There are few watch types more charming than the vintage ladies’s cocktail watch.
Beginning in the early 20th century, numerous Swiss maisons began manufacturing svelte, hand-wound timepieces for evening wear. Often diminutive, thin, and beautifully adorned in semi-precious or precious stones and metal, these pieces are a window into a more elegant time. Thankfully, many can still be had on the vintage market.
Take this exquisite Chopard, for example: A reference 4029, it’s as much wearable art as it is jewelry! Housed in a 30mm 18K yellow gold case with an incredible scalloped bezel covering the unsigned crown, its mineral crystal protects a gold dial adorned with only a matching gold ‘feuille’ handset and the subtle Chopard wordmark. But the fun doesn’t end there: The watch is paired to an integrated, woven yellow gold bracelet that terminates in a signed buckle.
Powered by a hand-wound movement, this charming precious-metal watch with its nature-inspired form is a compelling synthesis of horology, industrial design, jewelry making, and sculpture. Rare and beautiful, it’s well suited for a black-tie affair — though if you choose to wear it every day, we certainly won’t be the ones to object.