Best watches for women - dial up the details and up your watch game.

Whether you're after a timeless classic aka the best designer watches to invest in this season or an on-trend piece that'll complete your look - get ready to up your watch game with our edit of the best watches for women. 

Words by Emma Sells

Cocktail Hour

From top: ‘Premiere Mini’ black-steel, diamond and rubber watch, £4000 Chanel ‘Rose Celeste’ steel diamond, mother of pearl and satin watch, £4,400 Dior watches 18ct rose gold, diamond and satin watch, £20,700 Tiffany & Co ‘Possesion’ 18ct rose-gold, diamond and leather watch, £11,400 Piaget Available at Selfridges

If you didn’t think you needed a dedicated after-dark watch then these should be enough to convince you. Luxe leather straps and a scattering of diamonds make for the perfect mix of elegance and interesting and are just the thing to off-set everything from an androgynous tux to your most high-impact party dresses.

The best watches for women: A Subtle Sheen

Clockwise from top left: ‘Carrera Lady' stainless-steel, mother-of-pearl and leather watch, £2,100 TAG Heuer 'Serpenti' 18ct rose-gold, diamond, mother-of-pearl and leather watch, £7,950 Bulgari 'Dialmaster Thinline' rose-gold-plated Ceramos, sapphire crystal, titanium and leather watch, £1,900 Rado

This season wear-forever leather straps have been given a stealthy upgrade thanks to just a hint of metallic shimmer. Keep the look on the down-low by choosing a streamlined, classic watch face or look to a hint of embellishment or wrap-around straps to up your game even more.

The best watches for women: Boy Meets Girl

From top: 'Sofia' 18ct pink-gold, ruby and satin watch, £5,290 Dolce & Gabbana 'Day Date 26' 18ct Everose-gold and Oystersteel watch, £28,850 Rolex

Modern, elegant riffs on traditional masculine shapes are the perfect choice for a day-to-day watch that you’ll want to wear on repeat. Opt for high-shine stainless steel or embossed leather straps and wear everywhere from work to off-duty weekends.

The best watches for women: Everyday Sparkle

From top: Stainless-steel 18ct pink-gold, diamond and leather watch, £3,480 Longines Stainless-steel and diamond watch, £1,795 Frédérique Constant 18ct pink-gold, diamnd, mother-of-pearl and leather watch, £17,970 Louis Vuitton 'Glamour Date 26' stainless-steel and diamond watch, £2,290 Tudor

If you’re looking for a much-needed lift no matter what your day holds then you’ll want to invest in contemporary timepieces that come with a little extra flourish: because what watch isn’t improved by a streak of diamonds curving around its face? Guaranteed to put a smile on yours.

The best watches for women:Going For Gold

From top: 18ct-gold watch, £19,500, Chaumet ‘Panthére de Cartier’ 18-ct gold and sapphire watch, £20,600, Cartier ‘Grip’ gold-plated watch, £1,320, Gucci

The most stylish women know that treating your watch as an extension of your jewellery collection is a fast-track to sartorial success. Cherry-pick gold hardware, from iconic silhouettes to of-the-moment re-imaginings, and wear solo or stacked with your favourite bracelets.

The best watches for women: Coming Up Roses

Above: ‘De Ville Tresor' stainles-steel, sapphire crystal, quartz and leather watch, £3,890 Omega

Rose gold is the most on-trend way to perfectly balance out this season’s more masculine and structured watch shapes. Whether you look to oversized and chunky classics or more minimal, angular shapes, they’ve been given a just-feminine-enough twist thanks to the prettiest of metallic finishes.

Stying: Lucy Reber Photography: David Newton Words: Emma Sells