/Month/Year Feature - Perpetual Calendar - Moo...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$2,865
IWC Vintage 18 Karat Yellow Gold Hand-Winding Men's Watch
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Brand: IWC Band Material: Genuine Leather Gender: Men's Band Color: Brown MPN: Does Not Apply Case Size: 36-39.5mm Features: 12-Hour Dial, Gold Bezel, Roman Numerals, Sapphire Cry...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$4,990
IWC Ingenieur 18 Karat Yellow Gold Automatic Ladies Watch 3733
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Brand: IWC Band Color: Brown Gender: Women's Case Size: 32-35.5mm MPN: Does Not Apply Lug Width: 18mm Features: Arabic Numerals, Chronograph, Day Indicator, Gold Bezel, Luminous Dia...
18k Gold
IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar Automatic White Gold Grey Dial Watch IW302507
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
IWC Schaffhausen Portuguese Perpetual Calendar Men's Watch Model Number: IW302507 100% Authentic New Comes with original IWC Schaffhausen box, warranty card, and instruction man...
18k Gold
IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar 18k Rose Gold Automatic Men's Watch IW502103
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
Brand: IWC Band Color: Brown Gender: Men's Case Size: 44-47.5mm MPN: Does Not Apply Lug Width: 22mm Features: 12-Hour Dial, Chronograph, Gold Bezel, Sapphire Crystal, Swiss Made, S...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$5,400
IWC Schaffhausen 18k Rose Gold Mechanical Watch Cal 89 w/ Leather Band
By IWC
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
IWC Schaffhausen 18k Rose Gold Mechanical Watch Cal 89 w/ Leather Band Caliber 89 Case #1725596-R604 Date of Manufacture: Early 1960s 18k Rose Gold Case 35 mm in Diameter (36 mm w/...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Unavailable|$13,500
IWC Portfino IW510104 18kRose Gold Eight Days Manual Mens Watch with Paper
By IWC
Located in Miami, FL
IWC Portfino IW510104 18kRose Gold Eight Days Manual Mens Watch with Paper 45MM
Rose Gold
Fine 18 Karat Gold IWC Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phases
By IWC
Located in Warrington, PA
A Fine 18k Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch with Moon Phases and Bracelet Signed IWC, Schaffhausen, Ingenieur, Perpetual Automatic jeweled movement, white dial, applied b...
18k Gold
Unavailable|$17,500
IWC 18 Karat Rose Gold Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Watch IW3905-05
By IWC
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
IWC Yacht Club watch for men. 18 karat rose gold round case.
18k Gold
Unavailable|$87,250
IWC Portuguese IW524101 18 Karat Rose Gold Skeleton Dial Manual Watch
By IWC
Located in Miami, FL
IWC Portuguese Squelette Skeleton Minute Repeater in 18k rose gold on a black leather strap.
IWC Schaffhausen Lepine Yellow Gold White Dial Pocket Watch Men's Watch 5201-001
By IWC
Located in New York, NY
IWC Schaffhausen Lepine Pocket Watch Model Number: 5201-001 100% Authentic New / Old Stock Comes with original IWC Schaffhausen Box 18 Karat Yellow Gold White Dial Mechanical ...
Yellow Gold
One of Switzerland’s major luxury watch companies was started by an American who saw the potential of bringing Switzerland’s superb watchmaking into the modern age through industrialized manufacturing and high-precision interchangeable parts. The New Hampshire–born watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), who founded International Watch Company — known today as simply IWC — in 1868, was interested in “combining all the excellence of the American system of mechanism with the more skillful hand labor of the Swiss.”
Setting up the company with another American watchmaker, Charles Kidder, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Jones used hydropower from the River Rhine for his plant’s machinery. Rethinking watch design would lead to one of IWC’s early successes: the Pallweber pocket watch. Based on an 1883 patent by Austrian watchmaker Josef Pallweber, the watch employed numbered disks for jumping hour and minute displays, making it a pioneer in digital timekeeping.
After Johann Rauschenbach-Vogel took over the watch manufacturer in 1880, four generations of his family led IWC into the 20th century. In 1905, Ernst Jakob Homberger and his brother-in-law Carl Jung — the famed Swiss psychiatrist — acquired IWC. Homberger bought out Jung’s holdings in 1929, and in the 1930s, the company introduced pilot watches, which were particularly robust and aimed solely at the civil aviation industry. These durable wristwatches were designed specifically to remain operational during extreme temperature shifts. (As blue watch dials are particularly hot right now, IWC's blue-dial Big Pilot is having a moment.)
The company still operates alongside the river where it was founded, having gained an international reputation over the past 150 years for its elegant designs and expert craftsmanship. Vintage IWC watches are prized by collectors — of whom there are many these days — and while the company continues to guard its attention to detail and quality, it has pushed its classic designs forward with modern innovation intended to stand the test of time.
IWC’s 2013 Ingenieur watch collection, with its precision based on an inventive constant-force mechanism, looked back to a 1955 Ingenieur model that featured a durable soft-iron inner cage as well as a 1976 update by leading Swiss watch designer Gérald Genta that encased its mechanism in a sleek steel case. IWC has also had a recent push toward sustainability, designing watches that are made to last a lifetime and beyond and earning the highest environmental ranking of any Swiss watch company in a 2018 report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature Switzerland (WWF).
Find vintage IWC wristwatches, Art Deco–style pocket watches and more on 1stDibs.
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.
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.