The
watch is a more important accessory than ever. As sleeve styles have created new silhouettes, so the hands and wrist have gained new focus in the past few years. New materials and
finishes keep up with changing fashions. These two watches
from NEXT Directory show how dark finishes are popular.
The watch in the picture to the far right has a gunmetal finish so it's suitable for
wearing with metallic cast warrior woman, or the
futuristic
fashion trends this Autumn 2007/Winter 2008.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Get working on your watch wardrobe
European women own 6 or 7 watches, whereas American women own fewer. Once people bought a watch and expected it to last until it wore out, or they lost it. But now the watch business is an
accessory business that is booming.
The reality is that today
few people need a watch as time is displayed everywhere, on PC, TVs, phones and microwaves. Fashion brands that have emerged in the past few years look beyond Swatch styling.
But even Swatch have crystal embellished styling on newer
designs.
Now fashion jewellery watches pay homage to the latest Suisse
designs. These sales are capturing a market of consumers that
own a wardrobe of watches.
Retailers
believe that having a wardrobe of half a dozen watches is no
different than having bags in a variety of colours and designs.
We women need no help in being swayed, and many of us covet a
watch like this Black watch by Dior, or this Diamond Bulgari
Ovale watch. See picture to the right.
Mother of pearl is still a much sought after watch face material. But the most desirable watch face is the diamond face one might find on a top end watch like the Bulgari Ovale
watch, at just a mere $50,000 it's sure to please some lucky woman. If that is beyond your budget, consider these attractive Rotary watches left with their rectangular faces and encrusted
bezels.
Watch makers actively decorate watches with crystal, diamante or
diamonds, they are all intended for daywear and are in imitation
of high end brands. We wear watches because we like them.
In response to this fact Tiffany have produced several new
diamond styles for its evening collection.
The 'it' watch of
the season should have a sprinkle of diamonds, or at least a
crystal surround watch face. in fact it's hard to find a
watch without a diamond or crystal face surround. Square faces and Art Deco
effects of baguette cut crystals are very fashionable and a hot
trend. This pale gold watch right with crystal bezel, is by Guess and from John
Lewis, priced at £89. The two watches left are from Next
and the purple watch has an Art Deco look.
»
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Gemstone bezel encrustations on
watch faces and surrounds have become a growing trend.
Colour
trend and occasion both affect new watch purchases, pieces are
not just time pieces, but are seen as iconic jewellery.
A
watch that goes with just one, or two outfits is perfectly
acceptable. It also gives you an excuse to build that
watch wardrobe. Most of us own one silver toned and one gold
toned watch. Now consider for 2007/8 a two toned version mixing silver and
gold looks in 1970s retro style.
Chains and links also feature in many new ways in all ranges
of jewellery specially necklaces.
It follows that chunky metal link jewellery is a newer feature
of watch styles. Below - Diesel gold plated chain link
watch at £150.
Right - Ladies gold plated jewellery
style bracelet watch with floral-embossed dial features chain
linking. This is a Rotary Watch of Dolphin Standard
waterproof type at £135 - functional and pretty too.
Watches today combine function with beauty.
Watch stacking happens when a watch is worn with a bracelet or
jewel cuffs.
Left - A traditional link watch easily worn together with a
silver tone charm bracelet. Both items are from NEXT
Directory. The watch style shown left, is very similar to
the now current classic watches produced by all the major
brands, for example by Citizen and Seiko. Of course it is
much less costly.
Seiko has a good market share of watches around the £250 to
£400 price range. Seiko are now moving into costlier £500+
designs with their new Velatura and Premiere collections.
They will also have huge advertising campaign for their watches
so look out for informative adverts soon to be shown.
Women are now often selecting watches once designed for men.
Women like the larger faces and the technical extras, but they
still like the dainty dials of cocktail watches, hence the need for a
wardrobe of watches.
What looks good on the golf course,
looks out of place at an upscale dinner dance or prom style
event. Manufacturers are already working on that, as
they have found large watch faces as much as 4.5 cm across are
gaining on the sales front.
This season more and more of us
will be choosing wider style jewelled watches in cuff styles
like these right and from the DKNY range. Gemstone cuff
watches will be all the rage this Christmas. Don't be seen
without yours.
I can't wait!!
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Get a Cuff Watch and stack those
watches.
Designer Tip - D&G Jewels will soon be available in USA at
Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus online.
Fashion-Era.com looks at women's costume and fashion history and analyses the mood of an era. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values. Homelife and politics also
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