Photo Credit:New York Magazine
Including the unexpected comeback of a millennial middle-school favorite.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers As a multimedia producer at Sotheby’s in 2019, Brynn Wallner was tasked with creating content that would draw in younger audiences. She ended up working closely with the watch department because, as expensive as high-end watches are, they’re still more accessible than fine art, and the auction house was interested in expanding its online watch sales. Although she didn’t know much about timepieces to start, the more she learned about them and their history, the more interested she became. “This whole new world was opened up to me really quickly,” Wallner says, “and it was really enticing.” But one question kept nagging at her: In the wide world of watches, where were the women? “You get all this illustrious history of, for example, Paul Newman and his Rolex Daytona, and it’s all so exciting,” she says. “But as I did my research I just found that women were so not included in the conversation.”
Wallner took it upon herself to fill this gap, launching the Dimepiece Instagram account to spotlight stylish women and their watches — and hopefully get other young women interested in luxury watches. The page features contemporary celebrities (Rihanna and her diamond-covered Chopard; Serena Williams in Audemars Piguet), nostalgic style icons (Princess Diana in Patek Philippe), and even some fabulous fictional women (Carmela Soprano in a Rolex Datejust; Charlotte York sporting a Cartier Panthère). Wallner also recently launched a companion website where she plans to include interviews with women who love watches and “educational concepts for women to help them be smarter consumers.”
While the watches featured on Dimepiece are certainly covetable, most will set you back a few thousand dollars, which can be a barrier to a lot of people. That’s why I asked Wallner what pieces she’d recommend for the new collector with a more modest budget. Here are her picks.
Best watches for $100 or less Casio Baby-G Women’s Watch Light Mint 46mm Resin $69 $75 now 8% off $69 If you were in middle or high school around the turn of the millennium, you may have fond memories of pastel-hued, digital Casio Baby-G and G-Shock watches — and you may be surprised to learn that they’re back in style. “G-Shock is having a big comeback right now,” says Wallner, citing the brand’s recent collaboration with John Mayer and a Wall Street Journal story headlined “Could G-Shock Be the New Rolex?,” which outlines a trend of serious watch collectors tracking down limited-edition G-Shocks. “With ’90s nostalgia being so rampant, I feel like there’s kind of something there,” says Wallner. “It’s definitely a bold look, but with the watch trend validating it, I feel like if you want to go that route, that’s a good route to go.” If your old Baby-G is long gone — or you were too young to enjoy the trend the first time around — Casio’s current versions are nearly identical to the classics.
$69 at Amazon Buy $69 at Amazon Buy Vintage Casio Baby-G Womens Digital Pink $39 $39 Or head to eBay and track down the exact watch you begged for as a bat mitzvah gift.
$39 at eBay Buy Casio F91W-1 Classic Resin Strap Digital Sport Watch $15 $19 now 21% off $15 Although Wallner gets most of her watch inspiration from women, she was struck by how surprisingly cool this retro, unisex Casio looked on Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name. Paired with woven bracelets, the sporty watch can take on a “very bohemian” look, and “very quickly go from dorky to a cool, summer in the ’80s in Italy vibe,” she says. This model is most similar to the one worn in the movie, but Wallner says the full calculator version can also work when styled just right.
$15 at Amazon Buy $15 at Amazon Buy Swatch x Keith Haring Mouse Marinère $100 $100 “If you’re looking to have fun, Swatch is a good option,” says Wallner. She likes how the classic brand really has “something for everyone,” with watches in every color and plenty of artist collaborations to keep things exciting. “If you couldn’t get your hands on the Mickey Mouse x Damien Hirst collab, this is the next best thing,” she says of this red-and-white striped watch with Keith Haring’s illustration of the famous mouse. Even if the rest of your wardrobe leans neutral, Wallner says it can be fun to introduce a pop of color on your wrist in watch form.
$100 at Urban Outfitters Buy $100 at Swatch Buy Breda Play Orange Transparent Plastic Watch, 35mm $100 $100 Made from recycled plastic, Wallner says this watch from Dallas-based brand Breda “looks like a more elevated Swatch.” If the orange is a bit too playful for you, it’s also available with a clear band.
$100 at Amazon Buy $100 at Amazon Buy Timeco Big Heart Women’s Watch $35 $35 If you’re of the Baby-G generation, you likely also remember eyeing the selection of deadstock watches displayed at the register of your local American Apparel store as you stocked up on flex fleece hoodies and gold lamé leggings.
Wallner tells me she was “obsessed” with these watches and, after having a dream about them recently, was happy to discover that the store still offers fun vintage Casio, Timex, and more. “They’re doing a really good job of sourcing them and curating them,” she says. She especially likes this heart-shaped watch.
$35 at LA Apparel Buy Timex Easy Reader 25mm Expansion Band Watch $40 $57 now 30% off $40 For a new watch with a “1960s feel,” Wallner recommends the Timex Easy Reader. “I love that it includes the ‘Indiglo’ [glow-in-the-dark feature],” she says. “This can be executed with a sense of humor.”
$40 at Amazon Buy $60 at Timex Buy Best watches under $200 Breda Revel $175 $175 Along with the recycled plastic Play watch, Breda makes more traditional styles, including this square-case watch with a gold band, with green hands adding a modern feel. Wallner says details like these on affordable watches make them more interesting than just cheaper versions of expensive styles. “There are so many offerings out there that you don’t want to get the CVS brand version of the Rolex,” she says. “Try to find something more unique.”
$175 at Madewell Buy $175 at Breda Buy Vanna Nebula Black Pearl $195 $195 The same goes for contemporary brand Vanna, which Wallner likes because “they’re not trying to be any other watch.” Instead, she says their “abstract and angular” watches are “artsy, but very refined” and totally unique. With its asymmetrical black pearl case, the Nebula certainly fits that criteria.
$195 at Vanna Buy MoMa Design Store Redundant Watch $190 $190 Here’s another “artsy, abstract” watch Wallner recommends. It’s inspired by a clock created by graphic designer Ji Lee. The hours on the watch’s face are marked by small watch hands that mirror the position of the watch’s actual hands when they’re pointing to that specific hour — thus becoming “redundant” by “telling time twice.”
$190 at MoMA Design Store Buy Bulova Classic $180 $180 If you want something a little more traditional, here’s an elegant-looking Bulova that Wallner is “drawn to” at the moment. “I’m in Naples, Florida, right now and having so much fun watch-spotting,” she says. “This one reminds me of what the old ladies here rock.”
$180 at Bulova Buy Best watches under $500 Gucci 3900 Series Quartz Watch Rose Gold Plated Steel and GG Mother of Pearl $355 $355 You can stretch your budget a bit by shopping for pre-owned watches, and Wallner says she’s found good deals at the resale site Rebag. Here you’ll find fashion watches from brands like Fendi and Gucci, such as this logo-faced option. Wallner says serious watch collectors wouldn’t consider it a “proper watch,” but she still thinks it’s fun and cute.
$355 at Rebag Buy Versace Classic Watch $425 $425 The RealReal is another good resource for pre-owned watches, she says. Also in the “fashion” category, this Versace watch is one of her current favorites from the site. For both The RealReal and Rebag, she says the authentication process is pretty reliable so you’re not likely to get stuck with a watch that’s fake or needs a lot of repair work. If you’re shopping for a “serious” watch like a Rolex or Cartier, she says to stick with a watch-specific resale site like Bob’s Watches or WatchBox for “cool, high-end, and trustworthy consignment.”
$425 at The Real Real Buy Vintage Tag Heuer WD421-G-20 Professional Two Tone 28mm Quartz Women’s Watch $335 $335 While you probably won’t find a pre-owned Patek Philippe for under $500, Wallner says you might be able to score a Tag Heuer in pretty good condition from a smaller dealer or secondhand jewelry site. “That gets you into the more ‘serious’ watch-brand realm on a budget,” she says.
$335 at Sarasota Watch Company Buy Apple Watch Series 6 $374 $399 now 6% off $374 Of course, a smartwatch is an option, and Wallner likes the Apple Watch because it’s “straightforward and utilitarian” and gives you tools to “gain control of your health.” And don’t worry about getting a band to match every outfit: “I would stick with the black band, to be honest,” she says. “Anything else feels too quirky.”
$374 at Amazon Buy $374 at Amazon Buy The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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