Fashion watches are having a moment – from Demna’s Balenciaga choker to Fendi’s Mary Jane pumps, and fun timepiece collabs between luxury brands and Timex, Seiko and more
With luxury brands getting more serious about watches – think the horological wizardry at the likes of Chanel, Hermès and Gucci – it can be easy to forget the fun of a “fashion watch”.
Yes, it might not have an in-house movement but a fashion watch can still be a great piece of design. This is as relevant to the charming Miu Miu crystal and pearl watches from a few years ago as it is to the sculptural creations of Issey Miyake. The latter brand regularly collaborates with creatives and the Seiko watch brand to create interesting designs.
At the Fendi autumn 2022 menswear show too there were Mary Jane shoes with watches on the strap. As Silvia Fendi told Vogue: “Everybody uses their mobiles to see the time – the watch has become more a decorative piece today.”
One brand to lean into the decorative side of watchmaking is Timex. Recent collabs have included with fashion designer Todd Snyder, all-American brand Brooks Brothers and Cynthia Rowley. In August, Timex announced its fifth collaboration with jewellery designer Jacquie Aiche, with the pieces quickly selling out.
The latest timepiece, the Sunrise, has an alluring mother of pearl dial that captures the ombre colours of the sun. For Aiche its beauty is that checking it each day is a little reminder to make the most of your – well – time.
“The sunrise symbolises the enchantment that comes with every day. It reminds us to live each day with purpose and a sense of optimism toward the future,” she says.
- Older but still relevant examples include Miu Miu crystal and pearl watches from a few years ago and the sculptural creations of Issey Miyake, including those with Seiko
- Giuseppe Zanotti collaborated with Christian Cowan on stilettos with watches as straps, while Timex has worked with Todd Snyder, Brooks Brothers, Cynthia Rowley and now jewellery designer Jacquie Aiche