Women's watches

If watchmaking has become very masculine, we must not forget that the history of the wristwatch begins on women's wrists. For women or men, is the distinction important? Beautiful watchmaking as Beaubleu conceives it is aimed at everyone, both women and men.

The women's watch in history

In the 18th century, watchmaking was reserved for the aristocracy. The high dignitaries of the European courts wore the watch as a functional attribute but also as a ceremonial object, a true witness to social status. Women wear jewelry pieces often made to special orders, worn as pendants, chatelaines or brooches, or slipped into their pockets. The watch is a jewel that tells the time, a piece of goldwork that matches precious toiletries.

In 1810 the watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet designed the first known wristwatch in the world on an order from the Queen of Naples. The sleeves of dresses are getting shorter and with them women's wrists are becoming bare: the time has come for wristwatches, even if they play the role of accessories and, again, they are for the most part unique pieces. Until the 20th century, watchmakers did not offer complete collections of women's watches; passionate watchmaking and its beautiful mechanics were a masculine luxury.

In the 1920s, the watches that adorned the wrists of these ladies followed the Art Deco movement. The lines are purer, the cases are oval, rectangular or take on asymmetrical shapes, and often set with stones of several tones.

While men's watchmaking continues to progress with ever more varied models, complications, and very different designs often inspired by a universe (aviation, automobile, nautical, classic, etc.), women's watches are becoming smaller, most often variations of models for men. For a long time, manufacturers were content to reduce the size of the cases of masculine references, to set them with precious stones or to adorn the dials with mother-of-pearl.

The women's watch today

If “no gender” is not lost on the watch industry, manufacturers are also pulling out all the stops to win over women with models specially dedicated to them. Watchmakers often focus on color with dials in pop and flashy colors to appeal to women. They also play on size and materials. The “mini” is popular, just as much as pink gold. For some, the women's watch is adorned with a subtle, extremely thin bracelet like a rigid bangle.

Jewelry watches have also carved out a special place for themselves in the watchmaking landscape. Women like to dress up to go out, and they show it on their wrist! Secret watches, cuff watches, watches adorned with hard stones. The women's watch is precious, divine and extremely... feminine!

Women want imagination, poetry and dreams: a watch must tell a story. Watchmakers then advocate their vision of a specific creative approach. Watchmakers are following suit. Despite a move towards gender neutrality, many brands are expanding their range of women's watches in terms of design and planning to offer additional sizes.

Women's watches or men's watches, it doesn't matter at Beaubleu

A Beaubleu watch expresses itself through the person who wears it. The important thing is not the gender but the way in which we appropriate this object, how we will wear it, and what it represents. Often a symbol of an anniversary, a commitment, a gift, a watch is linked to a moment in life that we will not soon forget, which will remain engraved forever. Beaubleu is the witness to these precious moments.

In its various collections, Beaubleu has always offered models that remain “proportioned” in the size of their case to suit everyone, both women and men.

Far beyond gender is the timelessness of a watch. A Beaubleu watch places its stripes - and its links - on all wrists with the ambition of crossing the years and fashions without rolling. The Maison attaches importance to creating solid, useful and endearing objects, which we wish to preserve and pass on, within a universe rich in meaning which arouses enthusiasm.