Are you looking for a gender-neutral watch? Take a look at these super-cool options.
Unisex watches come in all shapes and styles. From contemporary, minimalist designs to classic icons with stacks of universal appeal, there’s a wide range to choose from.
The challenge, however, is defining and locating one when products seldom list themselves as such.
Are Watches Unisex?
A watch is a watch. All operate the same but with different styles and sizes to choose from.
The fact that we are still differentiating between “men’s” and “women’s” watches, or even “unisex” watches, suggests our collective obsession with compartmentalization. After all, a unisex Rolex Yacht-Master will still function the same, whether worn by a female or male yachter.
There’s an argument as to whether we even need to categorize men’s and women’s watches anymore. In one way, it makes shopping easier. But if we all knew the size that fits us best, we wouldn’t even need to search for “unisex” watches, either.
We’d simply shop by size and choose a design we like best without thinking, “I’m buying a lady’s watch”, or vice versa.
Today, watchmakers are putting great effort into bridging that gap between a bona fide masculine product and a resolutely feminine one. But seldom do they list these designs as “unisex watches”.
If you’re wondering, “Are watches unisex?” then the short answer is yes. Watches are unisex, they just rarely say it.
In truth, not all men are enticed by beefy, athletic-looking titans, and not all women are sold on gold and diamonds. An enthusiast’s tastes are as infinite as the styles available on the market.
What Is a Unisex Watch?
The definition of what constitutes a unisex watch still varies widely. To me, it represents a happy medium. A space between ultra-masculine and delicately feminine. A size anywhere between 41mm and 33mm. And when you think about it that way, that’s quite a broad category.
It’s difficult to answer the question “What is a unisex watch?” since there is no one defining characteristic. Even without the label, women often wear men’s watches and vice versa.
The majority of the population won’t know either way by looking at a person’s watch, whether it’s for women or men. So long as it fits well and the wearer feels comfortable wearing that style, a watch is a watch.
Generally speaking, mechanical watches preferred by men tend to measure larger. The majority of women’s watches are smaller and feature a quartz movement. Women’s watches powered by an automatic movement aren’t uncommon either. Neither are men’s quartz watches.
The thought that gender should dictate which watch you should wear is a very outdated outlook. Influencers and social figures are helping us reshape that stigma.
Victoria Beckham likes to wear the men’s Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/R in chocolate brown and rose gold. Likewise, Lionel Messi sports the women’s Patek Aquanaut Luce Rainbow.
The Best Gucci Unisex Watch
Since 2020, Gucci has been focusing on making its designs more inclusive. In doing so, it launched the “genderless” shopping category named Gucci MX. The Italian fashion house intends to offset and deconstruct binaries and preconceived ideas relating to gender.
Dissolving the lines of the gender divide, these products mainly consist of handbags, accessories, luggage, and shoes. But that doesn’t mean that the brand doesn’t have a range of genderless watches, too.
In fact, you can classify many Gucci watches and jewelry designs as neither male nor female-oriented. Take, for example, the Gucci Grip watch.
The Gucci Grip Watch
The Gucci Grip series is home to some of the best Gucci unisex watches. These timepieces look good on men’s and women’s wrists thanks to their square faces and softened round edges. They are neither too bold and edgy nor too soft and feminine.
The key feature of the Gucci Grip design is its rotating display. It features the hours and minutes on a retrograde-type wheel, along with the added option of a date feature.
Men and women can choose between an automatic or quartz Gucci Grip watch. The collection also offers stainless steel and gold-coated options. Further to those choices, you also get to pick between a metal bracelet or a leather band.
The Best Casio Unisex Watch
When you shop for Casio watches, you can explore a diverse range of styles and genres. You can choose between sporty models, tool watches, vintage designs, retro digital watches, and near-on indestructible G-Shocks. But what about a Casio Unisex watch?
The Casio Vintage Iconic Premium A1000MA-7EF
If you like Casio’s retro range of digital timepieces, this unisex model is perfect for you.
You can actually opt for the model in a range of different finishes. For example, there are models with white and black mother-of-pearl elements, neither of which feel too feminine. The A1000MA-7EF, however, is a universal silver color that won’t tire of its classic looks anytime soon.
Casio actually advertises this Vintage Iconic watch for a woman’s wrist. However, due to its 39mm diameter, it’s also a good watch for a gent’s small wrist.
The watch case is made from stainless steel, but it is also available in shades of yellow or rose gold. As mentioned, this is a small digital watch with a bunch of retro features.
Its rectangular case with angled corners is reminiscent of Casio’s 1980s watches and features scratch-resistant mineral glass to protect the face.
You can consider all the A1000 models unisex watches thanks to their unimposing dimensions. They all come with an annual calendar function, an alarm, and a stopwatch feature too.
This unisex Casio A1000 model offers a 12- or 24-hour format and an ultra-retro stainless steel mesh bracelet.
The Best Rolex Unisex Watches
Rolex doesn’t tend to focus on gender-neutral watches. Enthusiasts simply make what they want of them. Anyone who loves a Rolex watch will buy it and wear it regardless of its intended gender or wrist size.
Rolex watches are great unisex options because they tend to come in gender-neutral colors and reduced-size options. These smaller sizes offer all the same functions as their larger counterparts. Let’s take a look at two of the best Rolex unisex watches.
The Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 Everose
The Rolex Yacht-Master Everose is a watch that both men and women can wear. The proprietary Rolex case material is featured in vintage men’s timepieces, regardless of its “pink” status.
The sporty matte black dial paired with the Everose case is a wonderful juxtaposition. The Oysterflex strap provides around-the-clock comfort and matches nicely with the black Cerachrom bezel. Its 40mm size will also look at home on the wrist of any gender or size.
The Rolex Day-Date 36 128238
The original Rolex Day-Date was 36mm in size. In fact, the brand never released an official “women’s” Day-Date model. But many females wear this timepiece, including celebrities like Victoria Beckham and the Kardashians.
Even so, decades ago, a 36mm Rolex was considered too large for a woman’s wrist. It shows that trends are pointing towards larger boyfriend watches — a style that has been creeping in for several years.
One of the latest additions to the line is the Rolex Day-Date 128238. It boasts a striking green ombre dial adorned with diamond hour markers and a luxurious 18k yellow gold case.
The dial begins with a rich green hue in the center and gradually progresses into a deep black masculine edge. Meanwhile, the use of diamonds and a compact 36mm case size keep the watch manageable for female wrists, too.
All genders can enjoy Rolex’s modification of the added concentric gradient dials. What’s more, the watch still features the iconic fluted bezel — one of the most loved characteristics of the Day-Date.
The Best Unisex Cartier Watch
Cartier watches impart a sense of undiluted French sophistication. Some are distinctly masculine, others are unapologetically lavish and glamorous. These world-class designs also come in unisex form.
Take, for example, the Cartier Tank Francaise – one of the best unisex Cartier watches on the market.
The Cartier Tank Francaise
The Cartier Tank Francaise evokes a unisex agenda with relatively affordable pricing. During the early 2000s, it was identified as a grown-up ladies’ watch. Princess Diana, Kate Moss, and, more recently, Meghan Markle all wore the watch.
The new generation launched last year; however, it is larger and adds brushed end links to the bracelet.
The case is now more ergonomic, with a recessed crown and a more streamlined profile. The medium dials now boast a satin finish, and Rolex applies the numerals rather than prints them.
Now that we exist in a time heavily influenced by social media and nostalgia, it couldn’t be a better time for a genderless Cartier Tank Francaise.
The Takeaway
When it comes to watches, unisex styles are varied and unlabelled.
While men’s watches tend to measure anything between 36mm and 45mm, boasting masculine colors and architecture, women’s watches are smaller.
Some ladies’ watches enhance feminine aesthetics by using diamonds, gemstones, and striking materials like mother of pearl.
A unisex watch sits somewhere between.
The rise in unisex fashion has caused the gender divide to melt away slowly. Today, it’s more accessible for men to wear women’s watches and vice versa without judgment.
In a way, watch collecting would be more liberating if we were to extinguish the “unisex” label altogether. But for now, there are plenty of unisex styles that make great daily beaters and solid investments.
Do you own a unisex watch? Does the thought of wearing a labeled “women’s watch” deter you from buying it? Or is a watch a watch, no matter its materials, style, or size?
Share your thoughts with us by commenting below!
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