We’re constantly in the throes of a fast-paced fashion cycle, moving from Brat Summers to Demure Falls in the blink of a viral TikTok sound, so it’s unsurprising that one of the most prevailing trends of the past years is quiet luxury.
With a focus on understated and enduring style, we’ve seen fashion move away from the likes of logo-mania and towards sartorial practices like capsule wardrobes.
This desire to invest in classic pieces has also seen a rise in vintage-inspired and ultra-slim watches. Petite-faced timepieces with slim bands in golds or leathers have quietly been taking over wrists everywhere; their timeless elegance only solidifying their status as investment pieces you won’t tire of.
“My favorite thing about vintage is that it’s always cool, always trending, always in-style,” Heaven Mayhem founder, Pia Mance, tells marie claire Australia.
“I think as a collective, we’re over the quick and fast paced trends and loving leaning into more timeless and classic moments across fashion and accessories, so the vintage-looking pieces are of course having a moment as we’re becoming more drawn to the classics.”
Creating chic timepieces to withstand the trend cycle was exactly the brief Pia was working to when launching into the category.
“The initial design process started by gathering inspiration from vintage watches from the archives, testing leather swatches, and working on a watch face sketch,” she tells us.
“For me it made sense to create something timeless and aesthetic that I could wear every day, without the huge designer price tag.”
The relaunch of iconic silhouettes by the likes of Cartier (reviving the Pasha and Panthère in recent years) has also pushed the trend forward. Furthermore, a shift in the market to focus on women could be attributing to the sudden rise in watches appearing on the style set’s wrists, with Allied Market Research projecting a $3 billion market increase from 2019 to 2027.
Stunning styled solo or layered with other jewellery pieces, these are the vintage-esque and slim watches we’re shopping right now.
Vintage-Inspired Slim Women’s Watches
The Icon Watch
$434 at Heaven Mayhem
Vintage charm meets modern functionality with Heaven Mayhem’s rectangular-faced watch with leather strap that can be swapped out according to your mood and ‘fit.
Our favourite feature? The hidden message behind each piece. “I wanted to nod to the sentimental element of watches by including an engraved message on the back of every piece,” Pia reveals.
Panthère de Cartier
$45,300 at Net-A-Porter
More than an icon or investment piece, the Panthère de Cartier is an heirloom in the making. We adore this 18k rose gold rendition featuring a golden plum and brown dial, sapphire glass crystal and 0.27 carats in diamonds.
Raquel Watch
$579 at Fossil
There’s something about the deep glistening hue of emerald green that perfectly aligns with quiet luxury. Add in the classic roman numerals, gold band and angular face, and you’ve found yourself a modern keepsake.
Diamantissima Watch 27mm
$1,990 at Gucci
A classic circular face with mother of pearl dial, quartz movement, steel mesh band and signature diamante pattern, Gucci’s timepiece will carry you from daily errands to extravagant evening affairs, effortlessly.
Cendre Phoebe Watch
$220 at The Iconic
Soft and feminine with its pared back oval face, this 18k double gold plated watch features a Miyota Japanese Quartz 3 Hand and resizable band.
What Is The Normal Watch Size For A Woman?
The size of watch you should buy depends on a few factors, namely the size of your wrists, your personal preference and the kind of style you’re after. In the case of slim women’s watches with a vintage appeal, we recommend a watch face between 22-28mm.
If you have smaller wrists start your search at the lower end of the scale, if your wrists are wider you can look at 25mm and above.
Looking to save money on watches? Check out our coupon codes for Net-A-Porter, Farfetch and more.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
