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Patek Philippe 1839

Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch
Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch

Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch

By Patek Philippe

Located in London, GB

the Caribbean. Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and is widely considered to be one of the most

Category

Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold

Patek Philippe Lapis Lazuli and 18K Gold Pendant Necklace, c. 1970
Patek Philippe Lapis Lazuli and 18K Gold Pendant Necklace, c. 1970

Patek Philippe Lapis Lazuli and 18K Gold Pendant Necklace, c. 1970

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

This striking lapis lazuli and 18-karat yellow gold pendant, made by Patek Philippe circa 1970, is

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold

Patek Philippe "Jumbo UFO" Automatic Steel Purple 35mm Dial Leather Strap Watch
Patek Philippe "Jumbo UFO" Automatic Steel Purple 35mm Dial Leather Strap Watch

Patek Philippe "Jumbo UFO" Automatic Steel Purple 35mm Dial Leather Strap Watch

By Patek Philippe

Located in Miami, FL

Patek Philippe Founded in 1839 in Geneva, Patek Philippe represents the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking

Category

Vintage 1970s Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Patek Philippe Automatic Diamond Set Gondolo Ladies Wristwatch Ref 4825
Patek Philippe Automatic Diamond Set Gondolo Ladies Wristwatch Ref 4825

Patek Philippe Automatic Diamond Set Gondolo Ladies Wristwatch Ref 4825

Located in London, GB

condition. Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Recent Sales

Patek Philippe 175th Anniversary Chronograph Yellow Gold Silver Opaline Dial
Patek Philippe 175th Anniversary Chronograph Yellow Gold Silver Opaline Dial

Patek Philippe 175th Anniversary Chronograph Yellow Gold Silver Opaline Dial

By Patek Philippe

Located in Mayfair, London, London

deployant clasp engraved with "Patek Philippe 1839 - 2014," sapphire glass, 18k yellow gold caseback

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

Yellow Gold, Silver

Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch
Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch

Vintage 1940s Patek Philippe Gents Manual Wristwatch

By Patek Philippe

Located in London, GB

the Caribbean. Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and is widely considered to be one of the most

Category

Vintage 1940s Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, Silver

Vintage 1960s Patek Philippe Gents Diamond Manual Wristwatch Ref 2591/1
Vintage 1960s Patek Philippe Gents Diamond Manual Wristwatch Ref 2591/1

Vintage 1960s Patek Philippe Gents Diamond Manual Wristwatch Ref 2591/1

By Patek Philippe

Located in London, GB

timeless watch is a stylish today as it would have been 50 years ago. Patek Philippe was founded in 1839

Category

Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Silver

Vintage 1950s Patek Philippe Calatrava Gents Manual Wristwatch Ref 2484
Vintage 1950s Patek Philippe Calatrava Gents Manual Wristwatch Ref 2484

Vintage 1950s Patek Philippe Calatrava Gents Manual Wristwatch Ref 2484

By Patek Philippe

Located in London, GB

would have been 60 years ago. Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and is widely considered to be one of

Category

Vintage 1950s Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Patek Philippe Ladies Cocktail Watch with Diamonds in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Ladies Cocktail Watch with Diamonds in 18 Karat Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe Ladies Cocktail Watch with Diamonds in 18 Karat Yellow Gold

By Patek Philippe

Located in Lucerne, CH

back to 1839, Patek Philippe has been synonymous with excellence and quality. Collaborating with

Category

Late 20th Century Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe 3718A Stainless Steel Watch, Made for the Japanese Market
Patek Philippe 3718A Stainless Steel Watch, Made for the Japanese Market

Patek Philippe 3718A Stainless Steel Watch, Made for the Japanese Market

By Patek Philippe

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Philippe 1839-1989 and Calatrava cross in relief, stainless steel Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and

Category

Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches

Materials

Stainless Steel

PATEK PHILIPPE Gold Bracelet Watch, 8", Documents
PATEK PHILIPPE Gold Bracelet Watch, 8", Documents

PATEK PHILIPPE Gold Bracelet Watch, 8", Documents

By Patek Philippe

Located in San Marcos, CA

since 1839 - PATEK PHILIPPE. While this stunning watch began as a gentleman's dress watch

Category

Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe 2461 Tegola 18k Solid Gold Tank Tegolino Ciraca 1955
Patek Philippe 2461 Tegola 18k Solid Gold Tank Tegolino Ciraca 1955

Patek Philippe 2461 Tegola 18k Solid Gold Tank Tegolino Ciraca 1955

By Patek Philippe

Located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, IDF

PATEK PHILIPPE Genève Founded in 1839 For the discerning ones Wear Patek Philippe watch it's

Category

Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold

Rare Large 1960s Patek Philippe Gilbert Albert 18 Kt Asymmetrical Wristwatch
Rare Large 1960s Patek Philippe Gilbert Albert 18 Kt Asymmetrical Wristwatch

Rare Large 1960s Patek Philippe Gilbert Albert 18 Kt Asymmetrical Wristwatch

By Patek Philippe

Located in New york, NY

Presentation Box Patek Philippe, founded in 1839 in the Swiss city of Geneva, prides itself as one of the last

Category

Vintage 1960s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava Full Set with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820 18k White Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava Full Set with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820 18k White Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava Full Set with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820 18k White Gold

By Patek Philippe

Located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, IDF

PATEK PHILIPPE & Cie Genève Founded in 1839 For the discerning ones Wear Patek Philippe watch

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, White Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava 2591 18k Gold 23-300 Geneva 1950 Ellipse Disco Volante
Patek Philippe Calatrava 2591 18k Gold 23-300 Geneva 1950 Ellipse Disco Volante

Patek Philippe Calatrava 2591 18k Gold 23-300 Geneva 1950 Ellipse Disco Volante

By Patek Philippe

Located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, IDF

PATEK PHILIPPE Genève Founded in 1839 For the discerning ones Wear Patek Philippe watch it's

Category

Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820/001 Full 750 18k Solid Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820/001 Full 750 18k Solid Gold

Patek Philippe Calatrava with 36 Diamonds Lady 4820/001 Full 750 18k Solid Gold

By Patek Philippe

Located in Neuilly-sur-Seine, IDF

PATEK PHILIPPE & Cie Genève Founded in 1839 For the discerning ones Wear Patek Philippe watch

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

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Patek Philippe Calatrava Gold Men's Watch - 3520
Patek Philippe Calatrava Gold Men's Watch - 3520

Patek Philippe Calatrava Gold Men's Watch - 3520

By Patek Philippe

Located in istanbul, TR

Brand : Patek Philippe Collection : Calatrava Model : Calatrava Clous De Paris Reference : Patek Philippe - 3520 Category : Wrist Watch Period : 1990's Movement : manuel wind Case ma...

Category

1990s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

Cartier Vintage Yellow Gold Mechanical Wrist Watch
Cartier Vintage Yellow Gold Mechanical Wrist Watch

Cartier Vintage Yellow Gold Mechanical Wrist Watch

By Cartier

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1960 Cartier Mid Size Wrist Watch, 30 M.M. X 6 M.M thick 18k Yellow Gold 2 piece case, Cartier Inc. 17 jewel mechanical, Manual wind movement. Silver Satin Dial with raised Gol...

Category

Vintage 1960s French Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Chaumet Paris Retro Ruby and Diamond Wide Bracelet with Brooch Clip in 18K Gold
Chaumet Paris Retro Ruby and Diamond Wide Bracelet with Brooch Clip in 18K Gold

Chaumet Paris Retro Ruby and Diamond Wide Bracelet with Brooch Clip in 18K Gold

By Chaumet

Located in Dallas, TX

Dazzling Chaumet Paris retro bracelet of jarretière (belt and buckle) design featuring rubies and glittering diamonds set in 18 karat yellow gold. The bracelet incorporates iconic ‘b...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Retro Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Cartier Carved Tourmaline 18K Yellow Gold Ring, Circa 1991
Cartier Carved Tourmaline 18K Yellow Gold Ring, Circa 1991

Cartier Carved Tourmaline 18K Yellow Gold Ring, Circa 1991

By Cartier

Located in Malmö, Skåne län

Cartier Tourmaline ring set with three carved pink tourmalines and round brilliant cut diamonds. Made in 18 karat yellow gold the ring features approximately 0.45ctw of brilliant rou...

Category

1990s French Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Piaget 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet Watch
Piaget 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet Watch

Piaget 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet Watch

By Piaget

Located in New York, NY

Brand: Piaget Metal: 18k Yellow Gold Excellent Condition Length: 6.5 inch Dial Width: 0.82 inch Weight: 32.6 grams

Category

20th Century Wrist Watches

Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava Yellow Gold Wristwatch Ref. 2452J
Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava Yellow Gold Wristwatch Ref. 2452J

Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava Yellow Gold Wristwatch Ref. 2452J

By Patek Philippe

Located in New York, NY

A vintage manual wind Patek Philippe watch from the Calatrava collection, featuring a 35 mm case diameter with a silver white dial and gold hour markers, a seconds subdial on the 6 o...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Santos De Cartier Stainless Steel Watch with Diamond Bezel Blue Dial
Cartier Santos De Cartier Stainless Steel Watch with Diamond Bezel Blue Dial

Cartier Santos De Cartier Stainless Steel Watch with Diamond Bezel Blue Dial

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Cartier Santos Large Stainless Steel Watch with Custom Diamond Bezel, Blue Roman Numeral Dial (factory) and Blue Leather Band. WATCH COMES WITH AN ADDITIONAL Stainless Steel Bracele...

Category

2010s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Stainless Steel

An 18k Gold French Georges Lenfant Link Chain
An 18k Gold French Georges Lenfant Link Chain

An 18k Gold French Georges Lenfant Link Chain

By Georges L'Enfant

Located in Amsterdam, NL

An 18 carat gold long chain with eight shaped braided links alternated with polished eight shaped links connected with oval links with a worn master mark, most likely Georges Lenfant...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Link Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold

Cartier 18Kt Yellow Gold Original Dial and Supplied with Original Buckle 1970's
Cartier 18Kt Yellow Gold Original Dial and Supplied with Original Buckle 1970's

Cartier 18Kt Yellow Gold Original Dial and Supplied with Original Buckle 1970's

By Cartier

Located in Long Beach, CA

FACTORY / HOUSE: Cartier STYLE / REFERENCE: Round Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt. Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1970's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 32mm X Diameter 28mm MOVEMENT / CALIBER...

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

BUCCELLATI Aquamarine Diamond Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Ring
BUCCELLATI Aquamarine Diamond Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Ring

BUCCELLATI Aquamarine Diamond Ruby 18k Yellow Gold Ring

By Gianmaria Buccellati

Located in New York, NY

This exquisite vintage Gianmaria Buccellati cocktail ring is crafted in 18k brushed and textured yellow gold with white gold accents. This ring is set with a faceted oval 7.0mm x 10....

Category

1990s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Cartier Tank Divan 18k Yellow Gold Watch 2601
Cartier Tank Divan 18k Yellow Gold Watch 2601

Cartier Tank Divan 18k Yellow Gold Watch 2601

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

-Mint condition -Case size: 25x32mm -18k Yellow Gold -Movement: Quartz -Dial: Silver Dial -Blued hands -Diamond Bezel -Comes with Box, no papers

Category

2010s American Wrist Watches

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1930s Original Central Second dial
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1930s Original Central Second dial

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1930s Original Central Second dial

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is a classic luxury watch celebrated for its elegant and timeless design. Originating from Switzerland in 1930, this distinguished timepiece showcases the br...

Category

Vintage 1930s Wrist Watches

Materials

Steel

Jaeger LeCoultre Watch 18 Karat Yellow Gold Manual Wind 922621
Jaeger LeCoultre Watch 18 Karat Yellow Gold Manual Wind 922621

Jaeger LeCoultre Watch 18 Karat Yellow Gold Manual Wind 922621

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in London, GB

A Jaeger LeCoultre watch in 18 karat yellow gold, manual wind 9226.21, circa 1980. This elegant wrist watch has a manual movement with a round 18 karat yellow gold case measuring 33...

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Georges Lenfant 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Chrysoprase & Coral Necklace
Georges Lenfant 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Chrysoprase & Coral Necklace

Georges Lenfant 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Chrysoprase & Coral Necklace

By Georges L'Enfant

Located in Brisbane City, QLD

When it comes to French jewellery there is one name which is exceedingly hot at the moment in the estate jewellery world, Georges Lenfant. This 18 karat yellow gold, chrysoprase and ...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Modernist Chain Necklaces

Materials

Chrysophrase, Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rare Cartier Mid-20th Century 14K Yellow Gold Locket Book Key Pendant
Rare Cartier Mid-20th Century 14K Yellow Gold Locket Book Key Pendant

Rare Cartier Mid-20th Century 14K Yellow Gold Locket Book Key Pendant

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Cartier - rare mid-20th century 14K yellow gold book form locket key pendant 1940's The rectangular shaped 14K gold locket opens to reveal a pair of gold pages with early etched pho...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Pendant Necklaces

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Lady's White Gold And Diamond Mechanical Wristwatch
Lady's White Gold And Diamond Mechanical Wristwatch

Lady's White Gold And Diamond Mechanical Wristwatch

Located in Firenze, IT

Period: Art Déco, 1920 ca. Lenght: 16.5 cm Weight: 25.83 gr. Material: white gold, diamonds and sapphire. The rectangular dial with Arabic numbers and arrow hour markers to a broad...

Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold

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Patek Philippe 1839 For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate patek philippe 1839 for your needs in our varied inventory. Frequently made of gold, 18k gold and white gold, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 16 vintage or 1 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Making the right choice when shopping for a patek philippe 1839 may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. A patek philippe 1839 of any era or style can lend versatility to your look, but a version featuring diamond, from our inventory of 4, is particularly popular. A baguette cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also brilliant cut and bead versions for sale. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a patek philippe 1839, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Patek Philippe 1839?

On average, a patek philippe 1839 at 1stDibs sells for $18,500, while they’re typically $9,500 on the low end and $155,773 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.