Ladies' cocktail watches.
A cocktail watch sits somewhere between jewellery and watchmaking: a small, decorative dial on a bracelet or ornamental strap, made to catch the light at a dinner table. The great decades of the cocktail watch, the 1960s through to the 1990s, produced pieces of extraordinary delicacy from Swiss and designer houses, and they remain among the most affordable ways to own genuinely fine vintage craft. This collection gathers our ladies' cocktail, bracelet and dress pieces.
The return of the cocktail watch
For twenty years fashion pushed ladies' watches larger, and the tiny, ornate cocktail watch fell from favour. That is reversing. Small dials, textured bracelets and jewelled cases are back on wrists and runways, and the vintage originals are both better made and less expensive than their modern imitations.
Because these pieces were treasured rather than worn daily, survivors are often in remarkable condition: dials protected, bracelets unstretched, cases crisp. It is one of the few corners of the vintage market where near-mint examples are the norm rather than the exception.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cocktail watch?
A small, decorative ladies' watch designed as much as jewellery as a timepiece, typically with an ornamental bracelet, a petite dial and often jewelled or textured detailing. They flourished from the 1950s through to the 1990s.
Can a vintage cocktail watch be worn every day?
It can, though most owners keep them for occasions, which is how the vintage examples survived so well. They are more delicate than a tool watch, so we would keep them away from water and knocks.
Will a vintage bracelet watch fit my wrist?
Most vintage bracelets can be adjusted by removing or adding links, and each listing states the current length. A local jeweller can size most bracelets in minutes if you need a change.
