Buying Women's Watches
Are you looking to buy a watch for women–either to gift to yourself or another woman in your life that you love and admire? We’re here to help you score 10/10 on this purchase.
Buying Women’s Watch Gifts
Do you have a fabulous lady in your life—a partner, a friend, a family member who deserves nothing but the best. If there was something better than "best," that's what you'd give her. And what better way to show your appreciation and admiration than with a stunning timepiece that'll have her ticking with joy?
The challenge is, there are a lot to choose from. This is not the same as grabbing her a bottle of drug store perfume or a pair of house slippers. That's where this guide comes in.
We're here to guide you through the maze of watch options, style preferences, and budget constraints. If gift-buying makes you more nervous than a character in a red shirt in a Star Trek movie, we've got you. Together, we'll navigate the choppy waters of gift-giving to help you find the ideal timepiece for her.
So, grab your favorite beverage, get cozy, and prepare to embark on a journey filled with laughter, love, and more watch puns than you ever thought possible. Watch out (see what we did there?) because you'll be a bona fide watch whisperer when we're done, ready to dazzle your lady with the perfect timepiece.
Are you ready? No? We'll wait. (Checking our watch.) Now? Okay, good. Let's go.
A Brief History of Time(pieces)
Apologies to Stephen Hawking, whose Brief History of Time covered theoretical cosmology and made physics accessible to the masses. Our guide isn't nearly that ambitious, but we hope to make watch buying accessible. To start, we will give you a brief history of women's watches.
This history of personal timepieces started with men. First, they wore them like pendants. Eventually, the timepieces got smaller and became pocket watches. Men kept their watches tucked away like secrets, stashed in a pocket, and pulled out dramatically to delight onlookers.
Women were the initial adopters of wristwatches, wearing them as beautiful bracelets that happened to tell time. By the mid-1800s, most watchmakers mass-produced wristwatches, marketing them as bracelets. That was great news for gift-givers in the 19th century, who finally had the option to choose the perfect watch for the women in their lives.
For centuries, people had been asking some version of the question: "What the hecketh shall I buy for the women-folk in my lifeth?" (We are a proudly American company, so maybe our Old-English British accent isn't entirely accurate there, but you get the idea.)
The rise in the popularity of women's personal timepieces presented an answer: buy women watches! Some might claim it was a coincidence, but we see fortuitous timing in the fact that by the time Anna Jarvis created Mother's Day in 1908, wristwatches were all the rage among women who valued style, punctuality, or both.
And that brings us to the present day and our top tips for women’s watch buying.
Ten Timepiece Tips:
- Spy on Her Wrist
No creepy trench coat and sunglasses required. Just casually observe her wrist game. Does she prefer chunky statement pieces or delicate sophistication? This subtle reconnaissance work will give you some valuable insights into her watch preferences.
If your goal is to introduce a–Gasp!– non-watch-wearer to the timepiece game, you won't be able to observe her watch choices. But you can still check out her jewelry to give you a sense of her vibe. Silver tones or gold hues? Oversized showstoppers or understated elegance? If her necklaces tend to be subtle, her watch probably should be, too. If her rings are all about the bling, a flashy timepiece probably fits. - Stalk Her Pinterest Board
Perusing her Pinterest is the modern-day version of snooping around in her jewelry box. Sneak a peek at her Pinterest boards. If she's been pinning watches left, right, and center, consider it a goldmine of gift inspiration. - Consult Her BFF
Her best friend is basically the Oracle of her Preferences. Slide into the friend's DMs (politely, of course) and extract some top-secret intel about what kind of watch would make your lady smile or swoon. The bestie may have specific styles or notes like, “She’s all about ladies Swiss Army watches,” or "She hates a square face," or "Waterproof watches for women are the way to go since she hates the hassle of taking it off when she swims."
Whatever insight the BFF has is worth its weight in gold watches, so listen carefully when she starts serving wisdom. - Consider Her Lifestyle
Is she a boss babe hustling through meetings, or does she spend her days exploring the great outdoors? Choose a watch that fits her lifestyle. You don't want to give her a delicate timepiece if she's out free-climbing mountains, right? That's a disaster waiting to happen. And if she’s constantly on the go and can’t be troubled with the hassle of manual winding, search for a women’s automatic watch.
Maybe there's a Clara Kent/Kal-ette situation where she's a buttoned-up office worker during the week and scaling tall mountains in a single weekend. In that case, she would surely appreciate a ladies sportwatch with chronograph capabilities, a live step counter, and a calorie burn tracker. Or a streamlined, elegant, women’s stainless steel watch. For your multi-faceted lady, you can't go wrong with either—or both. - Set a Budget
Money talks, but it doesn’t have to shout. Set a budget that won't bankrupt you but still screams, "I care about you." Remember, it's the thought that counts, not the number of zeros on the price tag. Besides, being broke isn't a good look on anyone. The ideal gift is a bit of a splurge that says, "You're worth it," but not so costly that it says, "I won't be able to pay the rent next month." - If in Doubt, Go Classic
If you’re still not quite sure what to get your lady, opt for a timeless classic. A sleek design in a neutral color will never go out of style. It's like the little black dress of the watch world—versatile, chic, and guaranteed to earn you some serious points. Make no mistake: we love an eye-catching watch in an unexpected color. Hot pink wrist candy? Yes, please. But if you aren't sure she'll love sporting that exciting magenta timepiece, go with timeless when selecting her gift. - Add a Personal Touch
Want to take your gift-giving game to the next level? Get the watch engraved with a sweet message or an inside joke that only the two of you understand. It's the cherry on top of an already fabulous time-keeping sundae. Or consider adding a logo to the face of the watch if that's appropriate for the occasion and the recipient. - Consider Her Wrist Size
Size matters. We're talking about watch sizes, of course, so if she has a tiny wrist, she may not want that oversized watch. On the other hand, a larger bone structure might support a bulkier watch well.
That said, sometimes there’s power in the contrast of a smaller wrist against a chunky watch–like Rockwell’s big and bold 40mm2 big face watch. - Embrace Her Quirks
Is she a unicorn-loving, disco-dancing, adventure-seeking individual? Embrace her quirks and find a watch that reflects her unique personality. Whether it's a whimsical design or a funky color, let her inner sparkle shine through her wrist candy. If her closet is a sea of black, look for a sleek black watch that will fit her sober vibe. Whatever her style and outlook, match the watch to the woman. - Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, trust your instincts. You know her better than anyone else (well, except maybe her dog). If a particular watch makes your heart do a little happy dance, chances are it'll make hers do a tiny tango, too. So, go ahead and follow your gut. Watch her face light up with joy when she unwraps her gift and sees the face of her dreams. Sorry, we mean the watch face, not yours.
At Rockwell, we think no woman should be without the perfect watch—not just one that keeps time but that matches her panache, personality, and pursuits. So whether you’re gifting yourself a fabulous women’s watch or buying a watch to give to some other dynamic woman, go forth and shop, armed with these nuggets of wisdom. Cheers to making your wrist–or the wrist of your giftee–the envy of women everywhere.
