The Laings Journal
It was once thought that refined women did not need to know the time, in fact at the beginning of the Edwardian era it was thought of as unseemly for ladies to check a watch when in company. This meant that timepieces, in particular pocket watches, were very much part of a man’s world. However, as history has shown us the ingenuity of women often wins, and the origin of the wristwatch is very much part of women’s history.
Royal Beginnings
Like many luxury items, the wristwatch has royal beginnings with it being said that Marie Antoinette commissioned the first wristwatch, adorned with diamonds, as early as 1783. However, it was really in 1810 that the royal woman paved the way for more feminine wristwatches. As pocket watches were the timepiece of choice, women found they could not wear them with their elaborate and embellished dresses, lacking pockets to keep them in. This led to ladies re-working them into necklaces and brooches and the Queen of Naples ordered a bespoke bracelet with a small clock to be created, starting the story of wristwatches that we know today. This led to women wearing ‘secret’ watches that looked more like jewellery. The ornate, decorative, and often jewel-lined bracelets contained hidden watches heralding the beginning of women owning their own time.
Owning Time with OMEGA
It was not until the early 1900s that wristwatches became more widely available for women, and not just the aristocratic ladies of society. Prestigious Swiss watchmaker, OMEGA, has over 100 years of historical legacy in women’s watchmaking, with a trailblazing approach taken to the sector that really began the story of wristwatches.
OMEGA was forward-thinking when it came to ladies’ watches, and they were never just an afterthought for the luxury brand. In the 1920s art-deco styles, clean lines and bold shapes really came to the forefront of design and there was an expressive nature to the incredible creations that were being produced. Their role as design pioneers was cemented when in 1925 they were honoured with the Grand Prize at the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes” in Paris. OMEGA went one step further and also had a real focus on the movements within the watches, meaning they were accurate as well as aesthetically pleasing.
More than an Accessory
This practicality became more important to timepieces as the war years hit. Wristwatches were no longer for decoration. OMEGA immediately recognised this and designed the Medicus watch. It featured a seconds hand and was created to be bigger and easier to read. Used to help medics on the battlefield and in hospitals it became known as the ‘nurses watch’. Marking an important and life-saving step in the story of women’s watches. From then their women’s collection has grown from strength to strength. Endorsed by incredible and inspiring women, including Zoe Kravitz, Allyson Felix and Kaia Gerber, amongst others they are a brand that has continuously championed women and what time means to them.
Today OMEGA timepieces exquisitely combine the practical with the beautiful, acting as the perfect accompaniment to the many nuances of women’s lives. One of the most popular collections, the Constellation is a wristwatch for women that has a classic elegance and wonderfully feminine feel to it. Launched in 1952 it is a symbol of unrivalled precision and beauty in watchmaking, with an iconic spirit that endures through time. Meanwhile, the DeVille Trésor adds a modern touch of elegance to the discerning woman. With classically thin cases, designed especially for women OMEGA empowers women to confidently and proudly wear their timepieces, owning time past, time present and the future.
Explore OMEGA watches at Laings.
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