Rolex, Cartier, and Chopard: Holiday Ladies Watches She’s Guaranteed to Love
- Labor Day is long gone; the holidays are upon us once again…
- A luxury ladies’ watch is the ultimate holiday gift for a special woman.
- The 1916 Company is the world leader in luxury watches.
- The 1916 Company is your destination for painless early holiday shopping.
- Contact our watch sales professionals for guidance and shopping insights.
It looms like a glacier: massive, daunting, and unstoppable. The holidays. Again.
An enterprising watchmaker should highlight the year’s final four months on a perpetual calendar dial, if only to remind us that these holiday hunting season now opens the minute Labor Day ends.
But The 1916 Company is ready rock your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus with gift ideas that will dazzle the lady in your life.
The 1916 Company’s luxury watch experts have combed our collection of premium timepieces, and we’re pleased to present three ladies’ watches that are guaranteed to enchant this holiday season – and for many to come.
Rolex is a name that transcends the bounds of fashion and the watch industry itself. While other bywords for excellence come and go, any reference to a product as the “Rolex” of its segment is a timeless endorsement of greatness. To any nationality, age, or gender, “Rolex” means top-tier.
And the Rolex Day-Date is the ne plus ultra of the Rolex lineup. More than a watch, the Day-Date is a symbol of accomplishment, standing, and substance. Introduced in 1956 and embraced by the world’s most influential leaders, it’s no wonder that the Day-Date is better known by its nickname: “President.”
For female power brokers, the President is an ideal companion. Due to the watch’s iconic image and outsize reputation, Rolex has been loathe to change any aspect of the traditional Day-Date since the model’s debut.
While the movement has seen many upgrades, the 36mm case and exclusive use of precious metal ensures that today’s Day-Date has not suffered the bloat and swell that have sent modern watches sprawling beyond the scale of feminine wrists (and, frankly, quite a few male counterparts).
This ref. 18038 Rolex Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold is ideal for a woman who seeks the hallmarks of Rolex quality in a more imposing style than the effete Rolex ladies’ models. Our example features the rare and beautiful “bark” style of gold grain on the bezel and center links.
The bark’s deep channels and pronounced contrast endow the 18038 with a strong visual signature and distinctive profile; even among “Presidents,” this Rolex is special.
A matching dial, gold hands, and hidden-clasp three-link bracelet complete the aesthetic package. Rolex fits the Day-Date with its famed “Crownclasp” hidden buckle, so there is no ungainly device to mar the smooth sweep of the 18-karat bracelet.
True to its name, the automatic-winding Rolex Day-Date incorporates dual calendar displays for ready reference and everyday convenience.
If any luxury brand has the cachet to go blow-for-blow with Rolex during the holiday scramble, Cartier is the one. Established as a jeweler in 19th century Paris and renowned as a watchmaker to royalty during the 20th century, Cartier is a longtime fashion leader in the jewelry watch sector.
Among contemporary Cartier watches, the Cartier Roadster is a standout that boasts equal measures of youthful exuberance and traditional Cartier gravitas. The Roadster’s sinuous tonneau case is composed of 18-karat yellow gold and measures 35mm from lug to lug.
True to its name, the Roadster’s sweeping lines, integrated cabochon crown, overlaid date magnifier, and silvered dial are styled to recall the imagery of 1950s convertibles.
Cartier accents the gold case with a brilliant-cut diamonds. Gems are inset within the bezel and the Roadster’s signature cabochon crown. A matching bracelet of 18k gold is polished and brushed to create an arresting contrast.
Like its namesake automobiles, the Roadster is a true convertible. This watch features a genuine Cartier accessory brown strap crafted from alligator leather with calfskin lining and a matching gold deployant clasp.
The undersides of the strap and bracelet lugs feature a convenient push-button release that permits tool-free swaps between leather and gold bracelets on a whim.
Chopard may not garner the instant name recognition of Rolex and Cartier, but the Geneva-based watchmaker knows how to make fast friends.
Well-acquainted with endearing quality of diamonds, Chopard brings the carats with the Chopard Happy Sport ladies’ watch.
Nearly 90 individual brilliant-cut diamonds stud the visage of Chopard’s whimsical take on traditional feminine timepiece fashion. 80 gems rest within the 18-karat gold bezel, and seven are left free to scatter within a sapphire compartment above the dial.
The effect of the gold, inset diamonds, and constantly shifting loose gems is to create a dynamic light show with evanescent elements of prismatic rainbows.
No two glances at the dial of the Chopard Happy Sport will produce identical imagery, but each impression invariably captivates.
Below the main event, a durable stainless steel case and silken bracelet sit lightly upon the wrist and ensure outstanding ergonomics. The “beads of rice” link style employed in the construction of the bracelet is famous for its comfort and beauty.
At its extremities, the Happy Sport exhibits the same sedulous attention to detail. Both lugs are capped by elegant blue sapphire cabochon gems, and the crown incorporates a matching stone for good measure. Note the discreet silver seconds hand that reconciles classical two-hand style with modern three-hand convenience; Chopard sweats the details.
This Chopard’s silvered dial combines a “train track” sector ring with Roman numeral hour indexes in a subtle nod to vintage style.
Get the jump on holiday shopping with The 1916 Company. Our world-class selection of premier-brand luxury watches is second to none, and our staff of watch sales professionals is on call to provide advice and insights that will guide your search.
With express delivery available to domestic and international clients, The 1916 Company is the global destination for ladies’ luxury watches this holiday season.