Women Wearing Men’s Watches – A New Trend

Brace yourself, women wearing men’s watches is an actual thing. While trying to avoid making any sexist generalizations here, this is my take on the matter.

It’s a bit of a touchy subject — women wearing men’s watches. While it undeniably makes a woman look even more attractive (in my humble opinion), men generally don’t much like it. I’ll try to explain my theory on this psychology.

The thing is, women like to wear men’s watches, but men don’t like to wear women’s watches!

In fact, it’s quite common for a woman to pick up a men’s watch and style it out pretty darn well. When a girl wears a watch originally made for men, she instantly becomes cool and sporty.

It’s true! Women who dress with a slightly masculine edge are killing it right now. Some even prefer men’s watches over designs specifically made for female wrists. 

It’s an intriguing subject to explore. I’ve been observing the psychology of men’s and women’s watch fashion for some time. Here are some of my theories.

What’s The Deal With Women Wearing Men’s Watches?

Why do some women wear men’s watches? One thing is for sure. When they do, it changes the appeal of that watch to a man.  

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a steady increase in luxury brands broadening their offerings for women. But it doesn’t matter all that much. Because women like to wear all sorts of men’s watches, too. 

And, if a brand decides to downsize one of its already-popular 40mm watches, it’s game over! Men won’t touch the thing again! 

Why is this, you ask? Keep reading.

Can Women Wear Men’s Watches?

I shall start the opening of this section in the same way that it ends. In answer to the question, “Can women wear men’s watches?” — heck yeah!  

Watches for men vary more in style and function. It’s no wonder that women are dipping their toes into the men’s watch category. 

You only need to explore a luxury watch manufacturer’s online catalog to work this out. The proportion of watches available to gents online far outweighs those available to ladies. 

It’s one of the reasons why if a woman needs a functional timepiece, she’ll often look towards the men’s range.  

Brands build men’s watches much better for the rigors of daily life. At one time, women‘s watches were flimsy. Made from precious metals and diamonds, they were hardly the go-to choice for gym-goers or athletes.

Luckily, women’s watch options are expanding. We ladies require hardy, rugged timekeeping tools just as much as men. The only problem is there just isn’t enough selection. 

In addition to a broader range of designs, men’s watches typically hold their value better than their female counterparts. 

The easiest way to demonstrate this is by looking at Rolex’s range of luxury watches. 

Very few ladies’ Rolex watches hold the same value as men’s on the pre-owned market. It means that women’s watches don’t sell as well, either.  

What’s the Difference Between Men’s and Women’s Watches?

Are you wondering, “What’s the difference between men’s and women’s watches?”. Well, strictly speaking, anyone can wear a watch when it fits a wrist. However, in the industry, brands generally refer to women’s watches as those measuring 36mm and under. 

Women’s watches can also tend to look more feminine and are sometimes (not all the time) diamond-decorated. 

Men’s watches can also feature diamond detailing. They tend to measure 40mm and over (much to small-wristed guys’ chagrin).

You can consider anything in between these two windows as a unisex watch. 

What you have to bear in mind, however, is that the lines can sometimes become a little blurred. The rules and measurements that once defined men’s and women’s watches clearly now overlap quite a bit.  

While some female watch enthusiasts may like to argue the matter, some men’s watches just suit men’s wrists better. Anything from a 42mm size upwards is going to look masculine on a woman’s wrist. Then again, that may be the reason a woman wants to wear it!

Boyfriend watches, and masculine styles are trending right now. I love the look. If I wanted to add a men’s watch to my collection, I’d want it to look like just that. A man’s watch on a woman’s wrist. (Think “Pretty Woman” when we see Vivien enrobed in one of Edward’s oversized shirts!)

Unisex Watches

Female watch collectors don’t just wear women’s watches exclusively. They like unisex watches, as well as those for men. Not everyone believes there is such a thing as a unisex watch. Instead, they feel watches should be made for one sex or another.  

In many cases, watchmakers inherently design watches for either a male or female wrist. But when a watch changes size, brands sometimes label it as “unisex”. A 42mm model suddenly arrives in a 38mm size, and it becomes a unisex timepiece. 

There’s a logic behind why brands refrain from calling it a woman’s watch altogether. It’s so that men with smaller-sized wrists can wear it without feeling weird.

In the watch world, we generally only label “unisex” watches for a short period. Soon after its release, one sex or the other will claim it. 

One watch may begin as a men’s dive watch and lose favor, finishing off as a women’s sports watch. 

In the grand scheme of things, these details shouldn’t matter so much if we were all a little less self-conscious.

Men’s Watches That Women Love To Wear  

Here’s a list of popular men’s watches that women also like to sport.   

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Aquanaut watches like the ref 5167 are “only” 40mm in size. They don’t dwarf a women’s wrist and they exude their iconic sports-luxe aesthetic. 

In 2007, Patek Philippe reworked the pattern on the Aquanaut dial and changed its strap for greater impact.

The watch is available in steel or rose gold with a respective black or brown dial. Thanks to the elegant steel sports style of the Aquanaut, it can easily pass as a unisex watch.

The Rolex Submariner 

The Rolex Submariner is easy pickings for a woman. Its classic style can pair well with business or casual attire, taking you from the office to the casino effortlessly. Practical-wise, women can enjoy it, too.

The watch offers a 300-meter resistance and comes in a variety of versatile dial colors. 

Drew Barrymore and Lindsey Vonn are two examples of influential women who like wearing the men’s Submariner.  

The Panerai Luminor Due  

A 38mm diameter may seem practically microscopic compared to some of Panerai’s beasts. But it’s still large for a female’s wrist. 

Women who adore the distinctive look of Panerai’s earlier military wristwatches of the 1950s will love the Luminor Due. It’s the dress watch version of the Luminor watch.

Simplified and clean, a highly legible dial affords lashings of luminous material. Trend-setting women love these Italian watches, packed with plenty of retro charm. 

Don’t believe me? Just ask Paneri fan, Elizabeth Hurley!

The Rolex Daytona  

At the very beginning, Rolex produced the Cosmograph Daytona for professional racing drivers. Over the years, the Daytona’s design has evolved thanks to legends like Paul Newman. 

His special exotic dial variant boasted an Art Deco style. It sold in 2017 for a staggering 17 million dollars, becoming Rolex’s most expensive watch.

The variety of metal options and dials is vast today. A tachymeter scale and chronograph dial layout constitute a sporty-looking timepiece that women love. 

The Rolex Daytona Everose watch is a particularly popular watch that women like to wear. The rose golden tones of Rolex’s proprietary case material carry subtle feminine undertones that complement an otherwise masculine aesthetic.

Female celebrities that have set a trend for wearing the Rolex Daytona include Elle McPherson and Victoria Beckham.  

My Theory Why Men Don’t Wear Women’s Watches

Men don’t like to wear women’s watches even if women like wearing men’s watches. Part of the theory about masculinity is that we shouldn’t dilute it. So, if a man sees a woman wearing a male timepiece and it looks feminine, he’ll no longer wish to wear it.

But masculine styles are in vogue, and women like to sport the “boyfriend” look. It seems only logical that men’s watches for women are becoming more and more appealing, given these trends.  

Maybe my theory on women wearing men’s watches goes towards explaining something. Maybe it indicates why men’s watches have been gradually growing in size. The further away a man’s watch sits from a woman’s on the size chart — the more manly it must be, surely?! 

What’s your take on the theory? Is the gap between women’s and men’s watches closing? Pop your thoughts in the comments below.