Unisex watch

Anna Minakova

Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tribute to The Rolling Stones

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 33mm

Breitling Chronomat 38 SleekT

Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim

Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days Chrono 44 mm (PAM00590)

Rolex Day-Date 40

Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Manufacture Ladies

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Piaget Black Tie Vintage

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Squelette

Hermes Slim d'Hermes

Chanel Boy.friend

Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tribute to The Rolling Stones

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 33mm

Breitling Chronomat 38 SleekT

Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim

Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days Chrono 44 mm (PAM00590)

Rolex Day-Date 40

Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Manufacture Ladies

In September, a new collection from Chanel goes on sale - watches created specifically for women, which have become an excellent implementation of the task of “as if borrowed from a man’s wrist.” That is why models in rectangular Premiere cases in sizes L (34.6x26.7 mm with a quartz caliber) and XL (37x28.6 mm with a mechanical caliber) were called Boy.friend. But “boyfriend watches” are not an invention of Chanel Horlogerie, but a stable phrase in the watch world, denoting models originally intended for men, but liked by women, or women’s watches that imitate men’s watches. In 2015 alone, in addition to Boy.friend from Chanel, many interesting new products appeared that can be considered unisex watches.

Among these is the unusually shaped Black Tie Vintage from Piaget. The watch, produced in 1973 (namely, the fashion for unisex began in the 1960s and 1970s), which inspired this model, was previously on Andy Warhol’s hand, and now can be suitable for a woman’s wrist. Unlike the original, they are equipped not with quartz B21, but with automatic caliber 534P; the design solution, compared to the model of the 1970s, was chosen to be more laconic: instead of yellow gold, it was white, and the numbers and date indicator were removed from the onyx dial. Another interesting new product is Tonda 1950 Squelette from Parmigiani Fleurier. The thin Tonda 1950 generally looks great on a graceful wrist, and the skeletonized movement only adds to the lightness of the watch. Their movement was created at the Vaucher manufactory, which is 75% owned by Parmigiani (or rather, the Sandoz group that owns the brand), and 25% owned by Hermes; the “brotherly” caliber for the Slim d'Hermes was also developed here. The relationship with the Tonda 1950 can be easily determined by the organization of the mechanism with a micro-rotor, visible through the transparent case back. The decoration of the mechanism, however, is somewhat simpler, but there is a very nice bonus - a version in a steel case, which the Tonda 1950 does not have. Another ultra-thin watch that would work well as a boyfriend watch is the Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim with a 38mm case.

Traditional unisex watches include Panerai models. Among the collectors of watches of the Italian brand by birth, there are many married couples who wear pieces from their collection in turn. The best of the new products for the keepers of such family traditions is the Luminor Marina 8 Days Chrono 44 mm (PAM00590), the smallest new Panerai product in terms of case size.

A classic of the genre is wearing men's Rolex models. Vintage ones are especially chic, but among the new items there are many beautiful models for any wrist. Such as the Day-Date 40 with a new generation movement (caliber 3255) - even more accurate and durable (features a large power reserve and shock resistance).

Limited and special (thematic, but not limited to a certain number of copies) series, made in partnership with artists or, for example, dedicated to important events that are dedicated to the ambassadors of a particular brand, are often produced on the basis of men's models, but turn out to be perfect unisex watches . Such, for example, is the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tribute to The Rolling Stones. Even if the 45 mm case may seem too big for some, the love for Rolling Stones will overcome this.

“Boyfriend watches” can also include those that were first produced for men, and later acquired a women’s version: in a smaller case or with diamond decoration. Among these are the iconic Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, the new women's version of which, Royal Oak 33 mm, is made of steel with rose gold and equipped with a quartz caliber. Another successful recent example is the Breitling Chronomat 38 SleekT, a Chronomat chronograph adapted for the female wrist. The Marine Chronometer from Ulysse Nardin has also migrated from the men's to the women's collection - the new Marine Chronometer Manufacture Ladies was presented at the Baselworld 2015 exhibition.

Time for gender equality