WH AT YOUR WATCH SAYS A BOUT YOU

A taxonomy of timepieces and how to wear them. By Christine Whitney.

Ask any successful woman and she’ll say that in our speeded-up world, time has become the ultimate luxury. We’d like to argue, though, that the timepiece takes that title. In an age in which clocks are everywhere – on phones, tablets – the wristwatch feels like a serious indulgence, a trend-transcending symbol of status and style that says as much about us as an engagement diamond. One watch that has us lining up to commit is the classic stainless steel timepiece – it’s the rare catch that’s rich yet still grounded. Not to mention that it’s a master of versatility: Styles such as TAG Heuer’s Carrera can skew both casual (with a T-shirt and jeans) or boss-of-the-boardroom (with a tailored Victoria Beckham dress). Amber Heard has pledged allegiance to a large version of the Cartier Ballon Bleu, while the Duchess of Cambridge’s is smaller and more conservative. For the red carpet, look no further than Piaget’s aptly named Limelight timepieces. One of its newest is the Limelight Gala watch. With its sensual curves highlighted by elongated horns and a bezel decorated with diamonds, the Limelight Gala has been spotted at the recent Cannes Film Festival, on Gong Li’s wrist. It’s as beautiful with an evening gown as with a white blouse, on trend with a blazer and wide-legged pants. On the more casual end of the spectrum, fashion’s love affair with leather wrap-band watches is no secret: Gwyneth Paltrow and Princess Beatrice both wear Hermès’s popular Cape Cod style. It’s one for when you want to feel relaxed and cool, channelling your inner Inès de la Fressange – the French model and designer who literally wrote the book on Parisian chic ( Parisian Chic: A Style Guide). De la Fressange favours the neutral-leather Cape Cod. While fishnet-and-grill enthusiast Madonna is by no means the poster girl for subtlety, she has also been seen sporting the style, albeit with her less conspicuous, all-black outfits. Then there’s the oversize borrowed-from-your-boyfriend chronograph, the sultriest of its species both because of and despite the fact that it’s a man’s watch. A Rolex Daytona or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak on a woman’s wrist is the accessory equivalent of the men’s button-down worn after an impromptu sleepover – it exudes both power and dangerously attractive nonchalance. The Daytona is the preferred style of fashion über women like Victoria Beckham and Sofia Vergara. (We like to think VB swiped hers off footballer husband David’s bedside table.) To push the look to its limit, wear it with this season’s structured menswear-inspired shirt and leave a few buttons strategically undone. So what does your watch say about you? It could read “approachable” or “not to be messed with,” casual or high society. In the end, the message is like that of the we’re-not-so-different-after-all ’80s movie The Breakfast Club: There’s a little of each persona in all of us. And that’s a good thing. With a watch for every whim, why not wear your heart on your wrist?