As we enter 2015, the concept of top-notch mechanical watches for women is on the rise, with more and more brands answering the call from discerning women for serious timepieces. It is estimated that women now account for 35 percent of sales of fine watches, and they want more than just a pretty face: Most women find form and function equally seductive. By offering ladies’ watches with mechanical movements, the top brands ensure that every time a woman puts on her watch, it’s working. Generally, mechanical watches fall into two categories: self-winding (also referred to as automatic) and manual winding. As its name implies, a self-winding watch winds itself automatically, with the motion of the wearer’s wrist powering a mainspring that’s torqued to release energy consistently; the watch also has a power reserve to keep it running between wearings. In a manual-winding watch, the crown needs to be turned by hand to power the timepiece. Both types offer the wearer the assurance that hundreds of tiny components are working harmoniously inside that half-dollar-size case to keep time perfectly—making her watch pretty both outside and in. (A version of this article by Roberta Naas first appeared in Vegas Magazine.
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Pictured above: From Blancpain, this women’s Complete Calendar watch ($55,700) is crafted in 18k rose gold and houses the self-winding caliber 6763, which offers a calendar, moon phase indications, and small seconds indications. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date watch ($22,150), fashioned in 18k yellow gold, and featuring a fluted bezel. it houses the COSC-certified Rolex 3155 chronometer movement. This A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic watch ($44,300) is crafted in 18k pink gold with a solid silver argenté dial. The German-made caliber L086.1, manufactured by Lange, has 209 parts and offers 72 hours of power reserve.
