Cartier pasha

WATCHES OF THE YEAR: The best Ladies’ Watches of 2020 as revealed by WatchPro

Gone are the days when ladies’ watches were simply smaller or gem-decorated versions of men’s pieces. Here we highlight horological masterpieces with decades of history alongside high fashion models for girls who just want to have fun.

GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN LADIES’ WATCHES WERE SIMPLY SMALLER OR GEM-DECORATED VERSIONS OF MEN’S PIECES. HERE WE HIGHLIGHT HOROLOGICAL MASTERPIECES WITH DECADES OF HISTORY ALONGSIDE HIGH FASHION MODELS FOR GIRLS WHO JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN.

WATCHES OF THE YEAR WINNER:

CARTIER
PASHA COLLECTION
From £5,200 to £15,200

Cartier pasha

Although they live in the shadow of Cartier’s most recognised Tank and Panthere lines, Pasha watches date back to 1985 and the current collection brings the past and present together in a perfect package. There was a full family of 24 SKUs unveiled back in the spring, with gender-neutral 41mm models alongside 35mm pieces aimed at Cartier’s core female customer.

Like most recent Cartier collections, the Pasha watches have quick-release interchangeable straps and bracelets, making them versatile for customers and increasing repeat business potential for retailers.

Pasha de Cartier has two key design signatures: circular cases framing dials with a square shape at their centre; and a crown guard set with a blue sapphire that unscrews to reveal the smaller crown beneath. There are versions in steel, yellow gold, pink gold and set with diamonds, coming in two sizes: 41mm and 35mm and all using Cartier’s manufacture calibre 1847 MC automatic movement. The line tops out with a 41mm, hand-wound skeletonised model in white gold and diamonds for $168,000.

LADIES’ WATCHES OF THE YEAR

NOVE TRIDENT
FROM £342

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NOVE is a fledgling watch brand we took a shine to this year that produces Swiss made watches with particularly distinctive dials. Its Trident line is inspired by the King of the Sea, according to the brand, and features a unique three lever stopper system working together as a unidirectional bezel.

Measuring just 6.8mm thick and boasting 200 metres of water resistance, the Trident is a marriage of design and engineering.
Swiss-Made watch designs with the NOVE seal of quality is a mark of accuracy and reliability. The Trident feels smooth and comfortable to wear thanks to a high-quality bracelet and well-crafted butterfly clasp. NOVE considers the Trident to be the ultimate divers’ instrument for men and women, which is a bold statement of intent from a brand to watch.

STORM LONDON ION
£149.99

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Never shy of a bold design, STORM’s Ion in gold and red certainly catches the eye. Featuring a distinctive hour hand made of the letters of ‘STORM’, the striking red dial sits on a gold strap. Fuelled by a Japanese quartz movement, the Ion in gold and red comes with a 35mm brushed Stainless Steel case and mineral glass lens.

The whole watch is water resistant up to 50 metres, which is plenty enough to allow for a spot of swimming or fishing, but perhaps not high impact extreme water sports. STORM has always stood out from the crowd like a street style social media influencer with cutting design aesthetics, and this year has proved no different.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN ÉGÉRIE
£18,500 to £30,000

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One of the most respected watch brands in the industry, Vacheron Constantin launched a new family of ladies’ watches in 2020, much to the excitement of enthusiasts around the world. The new collection. Called Égérie, it is a line that the brand describes as a fusion between haute horlogerie and haute couture.

Égérie is a full spectrum family of watches, with 35mm and 37mm models made in pink gold, white gold or steel cases; with or without diamond setting. Each watch has a design and complication feature drawing the eye to around 2 o’clock on the dial.

Vacheron has come up with its own interchangeable strap system so one watch can be worn in many ways, and the Égérie is no different. There is the option of a 30mm quartz piece, but aficionados will plump for models using the manufacture 1088 self-winding movement with a 22ct gold oscillating weight or the 1088 L for models with a moonphase complication.

GUCCI GRIP CHRONOGRAPH
£1,320

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There are very few in the watch community that didn’t have an opinion on Gucci’s Grip when it was launched in 2019. Some saw it as Gucci at its edgy best, while others saw it as looking too much like their bathroom scales. For every sceptic there have been plenty of converts. This year Gucci gave us a new take on the iconic Grip design with the introduction of a chronograph version where the time-telling windows are shifted from 12 to 3 o’clock, which makes it more intuitive to read, and a central chronograph hand is added.

It comes with a steel bangle featuring cut-out G details. Gucci says that it took design inspiration for the Grip from the world of skateboarding, which is why the line’s name recalls the way the rider’s sneakers stick to the grip tape on a skateboard. The dial is presented in a distinctive red and green combination.

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