When it comes to watches, men’s watches tend to get more focus. But increasingly, women have shown that they too are drawn to the appeal of finely made, attractive timepieces, and major watch brands have taken notice. Today, watch companies have put more focus into their women’s lines (as well as toward marketing to women) and there are now more women’s watches available than ever. But if you’re considering buying a women’s watch, what should you look for in your timepiece? Below, we’ve outlined the top things you should consider when buying a women’s watch in our women’s watch buying guide. 

Size and Women’s Watches 

The Citizen Silhouette ladies watch features a slim 21mm case, making it a perfect watch style for those who prefer a smaller sized watch case. 

Men’s and women’s watches are similar in many ways. But one primary way in which they differ is in case size. A watch’s case size is, for many, the determining factor in whether or not they find it comfortable to wear. Since women’s wrists are generally smaller than men’s wrists, most women’s watches feature smaller case sizes, which tends to be more comfortable for the wearer. 

But what is the best case size for your women’s wrist watch? This comes down to the size of your wrist and personal preference. The size of a women’s wrist generally ranges between 5 and 7 inches. Those with more petite wrists (ranging from 5 to 6 inches) tend to prefer a case size between 21mm and 28mm. Then, women with average sized wrists (6 to 7 inches) tend to prefer a case size between 28mm and 34mm. While these are the case sizes generally preferred by women with these wrist sizes, personal preference is also an important factor. For example, if you have a more petite wrist but love the look of an oversized watch case, you can certainly choose a different watch with a case that’s larger than 28mm. When selecting your case size, just be sure to consider whether or not a particularly large or small watch case would both give you the look you desire and be comfortable to wear.

Style and Women’s Watches 

The Citizen Ladies Diamond quartz watch is both casual and chic, giving it a highly versatile style. 

Style is another major factor to consider when purchasing a women’s watch. While, in the past, women’s watches were primarily made with upscale dress style in mind, today there are also many other types of watches available in women’s ranges. There are women’s dress watches, sports watches, minimalist watches, and much more. 

When selecting the style of your new watch, consider when you would like to wear it and your lifestyle. Are you looking for a quality watch to wear to the office? Consider a classic watch with a metal bracelet or leather strap. Do you want a watch that would work for your active or sporty lifestyle? A durable, easy-to-read sports watch would be your ideal choice. Do you want a watch that would amp up your style? Consider a dress watch in a precious metal or a watch featuring unique design elements (like a colored dial or a sleek, minimalistic watch face). 

Case Material and Women’s Watches 

This elegant Citizen Silhouette Crystal gold watch features a case crafted from yellow gold, the most popular material for women’s watch cases. 

Case material affects both the style and the function of a women’s watch. The most common materials for women’s watches are yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, stainless steel, and ceramic. Yellow gold is the most popular option for women’s watches, thanks to its classic and luxe look. Then, rose gold and white gold are also popular choices for women’s casual or dress watches. With all varieties of gold, however, it’s important to remember that these materials are more about style than high function. Gold is a fairly durable precious metal (and, of course, it’s very high quality) but it’s also more prone to scratching than other metals, so it can require a bit more care and maintenance. 

If you aren’t concerned with extra care requirements (or if you love the look of gold enough to find extra care worth it), gold is an excellent option for your watch. However, if you have an active lifestyle or simply do not want to worry about scratches, you may prefer a stainless steel or ceramic case. Stainless steel is an excellent option if you want a highly durable watch that is resistant to scratching. Then, ceramic is an excellent option if you want a bit more style than stainless steel can provide, without having to worry about scratches like you would with gold. 

Women’s Watch Straps and Bracelets 

The Citizen World Time features a sleek sapphire crystal, a mother-of-pearl dial, and a navy leather strap watch band that enhances this water resistant model’s elegant appeal. 

Watch straps fall into one of two categories: bracelets (any metal watch strap) or straps (any non-metal watch strap, like nylon or leather watch straps). Generally, bracelets give a watch a more upscale look, while straps give a watch a more casual look (with the exception of leather bands, which can look either casual or dressy, depending on the overall design of the watch). As with many other elements of a watch, your choice between a strap or bracelet watch should depend on what you want from the watch in terms of style and function. When selecting a strap or bracelet, consider its style and how it would work with your lifestyle. 

Color and Women’s Watches 

This Citizen POV fashion watch model features a vibrantly colored pink dial with rose gold accents. 

One distinct advantage of women’s watch ranges is their wider color variety. While men’s watches do come in a range of colors, ladies watches tend to have even more color options. 

When considering which color you should choose for your watch’s dial, case, or strap, consider whether you would prefer to have a more neutral toned watch or if you’d prefer more color. Neutral toned watches (like designs that are primarily gold, silver, white, or black) are often an excellent option if you want your watch to pair well with a wide range of outfits. Then, watches with a pop of color (or quite a lot of color) can be a great option if you would like your watch to add a vibrant or unique look when you wear it. 

Men’s Watches Can Be Women’s Watches 

The Citizen Axiom is a sleek, minimalistic quartz movement men’s watch that also works beautifully as a women’s watch. 

Lastly, we’ll close with one final consideration: that men’s watches can also be worn as women’s watches. While there are many watches that are specifically designed by watchmakers with women in mind, you should always feel free to wear a men’s watch if you love its style and its size would still be comfortable for you. Many fashionable women wear both women and men’s watches, (some examples of stylish women who wear men’s watches include Victoria Beckham and Lady Gaga). Women wearing men’s watches, including men’s sport watches, is actually a rapidly growing trend these days, and many women simply love the oversized look a men’s watch can provide. So if you’re a woman who is looking for your perfect everyday watch but don’t see one you love in the women’s category, know that you can always peruse men’s watches to find your perfect fit.