Sometimes, classic watches are not quite glamorous enough, yet dress watches are that little bit too much. For a Christmas gift with just the right amount of glamour, try one of these luxurious diamond watches, which have just enough sparkle not to overpower.
1. Chaumet
Liens rose gold watch
£21,060
This gleaming pink gold watch with a delicate diamond-set bezel is a new addition to the Liens range of Chaumet watches. The elegant dial is split into two opposing lacquered arcs, set over a finely brushed sunray dial, and decorated with slim gold applied indices and a discreet date window. Looking at the timepiece in profile, you’ll see why it is part of the Liens collection, which celebrates Chaumet’s iconic X motif that has been woven into its jewellery for more than 300 years. The 33mm case is held between a link that goes around the case, crossing at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock to create the trademark design.
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre
Reverso Lady Ultra Thin Duetto Duo white gold watch
£33,300
For a little flash of diamonds in the daytime, this Reverso Lady Ultra Thin Duetto Duo is perfect with its classic mother-of-pearl dial with guilloché centre, and two strips of round brilliant diamonds at either end of the white gold case. But the beauty in these Jaeger-LeCoultre watches is that the case can be flipped over to reveal an alternative dial. On the other side of this Reverso model is a much sparklier version, perfect for evening, with an aqua-hued, mother-of-pearl dial decorated with diamond strips and a full diamond bezel.
3. Cartier
Clé de Cartier white gold watch
£POA
With soft curves, clean lines and a rounded profile, this Clé de Cartier white gold watch exudes an elegant minimalism. This model, powered by Cartier’s new in-house 1847 MC movement, has a simple loop of brilliant round diamonds on the bezel. The Clé takes its name from the French for key, which refers to the unusually long key-style sapphire cabochon crown that offers a highly tactile experience when used to adjust these fabulous ladies’ watches.
4. IWC
Portofino 37 Automatic Day & Night stainless steel watch
£9,950
This mechanical stainless steel watch offers so much more than the 66 diamonds set to dazzling effect on the bezel and as hour markers. Ambiguously sized at 37mm to appeal to both sexes, the mid-sized IWC Portofino 37 Automatic Day & Night uses an inner ring on the mother-of-pearl dial to create a second time zone. Just to keep you in check, the blue half is used to indicate hours in the evening, while the white half indicates daytime hours. These IWC watches are perfect for those with a hectic travel schedule or who work and play internationally.
5. Chanel
Boy.Friend medium-sized beige gold watch
£14,250
When launched earlier this year, these Chanel Boy.Friend watches, with their rectangular cases and clean dials, became instant classics. This model is the medium-sized version and has a case measuring 26.7 x 34.6mm, crafted in beige gold. The opaline guilloché dial is looped by 64 brilliant-cut diamonds and has a cabochon onyx set into the crown. There are 48 further diamonds set into the beige gold buckle on the black alligator strap for even more subtle sparkle.
6. Buccellati
Venus white gold watch
£19,000
The sturdy grey crocodile strap of this Buccellati Venus watch instantly dresses down the white gold and diamond case and blue mother-of-pearl dial, making it a great choice for relaxed daytime glamour. The claw-set diamonds on the bezel and lugs frame a small case sized at just 22mm, and the hours have been marked with tiny gold indexes. These gorgeous diamond watches are powered by a Swiss-made quartz movement.
7. Dior VII
Montaigne stainless steel watch
£3,550
The diamonds on this Dior VII Montaigne stainless steel bracelet watch are not where you might expect them to be. Rather than studded round the bezel, the loop of diamonds on this quartz-powered model can be found on its striking sun-brushed dial, which has been coloured with translucent blue lacquer. The pyramidal links of the bracelet and the beveled bezel, set with a ring of white mother-of-pearl, combine to create a Dior watch that looks both sporty and chic.
8. Patek Philippe
Calatrava 4897G white gold watch
£18,870
From the Calatrava family of Patek Philippe watches comes this true design classic, with a simple, elegant round case that oozes sophistication. New for this year is the monochrome 4897G; a white gold version fitted with a silvery grey guilloché dial, decorated with powdered gold hour markers, and finished with a silver-coloured brushed satin strap. The watch is powered by Calibre 25 – a mechanical manually wound movement – which you can view at your leisure through a sapphire crystal caseback.
9. Breguet
Reine de Naples Princesse Mini 9808 rose gold watch
£18,300
The diamonds on this chocolatey watch are not instantly obvious, but if you know where to look you’ll find a briolette diamond set into the crown, which is offset at about 5 o’clock, and 16 round brilliant diamonds on an attachment between the rose gold case and the brown leather strap. The design of these Breguet watches – particularly their delicately elongated oval cases – takes inspiration from the first wristwatch ever created for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, which was designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1810.
10. Rolex
Cellini Time white gold watch
£15,300
Upgrading timepieces with diamonds is not solely the preserve of ladies’ watches. There are lots of options for guys too, such as these Cellini Time men’s watches in white gold. This family, with diamond-studded bezels, has been designed in homage to 16th century Italian sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The Cellini line is less well known than its chunky Submariner or Daytona cousins but carries the same quality hallmarks as all Rolex watches.
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This rose gold Chaumet Liens watch with a diamond-set bezel is the epitome of Parisian chic (£21,060).
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The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Lady Ultra Thin Duetto Duo white gold watch has two faces to choose from, depending on how much sparkle you require (£33,300).
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Clé de Cartier is an elegant white gold watch with a sapphire cabochon crown and diamond-set bezel that simply oozes elegance (£POA).
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This Portofino 37 Automatic Day & Night stainless steel watch by IWC is decorated with 66 brilliant-cut diamonds (£9,950).
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Beige gold has been used to craft the diamond-set case of this medium-sized Boy.Friend watch by Chanel (£14,250).
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The sturdy crocodile strap keeps the Buccellati Venus diamond and white gold watch casual enough for daytime wear (£19,000).
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Dior has chosen to add a circle of diamonds, not to the bezel of its VII Montaigne stainless steel watch, but to its blue lacquer dial (£3,550).
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For instant sophistication, slip on this Patek Philippe Calatrava 4897G white gold watch with a diamond bezel (£18,870).
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The Reine de Naples Princesse Mini 9808 rose gold watch with discreet diamonds by Breguet was inspired by a royal commission from 1810 (£18,300).
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Men can enjoy diamonds in the daytime too, as this Rolex Cellini Time white gold timepiece perfectly demonstrates (£15,300).
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