Vintage Watches Have Become the New Must-Have Accessories: Here’s Our Guide to Discovering Your Next Timeless Treasure

      Vintage watches have discreetly evolved from niche collector's items to essential accessories for fashion enthusiasts seeking something more personal than the latest It bag. Leading this trend are women who, rather than choosing contemporary styles prevalent in the market, are searching through auctions, vintage shops, and even their grandparents' jewelry collections for distinctive timepieces that have a narrative to tell. The charm lies in intricate details: the patina on an aged dial, the heft of a solid-gold casing, and the feeling of possessing a piece of history. Today, it’s not solely about telling time; it’s about showcasing taste, sophistication, and an appreciation for craftsmanship that remains timeless. This trend is part of a broader movement toward ageless fashion (pun intended). Much like the rise of understated luxury bags and minimalist jewelry, the focus is shifting toward investment pieces that withstand fleeting trends. Celebrities have further fueled the enthusiasm, showcasing styles from delicate Art Deco to bold, colorful ’70s watches. For many women, purchasing vintage aligns with sustainability, providing an eco-friendly option in contrast to mass-produced modern designs. Let's face it: there’s an unmistakable elegance in wearing a watch that feels unique, especially when it complements a tailored blazer as effortlessly as it does a silk slip dress. If you're still depending solely on your smartwatch, consider this your invitation to delve into the world of vintage—it’s the ultimate accessory everyone is raving about. Next, read about a few notable fans of the trend, gather experts' top suggestions for acquiring pieces, and shop for my current favorite vintage women’s watches available.

      **Who’s Wearing What**

      As the first major event of the year, the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet set an impressive fashion standard. While the vibrant gowns and striking capes were certainly breathtaking, my favorite detail was notably smaller: Nicole Kidman's elegant vintage Omega watch. The rare Art Nouveau piece from 1920 was “crafted with the curves and arabesque decoration of the era,” as Omega shared in a press release. “The fantastical platinum case is adorned with 24 brilliant-cut diamonds and is displayed on a black fabric bracelet.” The 105-year-old watch exemplifies that elegance is timeless.

      Vintage watches also captivated attention at this year's Met Gala, both on the red carpet and during after-parties. For example, Hailey Bieber opted against new jewels in favor of an Audemars Piguet archival piece from 1975, crafted in white gold with an opal dial. Unique like fingerprints, precious opals "showcase a vivid play of colors that shift with the angle of view—a phenomenon referred to as iridescence," according to the Oxford Museum of Natural History. "[Precious opals have] an internal three-dimensional structure that arises from the regular packing of microscopic silica spheres, which diffracts light and produces extraordinary iridescence."

      At the 2025 Met Gala after-parties, Jenna Ortega wore a Balmain bodysuit without pants, accented by a distinctive vintage Heuer pocket watch from 1914. To find out more about this ingenious accessory, I spoke to Taylor Stoddard, who facilitated Ortega's connection to the timepiece. "For Jenna Ortega's Met Gala appearance, I collaborated with [PR executive] Alessandra de Tomaso to pinpoint the ideal pocket watch through mood boards and sketches, considering aspects like style, dimension, weight, and chain," Stoddard shared. "When sourcing, I reached out to my friend Jeff Stein, a brilliant collector who's always accommodating of my ambitious requests, even at short notice. From his personal collection, he generously presented three museum-quality options, including the gold rattrapante chronograph that ultimately became the actress’s final selection."

      "For [Ortega’s] tuxedo-style bodysuit," Stoddard continued, "the chain elegantly wrapped around one of the buttons, with the watch positioned at her right hip, making a bold statement in line with the evening's tailored theme. And I want to emphasize this was not just for show! It was a functioning timepiece that had just been serviced weeks prior. Moreover, it had never before been worn in this manner, allowing for an exciting, unprecedented moment for Jenna and the brand. Realizing this involved constant communication with international teams, managing complex shipping, and coordinating an extraordinary array of resources, but once that first photo arrived, the outcome felt like pure magic and was well worth the chaos."

      **Sourcing Vintage Watches 101**

      For advice on finding your next heirloom-quality vintage watch, I consulted Stoddard along with two other experts: Georgia Benjamin, a watch collector and content creator, and Julia Rabinowitsch, the founder of The Millennial Decorator. Both Benjamin and Rabinowitsch highlighted the significance of trying on watches in person. "Try, try, try. You truly won’t understand your style until you’ve worn pieces," Benjamin remarked to Who What Wear. They concurred that discovering