5 unique and unexpected ways to style your watch

There’s no reason to restrict yourself to one watch at any given time. Make a style statement and stack your watches to show off your full collection of timepieces.

If you’re worried about drawing too much attention, watch stacks with delicate chains are the epitome of quiet luxury, as shown by the late Princess of Wales, then Lady Diana Spencer’s decision to wear two timepieces—one of which was a gift from her betrothed, Prince Charles—as she watched him play polo at Windsor in 1981. In the present day, newly anointed It-girl, Nicola Peltz-Beckham, carries on the trend with two Panthère de Cartier watches on her girls' day out with Selena Gomez.

But if you’re really looking to level up, throw in some jewellery to your watch stack and double-wrist your stacks for a truly impactful, maximalist effect. This way, your accessories will be the focus of your entire ensemble, making for a great conversation starter. This styling choice was spotted on 93-year-old astronaut and space engineer Dr Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon after mission commander Neil Armstrong.

See also: From Première to J12: Inside Chanel's watchmaking journey

When women were not allowed to don watches in polite society, heritage watches and jewellery brands devised discrete watch pendants to wear elegantly around the neck. The trend has been adapted for the 21st century, but there’s no longer a need to hide. In fact, the bigger, the better. Pop superstar and entrepreneur Rihanna infuses Y2K realness by wearing her 47mm baguette-set Jacob and Co watch as a choker to Pharrell’s debut Louis Vuitton Menswear show last year.

Fashion influencer and industry darling Emma Chamberlain also made headlines for her Cartier Baignoire, which she wore wrapped around her neck like a choker, at her appearance at Miu Miu’s spring/summer 2023 fashion show in Paris.

See also: The best of Rihanna's pregnancy style

And Queen Rih showed us how it’s done yet again. Just months after her iconic watch choker made waves last year, the star was spotted at the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix looking as effortlessly cool as ever with her ankle iced out in a custom Jacob & Co. diamond watch. If you’re feeling a little extra, you can also go for a stacked look by layering multiple watches or mixing different styles.

With the rise of stealth wealth and quiet luxury, we predict that the ring watch will be coming back into style. For true collectors, you may be interested in acquiring vintage ring watches from Cartier, Rolex and Omega from auction houses.

A more accessible option is Dallas-based watch brand Breda’s recent interpretation of the century-old creation in collaboration with jewellery maker Dalmata. The Time Ring’s campaign was fronted by Vietnamese-American non-binary actor, model, photographer and artist Cameron Lee Phan.

If you really want to take your watch game to the next level, then it’s time to get crafty. Just look to British streetwear label 1XBLUE for inspo, you’ll find all sorts of stunning designs including upcycled watch tops, skirts, and heels that put a literal spin on time.

NOW READ

A modern miniature marvel: The all new Royal Oak Mini

From edgy to elegant: 5 times Han So-hee switched up her style game

Aradhita Parasrampuria’s mission to transform fashion: Bridging biotechnology and design for a sustainable future