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Women's Gold Watches

An ideal blend of sophistication and sumptuousness, women’s gold wristwatches are both functional and fancy. A style born from female innovation itself, the wristwatch and its elegant heirs in gold add a fascinating facet to the rich history of time telling.

While the men’s wristwatch came into popularity around the beginning of the 20th century, the women’s wristwatch appeared the century prior. Aristocratic women of the 19th century sought more subdued time-telling devices than the massive pocket watch, and so designers responded with the "wristlet" watch, a variation on the bracelet to include a timepiece mechanism. The popularity of this style was such that, when the wristwatch was introduced for men, it was first referred to as a "strap watch" in an effort to differentiate it from its more dainty feminine counterpart.

This distinction remained in place until the '30s, when the art of the wristwatch and the precision of its mechanisms began to trump such a dichotomy. The fields of men’s and women’s wristwatches thus merged into one, with women’s varieties becoming less jewelry-like.


Quick Facts

  • The first documented wrist watch designed for a woman was that created by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet for Caroline Murat, the Queen of Naples and sister to Napoleon Bonaparte
  • A testament to the level of luxury that early women’s wristwatches espoused, along with Breguet, watchmakers Patek Philippe and Cartier were the main producers of women’s wrist watches by the end of the 19th century
  • In 1927, when London swimmer Mercedes Gleitze was preparing her "vindication" swim across the English Channel, Hans Wilsdorf, then director of Rolex, gifted her a gold wristlet Rolex Oyster watch, the brand’s first waterproof model

Recommended Items at Auction

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Lady Elgin 14K Gold Watch + Hamilton Women's Watch
Feb 22, 9:00 AM EST
Lady Elgin 14K Gold Watch + Hamilton Women's Watch
by Keystone Auctions LLC
Est: $150- $300
$905 Bids
Ladies Waltham 14K Yellow Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Waltham 14K Yellow Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$603 Bids
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14K SOLID YELLOW GOLD ELEBASH'S WRISTWATCH
Mar 01, 1:00 PM EST
14K SOLID YELLOW GOLD ELEBASH'S WRISTWATCH
by Florida Estate Sales Inc.
Est: $1,000- $10,000
$253 Bids
VALMON WRIST WATCH IN YELLOW GOLD
Feb 27, 5:00 PM CET
VALMON WRIST WATCH IN YELLOW GOLD
by Ansorena
Est: €450- €600
€3202 Bids
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14K Gold Hamilton Womens Wristwatch
Feb 22, 9:00 AM CST
14K Gold Hamilton Womens Wristwatch
by Matthew Bullock Auctioneers
Est: $30- $300
$502 Bids
Ladies Vintage Gruen Doctor's Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Vintage Gruen Doctor's Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$302 Bids
H. STERN, YELLOW GOLD WATCH
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
H. STERN, YELLOW GOLD WATCH
by Freeman’s | Hindman
Est: $3,000- $5,000
$3,5002 Bids
Watches, a ladies wristwatch Buren in white gold 750°/00.
Feb 19, 1:00 PM CET
Watches, a ladies wristwatch Buren in white gold 750°/00.
by CR Art Auctions
Est: €500- €700
€2602 Bids
Watches, a ladies wristwatch Royce in gold 750°/00. Swiss work.
Feb 19, 1:00 PM CET
Watches, a ladies wristwatch Royce in gold 750°/00. Swiss work.
by CR Art Auctions
Est: €600- €800
€6002 Bids
DUWARD WRIST WATCH IN YELLOW GOLD
Feb 27, 5:00 PM CET
DUWARD WRIST WATCH IN YELLOW GOLD
by Ansorena
Est: €1,050- €1,400
€7001 Bid
Bracelet-wristwatch in 14kt yellow gold, 50's
Feb 25, 2:00 PM CET
Bracelet-wristwatch in 14kt yellow gold, 50's
by Bolli & Romiti s.r.l
Est: €500- €800
€8001 Bid
Ladies Art Deco Concord 18K White Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Art Deco Concord 18K White Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Ladies Vintage Americus 18K Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Vintage Americus 18K Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Lucien Piccard Ladies 14k Gold Wristwatch& Another
Mar 01, 10:00 AM EST
Lucien Piccard Ladies 14k Gold Wristwatch& Another
by Devin Moisan Auctioneers, Inc.
Est: $400- $600
$2001 Bid
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Royal Montres RM 007 The Australian Nugget, 33mm
Feb 21, 4:00 PM EST
Royal Montres RM 007 The Australian Nugget, 33mm
by Gallery 63
Est: $600- $900
$2001 Bid
14K Yellow Gold Hamilton 22 Jewels Ladies Watch
Feb 22, 12:00 PM MST
14K Yellow Gold Hamilton 22 Jewels Ladies Watch
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Ladies Sparewa 18K Gold Case & Band Watch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Sparewa 18K Gold Case & Band Watch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Rose Gold Wellendorff Watch
Feb 27, 11:00 AM EST
A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Rose Gold Wellendorff Watch
by Intervendue
Est: $6,000- $10,000
$3,0001 Bid
Ladies Vintage Helbros 14K Rose Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Vintage Helbros 14K Rose Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Ladies Art Deco CYMA 14K Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Art Deco CYMA 14K Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Ladies Art Deco Abra 18K White Gold Wristwatch
Mar 02, 10:00 AM CST
Ladies Art Deco Abra 18K White Gold Wristwatch
by Kraft Auction Service
Est: $0- $0
$251 Bid
Gubelin 18K Yellow Gold Rectangular Watch, 1950s
Mar 06, 11:00 AM EST
Gubelin 18K Yellow Gold Rectangular Watch, 1950s
by Auctions at Showplace
Est: $800- $1,200
$5501 Bid
Hamilton 14K Yellow Gold Wristwatch
Mar 06, 11:00 AM EST
Hamilton 14K Yellow Gold Wristwatch
by Auctions at Showplace
Est: $400- $600
$2501 Bid

Sellers Who Sell Women's Gold Watches


Kraft Auction Service

Kraft Auction Service

A10 by Artmark

A10 by Artmark

Auctions at Showplace

Auctions at Showplace

Claydon Auctioneers

Claydon Auctioneers