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Patek 3445

Vintage 1970s Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 18K WG Blue Sunburst Dial Auto 35mm
Vintage 1970s Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 18K WG Blue Sunburst Dial Auto 35mm

Vintage 1970s Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 18K WG Blue Sunburst Dial Auto 35mm

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

The 3445 leaves that picture behind. Introduced in 1961 with the automatic caliber 27-460 M, it carried Patek's first self winding movement with a date, and by the 1970s the referenc...

Category

Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava Arte Suizo Signed Watch in 18k yellow gold, 1970s
Patek Philippe Calatrava Arte Suizo Signed Watch in 18k yellow gold, 1970s

Patek Philippe Calatrava Arte Suizo Signed Watch in 18k yellow gold, 1970s

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

Here's a vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava reference 3445 automatic in 18K yellow gold with a silver sunburst dial from the '70s.

Category

20th Century Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Recent Sales

Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 Watch
Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 Watch

Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 Watch

Sold

Dm 1.38 in L 7.09 in

Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445 Watch

By Patek Philippe

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A 35mm Calatrava in white gold by Patek Philippe. Features a silver dial with a date aperture, a small seconds sub dial and a fixed white gold bezel. Fitted with a plexiglass, an aut...

Category

20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

Patek Philippe & Co. Yellow Gold Vintage Wristwatch Ref 3445
Patek Philippe & Co. Yellow Gold Vintage Wristwatch Ref 3445

Patek Philippe & Co. Yellow Gold Vintage Wristwatch Ref 3445

By Patek Philippe

Located in Dallas, TX

Patek Philippe & Co. Vintage Watch Ref 3445 - Manual . 18K Yellow Gold ( 34 mm ).

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava Double Name Gubelin Yellow Gold 3445 Watch
Patek Philippe Calatrava Double Name Gubelin Yellow Gold 3445 Watch

Patek Philippe Calatrava Double Name Gubelin Yellow Gold 3445 Watch

By Patek Philippe

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A vintage 35 mm yellow gold Calatrava by Patek Philippe. Features a double name Gubelin signed silver dial with a date and small seconds display. An original black leather strap come...

Category

20th Century Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calendar Self Winding Wristwatch Ref 3445, circa 1980
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calendar Self Winding Wristwatch Ref 3445, circa 1980

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calendar Self Winding Wristwatch Ref 3445, circa 1980

By Patek Philippe

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1980 Patek Philippe Reference 3445 Wrist watch, 35 MM 18K Yellow Gold 2 piece Waterproof Case, Caliber 27-460 M Automatic Self Winding Movement with Solid Gold Rotor.

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava 35MM 18K White Gold Mesh Bracelet Gray Dial Watch
Patek Philippe Calatrava 35MM 18K White Gold Mesh Bracelet Gray Dial Watch

Patek Philippe Calatrava 35MM 18K White Gold Mesh Bracelet Gray Dial Watch

By Patek Philippe

Located in Miami, FL

Patek Philippe Calatrava 3445/6 Automatic Watch 18K White Gold Mesh Bracelet Gray Dial Date 35mm Exceptional Patek Philippe Calatrava automatic dress watch in 18K white gold featuri...

Category

1990s Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe White Gold Calatrava Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445
Patek Philippe White Gold Calatrava Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445

Patek Philippe White Gold Calatrava Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445

By Patek Philippe

Located in Miami Beach, FL

This vintage Patek Philippe reference 3445 is a classic. The 35mm case has sharp edges, screw down case back, original silvered dial with subsidiary seconds and date aperture.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445 circa 1960s
Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445 circa 1960s

Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445 circa 1960s

By Patek Philippe

Located in Miami Beach, FL

The is an elegant Patek Philippe Ref. 3445 wristwatch from the 1960s.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

White Gold, 18k Gold

VACHERON & CONSTANTIN Stainless Steel Wristwatch circa 1960s

VACHERON & CONSTANTIN Stainless Steel Wristwatch circa 1960s

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Miami Beach, FL

This watch is comparable to Patek’s reference 3445.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vacheron & Constantin Stainless Steel Wristwatch Ref 6378
Vacheron & Constantin Stainless Steel Wristwatch Ref 6378

Vacheron & Constantin Stainless Steel Wristwatch Ref 6378

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Miami Beach, FL

This watch is comparable to Patek’s reference 3445.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calatrava Wristwatch Ref 3445
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calatrava Wristwatch Ref 3445

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Calatrava Wristwatch Ref 3445

By Patek Philippe

Located in Beverly Hills, CA

Another interesting and rare aspect of this particular 3445 is its yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet.

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch with Date Ref 3445
Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch with Date Ref 3445

Patek Philippe White Gold Automatic Wristwatch with Date Ref 3445

By Patek Philippe

Located in Munich, Bavaria

Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3445 Case 18k white gold, screw back, acrylic glass, 35mm Movement Caliber 27-460M, gold rotor, Gyromax balance, 36 jewels, automatic, date ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

Patek Philippe for Howes Yellow Gold  Ref. 3445 Circa 1972
Patek Philippe for Howes Yellow Gold  Ref. 3445 Circa 1972

Patek Philippe for Howes Yellow Gold Ref. 3445 Circa 1972

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

Patek Philippe. An Automatic 18k Yellow Gold Calatrava Wristwatch with Date Reference: 3445 Case No: 3xxxxx Movement No: 1xxxxxx Manufactured in 1972 Cal. 27-460m auto...

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445

Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Automatic Wristwatch Ref 3445

By Patek Philippe

Located in Dallas, TX

Patek Philippe Mens 3445 J Wrist Watch in 18K Yellow Gold.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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By Patek Philippe

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1913 Patek Philippe Pocket Watch for Retailer Spaulding and Company , 45 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 4 piece case including the Yellow Gold Cuvette (Dust Cover) Greek Key Pattern Blue...

Category

Vintage 1910s Swiss Pocket Watches

Materials

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Omega Yellow Gold Custom Colored Ice Blue Dial Wristwatch
Omega Yellow Gold Custom Colored Ice Blue Dial Wristwatch

Omega Yellow Gold Custom Colored Ice Blue Dial Wristwatch

By Omega

Located in Stamford, CT

Late 1950’s solid 18k yellow gold Omega manual wind. Florentine bezel. Omega dial refinished and custom colored in a bright ice blue. 18k yellow gold Length: 37.36mm Width: 34mm Ban...

Category

Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Vacheron & Constantin Vintage Rose Gold 34mm 6413
Vacheron & Constantin Vintage Rose Gold 34mm 6413

Vacheron & Constantin Vintage Rose Gold 34mm 6413

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A rare 34mm 18k rose gold gentleman’s wristwatch by Vacheron & Constantin, distinguished by its unusual inverted harrow hands and a beautifully preserved silver dial. The dial is...

Category

Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

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Patek Philippe 14 Karat Gold Pocket Watch, sold by W. Lennartz-Michels
Patek Philippe 14 Karat Gold Pocket Watch, sold by W. Lennartz-Michels

Patek Philippe 14 Karat Gold Pocket Watch, sold by W. Lennartz-Michels

By Patek Philippe

Located in Berlin, DE

Patek Philippe Gold Pocket Watch, Arabic Enamel Dial Slight signs of wear due to age on the case. Hands possibly replaced. Diameter measured without the crown. The pocket watch can...

Category

Antique 19th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel

Patek Philippe Demi Hunter Pocket Watch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Demi Hunter Pocket Watch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Demi Hunter Pocket Watch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold

By Patek Philippe

Located in Boston, MA

A Patek Philippe pocket watch crafted in 18k yellow gold. Housed in a rare Demi, or Half Hunters case accented with black enamel. The round watch features a classic dial with Roma...

Category

Antique 1880s Late Victorian Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Vacheron & Constantin Grottendieck Bruxelles 18 Karat Gold Pocket Watch
Vacheron & Constantin Grottendieck Bruxelles 18 Karat Gold Pocket Watch

Vacheron & Constantin Grottendieck Bruxelles 18 Karat Gold Pocket Watch

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Berlin, DE

Vacheron & Constantin Grottendieck Bruxelles 18 Karat Gold Pocket Watch Movement can be wound and works. Dial with hairline crack. Including certificate of authenticity.

Category

20th Century Pocket Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Fancy Lugs Yellow Gold
Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Fancy Lugs Yellow Gold

Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Fancy Lugs Yellow Gold

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A vintage men's dress wristwatch in yellow gold by Vacheron Constantin. Featuring a silver dial with a small seconds display at 6 o'clock and fancy lugs. Fitted with plastic glass, a...

Category

20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold

Omega 18 Karat Yellow Gold Men's Dress Wrist Watch with Box
Omega 18 Karat Yellow Gold Men's Dress Wrist Watch with Box

Omega 18 Karat Yellow Gold Men's Dress Wrist Watch with Box

By Omega

Located in Mount Kisco, NY

Bold, all in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, this sleek Omega Men's Dress Wrist Watch evokes the revered elegance and style of its era. Circa mid 1960's, this retro Omega beauty has an Swiss a...

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe World Time 18K White Gold Opaline Dial Automatic Watch 7130G-001
Patek Philippe World Time 18K White Gold Opaline Dial Automatic Watch 7130G-001

Patek Philippe World Time 18K White Gold Opaline Dial Automatic Watch 7130G-001

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

Pre-owned in good condition. Comes with a Patek travel pouch and Original paper. * Free Shipping within the USA * Two-year warranty coverage * 14-day return policy with a full refun...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

White Gold

Rolex 18Kt Solid Gold Cellini Series Ladies Watch in Original Condition 1980's
Rolex 18Kt Solid Gold Cellini Series Ladies Watch in Original Condition 1980's

Rolex 18Kt Solid Gold Cellini Series Ladies Watch in Original Condition 1980's

By Rolex

Located in Long Beach, CA

FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Cellini / Reference 4081 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1980's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 29mm X Diamet...

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956
Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956

Patek Rose Gold Automatic Watch Ref 2584, circa 1956

By Patek Philippe

Located in Long Beach, CA

FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Large Round Bracelet / Reference 2584 METAL / MATERIAL: 18k Solid Rose Gold DIMENSIONS: Length 36mm X Diameter 36m...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Nautilus Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, Ref. No. 4700/153
Patek Philippe Nautilus Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, Ref. No. 4700/153

Patek Philippe Nautilus Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, Ref. No. 4700/153

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

This gorgeous and luxurious 1994 Patek Philippe timepiece features a champagne dial with a date window at 3 o’clock, encrusted with factory rubies (0.13 carat) and diamonds, all set ...

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Ladies 18kt Yellow Gold Jaeger Le Coultre Back Winder Wrist Watch Rare
Vintage Ladies 18kt Yellow Gold Jaeger Le Coultre Back Winder Wrist Watch Rare

Vintage Ladies 18kt Yellow Gold Jaeger Le Coultre Back Winder Wrist Watch Rare

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Antwerp, BE

Vintage Ladies 18kt Yellow Gold Jaeger Le Coultre Back Winder Wrist Watch Extremely rare Collectors watch Movement: Mechanical Manual Winding Back winder Case: 18kt Yellow gold di...

Category

20th Century Swiss Artisan Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Power Reserve Automatic Yellow Gold Wrist Watch
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Power Reserve Automatic Yellow Gold Wrist Watch

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Power Reserve Automatic Yellow Gold Wrist Watch

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 2010 Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Reference 47200/1 Wrist Watch, 36 M.M. x 10 M.M. thick 18k Yellow Gold 2 Piece case with Exhibition Back, 45 Jewel Automatic, Self winding m...

Category

2010s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Yellow Gold
Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Yellow Gold

Vacheron Constantin Vintage Dress Watch Yellow Gold

By Vacheron Constantin

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A vintage 35mm dress wristwatch in yellow gold by Vacheron Constantin. Features a silver dial with a small seconds display at 6 o'clock and Arabic numbers 3,9 & 12. Fitted with p...

Category

20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Yellow Gold Watch
Patek Philippe Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Yellow Gold Watch

Patek Philippe Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Yellow Gold Watch

By Patek Philippe

Located in Southampton, PA

18k Yellow Gold Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Wristwatch by Patek Philippe. Model: Calatrava Movement Type: Manual Wind Case Size: 33mm Crystal: Anti-glare Sapphire Weight: 40.6 g...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Patek 3445 For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact patek 3445 you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold, this item was constructed with great care. If you’re browsing our inventory for a patek 3445, you’ll find that many are available today for men, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and women.

How Much is a Patek 3445?

Prices for a patek 3445 can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $10,615 and can go as high as $33,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $13,500.

Patek Philippe for sale on 1stDibs

It shouldn’t be surprising that a Patek Philippe holds the world auction record for a watch ($31.2 million for a Patek Grandmaster Chime, sold at Christie’s). Known for impeccable craftsmanship and some of the most complicated timepieces ever created, the brand is considered by many to be the height of fine watchmaking. Collectors simply love Patek Philippe watches.

The house was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek left the firm, and in 1845, Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Catering to the glitterati of Europe, the pair counted among their clients Tolstoy, Pope Pius IX and Queen Victoria, as well as Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, for whom they created the first Swiss-made wristwatch in 1868. They also had their eye on the American market and in 1851 entered an arrangement with Tiffany & Co. still in effect today.

During the Great Depression, brothers Jean and Charles Stern, who had previously supplied Patek Philippe with watch dials, bought the company, and it continues to be run by the Stern family today.

Under the Sterns, the house has developed some of its most famous models, including the Calatrava, an elegantly minimal dress watch introduced in 1932 and named for the Calatrava Cross (the company’s logo since 1887), and the Nautilus, the brand’s first sports watch, conceived by legendary designer Gérald Genta in 1976.

Despite the house’s longevity, it’s rumored that it has manufactured fewer than a million Patek watches, making each one all the more coveted. (The brand's pieces are understandably attractive to counterfeiters — make sure you know how to spot a fake Patek Philippe watch.)

Find authentic Patek Philippe watches, cufflinks, bracelets and more on 1stDibs today.

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.