I find that oversized, men’s watches suit me better than the dainty, feminine ones. Do you have any recommendations?
Have you noticed that some brands like Hublot and Vacheron Constantin no longer categorise their watches according to gender? In fact, an increasing number of brands are releasing gender-neutral watches, perhaps in response to a two-fold market trend: Men are looking for smaller timepieces, and women are seeking oversized timepieces with heft.
Here, we highlight collections that started as men’s only, and have come to be coveted by both genders.
ICON OF OUR TIMES
The word “icon” is bandied around too freely these days, but few watches can actually lay claim to that desired status. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is a bona fide icon.
That was not the case when it was first launched in 1972. An exorbitantly expensive luxury watch made in steel, with visible gaskets and screws? Naysayers predicted that Audemars Piguet would go bankrupt within a few months. Thankfully, the market was hungry for a disruptive sports watch, and today, the Royal Oak has been reimagined in countless avatars. It’s hard to get your hands on one today, but it’s worth the wait.
This Jumbo 39mm version comes in white gold with a grainy effect blue dial.
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
The Big Bang launched Hublot to stratospheric heights when it was first released in 2005. Overthe-top and obnoxious, it sparked contention for several reasons, including the fact that it came with a rubber strap, a blasphemy in the luxury industry back then.
Still, armed with marketing genius and an innovative product, Hublot has successfully positioned the Big Bang as a watch for those who are unafraid of living larger than life. The brand regularly pushes design and technical boundaries with the Big Bang, and has introduced it in a range of different avatars, like this 42mm yellow gold version with an open-worked dial.
RACING LEGEND
The Tag Heuer Monaco catapulted to stardom in 1971, when Steve McQueen wore it in racing movie Le Mans. It had been released two years before, breaking convention with its waterresistant square case and automatic chronograph movement (the first of its kind). On the wrist of McQueen, it became the It watch of the decade and, if we were to be honest, it still feels just as cool and trendy as before.
In its latest iteration, the Monaco has been released in a skeletonised version, which means that the movement has been shaved down to its bare essentials, and can be seen from the dial. Measuring 39mm, it is available in three coloured dials: blue, red and turquoise.
THE TOOL WATCH
Originally developed for the Italian Navy, Panerai’s watches were designed for on-field purposes, including the luminous numerals that were legible in the dark. They were made from a material called radium that was later found to have toxic and radioactive properties.
While the brand no longer uses radium in its watches, this part of history lives on in the Radiomir, thanks to its name. For the modern warrior, the Radiomir Quaranta now comes in 40mm (as opposed to the 47mm worn by military men), and is a significant upgrade from the original rugged version.
The automatic timepiece comes in a Goldtech (a proprietary gold alloy that’s intensely red) case, with a sun-brushed dial. It’s elegant enough for the boardroom, but with that spirited Panerai essence that is synonymous with the brand.