THE ONES TO WATCH

When you think of Hublot, you generally think of chunky, masculine pieces with vibrant primary-coloured dials, so it’s lovely to see it getting in touch with its feminine side. This watch is an exercise in restrained elegance for a brand that usually makes a feature of its brashness. The diamonds around the bezel are given an extra luminosity thanks to the blue sunray brushed dial; something which is enhanced by the use of titanium rather than super-bright steel for the case and bracelet. It’s as though the whole watch has been Instagram-filtered through Gingham. And that’s a compliment.

70139 | £8,800

There’s a reason the Royal Oak hasn’t changed since 1972 when its octagonal bezel and integrated steel strap got the watch world talking. While the now-iconic design is still present, this version is all-out luxury. The bracelet and case are both 18ct pink gold – definitely the most flattering shade for any skin tone – while the bezel has been set with 40 brilliant-cut diamonds. The grey of the grande-tapisserie dial lends a softness, rounding off those sporty edges to make for something far more sophisticated.

68295 | £43,200

It’s hard to believe that the Happy Sport was a bit of a gamble for Chopard when it first came out. It’s such a clever, yet simple, premise you wonder how no one thought to do it before. Although the original was controversial for its pairing of diamonds with steel, this option puts the precious stones back with their natural bedfellow – lush, warm rose gold. Five diamonds are left to freely dance around the inside of the dial, while 38 brilliants frame the outside. And it’s not just beautiful to look at, it is also an automatic so no need to worry about pesky battery changes.

67628 | £28,200

If you were a betting person then it would have been safe to assume that, when Bell & Ross decided to launch a brand-new women’s collection, it would be something different from the usual. And that is certainly true of the Diamond Eagle. Firstly, it’s square, which very few women’s watches are, and it also has the Aquila constellation mapped out on the dial using seven diamonds. Aquila is Latin for “eagle” and the constellation represents the bird that carried Zeus or Jupiter’s thunderbolts, depending on whether you’re opting for the Greek or Roman version. It’s a fabulous detail that could only have come from the likes of Bell & Ross.

71226 | £1,900

The Aquaracer remains one of the most impressive women’s sports watches on the market. It looks great and also has a water resistance to 300m, which means that you don’t have to take it off should you fancy a quick Scuba dive session. This 32mm version is powered by TAG Heuer’s quartz movement, which is considered to be one of the most reliable in Switzerland, and while some options are just simple steel designs, this one has been given a little pizazz thanks to the diamond-set unidirectional bezel. Perfect for impressing any giant spider crabs you might come across…

70113 | £3,500

Darling of the fashion set and Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele can do no wrong, it seems. His ready-to-wear shows are the highlight of every fashion week and luckily he also finds time to sprinkle his particular brand of pixie dust on the watches and jewellery too. This watch has all his hallmarks. There’s the bees, stars and hearts that have become his new iconography, while his sense of fun is evident in the moving of the rather pedestrian descriptions of the watch – water resistance, Swiss made and stainless steel – from the caseback to make them a feature of the dial. It’s a wonderful flash of levity in a world that can sometimes seem to take itself a little too seriously.

70215 | £850