Buying guide for Best gold watches for women
Without a watch, some of us feel completely naked and out of sync. It’s more than just an accessory; it’s a personal timepiece that spends more time on our body than almost any other item. If you don’t already have one, it’s time to add a gold watch to your collection.
Gold watches have a classic, elegant look with the boldness of an eye-catching finish. While traditional gold watches remain popular, new finishes and tones have emerged and opened the door to a wide variety of styles. If you’re feeling edgy, you can explore gold watches with snazzy bands, attractive dials, and other ornate accents. For a timepiece with a considerable bling factor, choose from Swarovski crystals or real gemstones, including diamonds in high-end gold watches. No matter your style, there’s a gold watch ready to adorn your wrist and complete your look.
Key considerations
Popular styles
Are you wondering what style of gold watch you should get? It’s definitely a tough choice, so we’ve separated them into four main categories. Keep in mind that gold watches can dress up or dress down an outfit. Your style is all yours, and a gold watch is merely one part of the bigger picture.
Conservative: These gold watches typically have small or medium-sized dials. They don’t have flashy bands, but instead stick to simple, versatile styles of metal links or leather. These gold watches are far from humdrum, though, because many have crystals or diamonds for a touch of bling. One of these watches is ideal if you embrace a modest style or need an appropriate watch to pair with business attire.
Trendy: These gold watches fall into the category of fast fashion. They focus on trends that might only last for a season or two, at most, so they tend to have at least one standout feature, such as statement-making bling, a bold band, charms, or chains. It’s always fun to have one of these as part of your watch collection, but think twice before spending a pretty penny on one. They won’t be in fashion for very long.
Tech-savvy: There are now plenty of tech-savvy gold watches available if you’re so inclined. These styles have a collection of digital, programmable features like timers and illumination. There are also styles compatible with smartwatches and fitness trackers, which essentially function as gold watch bands and dials that hold the device. These gold watches are ideal if you’re looking to give wearable technology an elevated edge that places it in the same category as jewelry.
High-end designer: These gold watches cost a small fortune. These watches are handmade by watchmakers at designer watch companies, so each piece is built with the finest craftsmanship. They’re made with real gold and gemstones. With their high-fashion roots and intricate construction, designer gold watches are comparable to wearable works of art. Even if they’re not one-of-a-kind pieces, these watches make a statement nonetheless.
Watch bands
Metal links: Watch bands made of metal links close with a flat, sturdy metal clasp and feature unique linking patterns. They can be adjusted, though it will require a trip to the jeweler if you don’t have the tiny tools needed to remove or add links yourself. Considered a classic style, links are some of the more popular watch bands for gold watches.
Metal mesh: Mesh watch bands have risen in popularity in the last decade, mostly because of their sleek look and ease of adjustability. To adjust the band, simply move the clasp to the desired location and lock it down (depending on the clasp, you might need a bobby pin to do this). A watch with one of these bands is an ideal choice if you want a bulk-free, no-fuss watch that doesn’t get in the way during your daily activities.
Leather: These watch bands are as classic and old school as you can get. Known for its comfort, especially once it’s broken in, leather is soft and flexible against your wrist. Leather bands also look crisp and professional when they’re new; however, when the strap becomes worn, it may look a bit shabby and unkempt. Leather is ideal if you need a heavy-duty strap and you aren’t too concerned with aesthetics.
Expandable: Expandable watch bands stretch to fit over your wrist for a secure fit. Like metal link bands, if you need to make one smaller, you need to remove some links. Expandable bands are most common on inexpensive gold watches, though there are some mid-range styles that feature refined versions of this type of band. A watch with an expandable band is ideal for anyone who wants to put on a watch with minimal effort, especially people with dexterity issues.
Features
Watch case
Size: The size of the watch case, is expressed in millimeters (mm). Small cases are around 20 mm, medium cases are around 40 mm, and large cases can be 50 mm or more. This is one of the first features you should compare when looking for a watch because you’ll want to match the size of the watch case to your wrist. If you’re petite, for example, a large watch case can appear bulky or overwhelming on your arm.
Face: The watch face, also called the dial, provides the background for the style of a gold watch. Some faces are white, black, or solid colors, and there are also faces that are metallic or mother-of-pearl. Some watch faces have patterns, though they’re less common, not to mention more difficult to read.
Hands: When choosing a gold watch, make sure the minute and second hands are easily visible. If you have difficulty seeing them, it won’t get any easier trying to read the time. For this reason, many consumers opt for watches with hands whose colors contrast with the watch face.
Numbers: Gold watches feature hour marks, minute marks, numbers, or Roman numerals, and in some watches, a combination of more than one. Like with watch hands, it’s important that the numbers are easy to read, so consider choosing a watch whose numbers contrast with the face. Some watches don’t have any numbers or marks to indicate the hours. These watches are incredibly sleek and modern, but it can be more challenging to read the exact time.
Materials
Gold watches are typically made of stainless steel or other durable metals, plus other materials like leather in the band. High-end designer watches are made of solid gold, and some mid-range watches are gold-plated stainless steel. As far as accents go, you’ll find a diverse assortment of Swarovski crystals, diamonds, gemstones, and semi-precious stones.
Women’s gold watch prices
We examined gold watches that are as inexpensive as $15 and as pricey as $600, which tends to be the general price range of affordability. High-end designer gold watches can cost from $1,000 to $40,000.
Inexpensive
You can snag an affordable gold watch for less than $60. These styles come from some popular fast-fashion brands and their quality is modest at best.
Mid-range
For $60 to $200, you’ll find a variety of watches from well-known fashion brands, as well as some specialty watch brands. The more you spend in this bracket, the better the quality.
Expensive
If you’re willing to spend between $250 and $600, you’ll get a top-quality watch from a premium brand. Some styles have diamond or gemstone accents as well. These watches should last for years.
Tips
- Insure an expensive watch. If you have a watch valued at $1,000 or more, you should document it and make sure it’s covered under your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy.
- Adjust your watch band in humid weather. Our bodies swell and expand in hot or humid weather, which means you might need to give your watch band additional slack.
- Try silver, too. If you’re not sure whether to get a watch in gold or silver, try it on in both colors to see which one you prefer. Consider which pieces of your jewelry would match each finish.
- Add a stylish watch to your collection. Even if you have conservative, practical taste in watches, every woman should have a bold, trendy watch as a fun accessory.
FAQ
Q. What’s involved with changing my watch battery?
A. Watch batteries last between one and two years. Some watch batteries can be changed in department stores, though certain styles require special tools. In this case, it’s a good idea to take your watch to a qualified jeweler familiar with your watch brand. As far as the turnaround time, changing a watch battery can take minutes, but in some cases, you might need to schedule a battery change or pick it up a couple of days later.
Q. I lost weight and now my watch band is too big on my wrist. What are my options?
A. It’s a good problem to have, and you have a couple of solutions to explore. If you have a metal link or expandable band, simply take your watch to a jeweler who can remove links. If you feel your leather band doesn’t fit well, even on the smallest hole, consider changing to a smaller leather band or changing to a compatible link band.
Q. Is there really a difference between expensive and reasonably priced watches?
A. In terms of construction, absolutely. Expensive watches are made with the finest materials and are handmade by well-trained watchmakers who are carefully selected by manufacturers. These watches typically have tailored, almost concierge-like customer service to accommodate their warranties. Reasonably priced watches have modest yet durable construction, but they won’t have the craftsmanship of high-end watches. Their manufacturers are very hit or miss when it comes to customer service as well.
