Ladies' Watch: A Real Thing, Or Just Marketing Hype?

We’ve more or less established that we perceive horology mainly from a masculine perspective. And watch manufacturers aren’t helping by offering predominantly male-centric models. That is, until some marketing expert, sitting in a cubicle somewhere, realises that they can essentially double their sales… Simply by offering to sell ladies’ watch models, in addition to their well established, male-centric models. But are ladies’ watches a real thing?… Or nothing more than pure marketing hogwash, all designed to double their sales by catering to both genders?… Should we, instead, see all watches as androgynous?… Unisex?…

Close-up of Orient Clover and Frédérique Constant Double Heartbeat, showing the typical ladies' watch design. — Two examples of typical ladies’ watch, (left) Orient Clover (Ref No. DB07-01-A). And (right) Frédérique Constant Double Heartbeat (Ref No. FC-310WHF2P4).
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Definition Of A Ladies’ Watch

Instead of featuring a single watch like previous episodes, today we’ll take a look at two. We have the Orient Clover (henceforth called the Orient) on one end. And the Frédérique Constant Double Heartbeat (henceforth called the FC) on the other end. Ladies’ watches are generally smaller than average (36mm case diameter or less), usually featuring more feminine elements and designs.

Close-up of the Orient Clover, showing the typical ladies' watch design. — The Orient Clover (Ref No DB07-01-A), displaying the “open-heart” design to reveal the balance wheel of the movement below.
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With the Orient, 34mm case diameter, and the clover floral motif, makes it more feminine than the average watch. The “open-heart” dial right on the petals of the clover is the icing on the cake. Clearly marked indices and a detailed minute track makes this a more practical time keeping instrument.

Close-up of the Frédérique Constant Double Heartbeat, showing the typical ladies' watch design. — The Frédérique Constant Double Heartbeat, also features an “open-heart” design, with a larger opening in the shape of twin-hearts. Iridescent mother-of-pearl dial, diamond inset indices encased in rose gold, and rose gold case, more than hint at its femininity.
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On the other hand, the FC is slightly larger at 35mm. It features a rose gold case instead of stainless steel, and inset diamond indices on a mother-of-pearl dial. This watch also features an “open-heart” design, the cutout in the shape of twin-hearts, makes it even more feminine. However, the cutout does take away three of the twelve indices, and it doesn’t feature a detailed minute track. Sadly, most ladies’ watch designs favour “pretty and feminine” over practicality as a time keeping instrument.

Would I, As A Man, Wear A Ladies’ Watch?…

Well, let’s get one thing straight – I’m not ashamed to publicly display my feminine side. After all, everybody has to balance both our masculine and feminine sides, both men and women. It’s how we choose to express ourselves that matters the most to me. I have to admit though, that I am a little biased. Not so much of a product’s gender affiliation, but more so its practicality. Hence, I’ll definitely incorporate the Orient into my classic menswear wardrobe, though not so much the FC.

Pairing A Ladies’ Watch With Classic Menswear

Let’s make this clear, I’m only gonna dress the Orient, and not the FC. And to make this a somewhat fair comparison, I’m looking at the watch not so much as a ladies’ watch. Instead, I’m looking at it as a somewhat dressy watch. So let’s get on with it.

(1) Business Formal

Solid charcoal grey suit, solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square. Is this a good pair for a ladies' watch? — Two-piece, solid charcoal grey suit, with a solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of solid black plain toe Oxford dress shoes. — Solid black, plain-toe Oxfords, are as conservative as you can go.
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NO / MAYBE – There’s no doubt, the Orient is dressy on its own right. But it does seem a little too “playful” for pairing with a formal suit. I wouldn’t consider this a straight out no, but neither would I personally wear it in this formality.

(2) Business Semi-Formal

Solid olive green suit, solid blue shirt with white contrasting collar and cuffs. Burgundy tie with small repeating patterns, and pocket square. — Two-piece, solid olive green suit, with sporty, slanted hip pockets, and a ticket pocket above the right hip pocket. A pale blue shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs, small-patterned burgundy tie and coordinating pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of whole cut in ox blood, with wingtip patterned brogue. Another type of typical dress shoes. — Whole cut in ox blood, with burnished toes, and wingtip patterned brogue.
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Again, NO / MAYBE – Same reason as above. Regardless how you look at it, it’s still a little too “playful” for something distinctly formal.

(3) Business Informal

Solid navy, double breasted blazer, with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie, solid grey trousers, and pocket square. — Double breasted navy blazer with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid pale blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie. Solid medium grey trousers, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of brown double monk-straps. A less dressy dress shoes. — Brown, double monk-straps, to exude a more playful vibe.
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YES – This formality is now low enough to incorporate something “playful” like the Orient. Ladies’ watch or not, as far as I’m concerned, this is still a good pairing.

(4) Business Casual

Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave, a solid pink OCBD shirt with block stripe knit tie in autumn colours, and a pair of solid burgundy chinos. — Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave. Solid pink OCBD shirt with a knit tie in autumn colours. Solid burgundy chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of brown penny loafers. One of the least dressy dress shoes. — Brown penny loafers, a typical “less dressy” dress shoes.
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YES – Business casual is, by definition, a more sporty, or “playful” version of the business attire. Hence, pairing it with a “playful” watch like the Orient is just fine.

(5) Dressy Casual

Unstructured, charcoal brown flannel sport jacket, denim OCBD shirt, and khaki chinos. — Charcoal brown, unstructured sport jacket with an open collared denim OCBD shirt. Khaki chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of khaki canvas derbies. — Derby shoes in tan canvas stretch what it means to be “dress” shoes.
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YES – This is still a very good pairing with the Orient. Again, it doesn’t matter what the manufacturer markets it as, it’s still a rather dressy watch. An excellent match with this level of formality.

(6) Just Casual

Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and solid olive green jeans. — Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and olive green jeans.
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Close up of a pair of white trainers. — White trainers, with a thin red and black stripe. A stereotypical pair of casual footwear.
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MAYBE / NO – At this formality level, we’re looking at pairing it with sporty watches. Unfortunately, the Orient is more “playful” than it is sporty. Hence, I wouldn’t consider this a great match.

Would I Wear A Ladies’ Watch?

All the explanations prior are meaningless, unless I show you that I actually wear such a watch, right? So here you go…

An off-white, cotton sport jacket, navy roll-neck jumper, and a navy, small-patterned pocket square. Orient Clover on the wrist, showing how to pair a typically ladies' watch with classic menswear. — Pairing a playful, ladies’ watch, with an equally playful, dressy casual outfit. An off-white, cotton sport jacket oozes with summer vibes. And a contrasting navy roll-neck jumper tops the playful vibes even more.
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Close-up of the Orient Clover, a typical ladies' watch, on the wrist. Paired with an off-white, cotton sport jacket, and a navy roll-neck jumper. — If this doesn’t balance the gender expression, I don’t know what does.
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So there you go, you definitely can pair a ladies’ watch with an objectively masculine outfit. Just one caveat though… Ladies’ watches are not all designed and built to the same standard. In the case of this Orient, yes, we can consider it a rather gender-neutral watch. Certain other ladies’ watch, like the FC, is expressively more feminine than the Orient. Hence, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to pair it with classic menswear.

Disclaimer – These Two Watches Are Loaner Units

Neither Orient Watch Company nor Frédérique Constant SA sponsored the watches featured here. Both the Orient and FC belong to my friend, Mr X, a fellow horology enthusiast… Well, not exactly to him, but to his wife… Either way, I’d like to thank both Mr and Mrs X for loaning these watches to feature in this episode.

Like what you read here? Interested to see more watches featured in the future? Then support my writing, by buying me a coffee at the link below. Caffeine makes the world go round. You keep them coming, and I’ll keep on writing… Leave your questions and comments below. Previously in this series, we’ve featured quartz digital watches. Coming up in the next episode, an affordable, quartz analogue watch – a field-style watch.

Ladies’ Watch: A Real Thing, Or Just Marketing Hype?