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From high street to high end brands, we’ve found timepieces to suit every occasion
Whether worn as an everyday essential or an eveningwear accessory, watches can be a wonderful addition to any outfit. But, of course, they do much more than just look fashionable...
We trust the humble timepieces to keep us on track with daily tasks, time keep our meetings and even monitor our heart rate and fitness goals when it comes to the likes of snazzy smartwatch styles. And now there’s a whole host of designs to choose from, our options go far beyond just functionality.
For some, brand names are incredibly important, so we’ve found more costly picks from the likes of Certina, Hugo Boss, Marloe and more, all of which wowed our tester with their luxury looks and fashion-forward features.
But fear not if you’re shopping on a budget, as there’s no short supply of lower-priced picks from some of our favourite high street heroes either. For others, the decision boils down to aesthetics alone. So, whether you prefer a basic black strap, like the look of real leather or are going for gold, we’ve found something to suit almost everyone’s taste.
We’ve put price points to the forefront of our minds, finding watches for a wide range of budgets. And we’re willing to bet at least one of the below will be your perfect pick. Just keep reading to find out.
Testing the watches was pretty straightforward, and our lucky tester had all of them for around one month to trial. Looking at function, form, and how fashionable each was, along with its price tag, we’ve rated each watch out of five for how much it works as a trusty timepiece.
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Rotary watches are rather famous. After all, the brand has been around for almost 100 years, so it’s had a long time to build its reputation. The Kensington watch is one of the brand’s bestsellers, and it didn’t take us long to see why. Made from sterling silver, it is on the heavier side, meaning it has quite a luxury feel to it without the particularly high price point of some similar-looking brands.
It’s incredibly easy to see the time with a bright white face and gold hour markers, and there’s a date display window on the right-hand side too. Combining both gold and silver tones, it pairs perfectly with all jewellery, meaning you don’t have to choose between the two, and instantly elevates any outfit with a fuss-free finish. In fact, we loved this watch so much that we still haven’t taken it off once – even in the shower – and the sleek yet simple design will never date.
We fell in love with the look of this watch, and for the price were pretty blown away. The leather mock croc effect strap, gold-tone face and italicised numbers give it a real retro feel while it’s small enough to look incredibly sleek. The one downside is that it does slide around the wrist, but coming in at just £25, our tester found this was far from a huge fault.
With large italicised numbers, the clock face is incredibly easy to read, and the date window was a nice added extra and even shows what day of the week it is too. So, if you are looking for a budget-friendly buy, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one.
For some, designer watches are a must-have, and few brands are as big as Hugo Boss. With a yellow gold chain, green dial and crystal hour markers, there’s a lot going on with this watch, so be sure to note it’s for those who like things a bit more glam. Weight-wise, it’s much lighter than the likes of Certina and Rotary but still does have the heaviness of a chain bracelet, and to re-size, you need to take it to your local jeweller. Aside from the brand name, what else makes this watch stand out is the timer function, meaning you can use it for sports activities too.
For those who really know their watches, the Marloe Astro is for you. Inspired by the first woman to travel to space, Valentina Tereshkova, it’s sleek, modern and has a standout design we haven’t seen anywhere else. Coming in a very extravagant gift box, it arrived looking luxurious, and the watch inside doesn’t disappoint.
The watch face is a square-circle hybrid the brand is calling a squircle to make it stand out, while the texturised rubber strap adds an extra modern detail to the design. It is on the heavier side due to the large face and lugless design, but it can be worn all day and night no matter the occasion, thanks to its dynamic design.
Plain and simple, this red leather Mondaine watch is for those who like to make a statement with shade rather than shape. The strap is incredibly soft, although a little large for those with very small wrists – even on the tightest belt notch – and the graphic black and white watch face is modest yet modern. It was certainly one of the most comfortable watches we tried, and the Swiss watch brand is famous for its trusty timepieces, so you can have high expectations and not be disappointed. If it’s a leather look you’re after, then you’ve come to the right place.
It would be easy to mistake this watch for a bracelet thanks to its jewellery-like design. With a gold chain strap and small clock face, we’re dubbing this Hey Harper watch the best one to buy for anyone who doesn’t want a typical watch. Of course, it’s best for those who wear gold jewellery, but if you’re worried about tarnishing, then take a look at our best tarnish-free gold jewellery guide, as we were blown away with how long the Hey Harper pieces lasted.
Our tester loved the look of this watch, and it was also incredibly lightweight, so we often forgot we were wearing it. Although, the only downside is that it can’t be re-sized, so if you have small wrists, you’ll have to get used to wearing it loose.
For those who find picking just one colour of watch stressful, this Pilgrim option will be the best choice for you. Simple in shape with a thin silicone strap, it’s understated and elegant with a silver and blush pink face that’s sure to suit any outfit. The best part about it, though, is the fact you can remove the strap within seconds and replace it with a wide range of other shades. And made from silicone, it’s incredibly soft and comfortable yet sits firmly on the wrist without any slippage.
For anyone after a floral watch, few patterns compare to those of William Morris. This deep red watch face spotlights the strawberry thief print, created by the artist back in 1883 when surrounded by countryside, and the floral watch face evokes that same level of serenity. Compared to some of our other options, it is a little on the larger side, so for those who don’t want anything too dainty, it’s sure to impress. The fabric-covered strap offered a real detail of difference that we’ve not seen on too many other styles, yet is lined with leather to be softer on sensitive skin.
For those who like a little bit of luxury in life, then Certina is the watch make for you. The mother-of-pearl face sealed the deal for our tester, making it the most elegant watch option we’ve seen so far. The rose gold dial markers add a more modern touch to the design with their angular shape, and the sterling silver strap has the heaviness of a truly expensive watch. There are three small diamonds at the top of the face to amp up the level of luxury even further, and a date window boosts its functionality. So, if luxury labels are for you, then we think this is set to be a watch you’ll wear forever – which is a good thing, considering the price!
Pretty in pink, this watch really wowed when it came to the design. Instead of your typical watch face, a cut-out magnolia makes up the dial, adding a fashion-forward twist. There are no hour markings, though, so it is a little bit tricky to work out the exact time at first glance, although we found this to be completely fine when taking one extra second to concentrate.
Surprisingly, it is also water resistant up to 50m and the Saffiano leather strap is soft against sensitive skin. Overall we’d score it full marks for fashionability and docked one for function due to the dial, but if you ask us, it’s well worth the small sacrifice.
Working out the best women’s watch was an incredibly tough challenge, as a large part of it is determined by personal taste and style. But, in the interest of saving time – pun fully intended – the Rotary women’s Kensington date bracelet strap watch just nicked the top spot with its timeless design and level of luxury.
For those looking to really splash the cash, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Hugo Boss women’s one green chronograph dial watch. While, if looking for a lower-price pick, Sekonda’s women’s quartz watch with white dial analogue display proves that expensive doesn’t always mean better.
If you’re looking for inspiration on accessories, read our guide to the best online jewellery shops
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