10 Best Women S Watches 2024 in the United States

Interestingly enough, when they first appeared, wristwatches were primarily worn only by women! One apocryphal reason given was that the inventor of the wristwatch was inspired by seeing a breastfeeding woman attach a watch to her arm so that she could check the time with her free hand while nursing. Another version of the wristwatch’s origins was that the inventor took a woman’s bracelet and attached a small watch to it. One such model was worn by the wife of Napoleon I, Queen Josephine. (At the time, it was assumed that men would make do with a pocket watch. Only in the late 19th century were wristwatches designed for men–mostly for military purposes, so that men could see the time while keeping their hands free.)

In any event, both men and women wear wristwatches nowadays. But there are watch designs that take a woman’s needs into consideration. These watches will be smaller and more lightweight. Also, they’ll have certain aesthetic features, in terms of color and gemstones, that will appeal to a woman’s tastes. But there are also unisex models, that can be worn by men or women. We’ll have a look at some of the most popular women’s watches available nowadays. They make a wonderful gift idea, both in terms of their usefulness, as well as being fashionable.

There are many variations in wristwatches: analog, digital, chronographs, smartwatches, and much more. But we’ll just concentrate on two types: watches specifically for women, and unisex watches.

• Women’s watches: Dress watches that are made especially for women will usually employ gold in various hues: yellow, rose, or white. There are less expensive materials, such as brass or stainless steel, which can still produce exquisite results. Some have a bangle wristband, with a rigid metal band, with adjustable end links. An example is the Timex Women’s Stretch Bangle Crisscross.

• Unisex watches: These will have an average-sized watch face and wristband, so as to be suitable for both men and women. They’ll have a simpler design than typical women’s watches, and have plain colors, instead of the typical rose or pink, which are considered more feminine colors. An example is the Timex Unisex Weekender 38 mm Watch. It has a slip-thru nylon strap and a brass case. It puts more of an emphasis on utility, rather than aesthetics.

• Size of a woman’s watch: The size of the wristband and the watch face will depend greatly on the size of the woman’s wrist. A woman whose wrist circumference is from 5”-6” should have a case size from 21mm - 28mm. Women with a wrist larger than that can go for a case that is as large as 34 mm in diameter.

• Waterproof ratings: Timex includes a depth chart with its watches. According to the chart, a watch that is water-resistant up to 30 meters can withstand raindrops. If it is resistant to a depth of 50 meters, you may wear it while doing light swimming and snorkeling. Water-resistance to 100 meters will allow for practically anything except for scuba diving.

Here are some tips about maintaining your watch:

• Changing the clasp: If you purchase a watch with a leather wrist strap and a standard buckle closure, it’s recommended to change it to a deployant buckle. It’s considered more elegant. Also, the standard buckle closure requires you to bend and stretch the leather every time you remove or put on the watch. On the other hand, you just click the deployant buckle, without bending the leather too much.

Comparison of deployant and standard buckle (From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0v4tRROB1I)

• Changing the wristband: There are two types of watch wristbands: bracelets, made from metal, and straps, made from any other material: leather, nylon, silicone, and more. You may want to change the wristband to something more stylish, or if your present wristband suffers from wear and tear. You have to measure the distance between the lugs (the metal clips where the watch face connects with the wristband). Use the width when selecting a replacement wristband. Some customers request to remove some of the links of the wristband, so that it fits more snugly.

• Fossil Women's Riley Stainless Steel Crystal-Accented Multifunction Quartz Watch

The Fossil Women's Riley Multifunction Quartz Watch is both sleek and stylish, as well as practical. It has a case that is 38 mm in diameter that can be engraved and customized. The bracelet band is 18 mm wide, with a deployant buckle closure. The case is stainless steel in a rose-gold tone, and it has 3 chronographs. Like most of the watches we reviewed, it’s water-resistant to 100 m depth.

• Timex Women's Easy Reader Expansion Band 30mm Watch

There are several Timex watches among the Best Reviews Guide Top 10, amongst them the Timex Women's Easy Reader Expansion Band 30mm Watch. It features a stainless steel expansion band, that can fit your wrist up to a 7.5” circumference. Like many Timex watches, it has an Indiglo watch face that can light up when you’re in a dark place. If you want a watch with a smaller dial (25 mm instead of 30 mm) that also displays the date, there is the Timex Women’s Easy Reader Date Watch.

• Anne Klein Women's Resin Bracelet Watch

The Anne Klein Women's Resin Bracelet Watch has a pink mother-of-pearl, iridescent watch face with a mineral crystal lens cover. The bracelet has matching pink resin links, and an extendable clasp. The case is a bit wide for a woman’s watch, at 37 mm.

Another Anne Klein offering is her Genuine Diamond Dial Bangle Watch. It has a much sleeker appearance than the resin bracelet. It features a glossy black dial and diamond at 12 o’clock.

• Afelza Women’s Smart Watch

The Afelza Round Face Women’s SmartWatch is essentially a fitness tracker, but the wristband and the customizable watch face are surprisingly stylish. It’s compatible with Android and iOS phones, and has an impressive IP68 Waterproof rating, allowing you to even swim with your watch on. It comes with two wristbands, one nylon, and one silicone, allowing you to switch off.