The Unexpected Watch Trend That Is Making a Big Comeback

The watch world has been growing at an exponential rate recently. Needless to say, we’re entering the era of the timepiece, as more women enter the watch space, both from a shopper and expert point of view. While many watches are taking hold, on both first-time watch owners and collectors alike, there is one movement in the world of timepieces that is impossible to ignore: cocktail watches.

Pieces with jewelry-like designs are *it* right now. The styles are intended to be worn at nighttime and for special occasions are on the rise, and styles like the Cartier Baignoire have helped to kick this off. This particular piece is jewelry-forward, elegant, and primed for the evening, much like other cocktail watches that are gaining momentum.

Cartier is helping to dominate this space with pieces including the Baignoire Allongée and Panthère that put jewelry-centric designs at the forefront. More iconic brands, including Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bulgari are also dominating this space and crafting timepieces that are primed for cocktail hour. Ahead, the key cocktail watches to shop.

Cartier Baignoire Allongée Watch

The Cartier Allongée lives in a space that is somewhere between the Baignoire and the Crash. Just as iconic, but perhaps a little less known, the watch has a signature design that is centered around an elongated oval shape that is encrusted in diamonds and finished with a beautiful alligator band.

Piaget Limelight Watch

Launched in 1973, the Piaget Limelight is in the realm of collector's territory, with notable owners including celebrities including Jackie Kennedy, Cary Grant, and Andy Warhol who counted it in their collections. The beautiful asymmetrical design has stood the test of time and pays tribute to artist Salvador Dalí.

Cartier Baignoire Bangle Watch

One of the watches that started it all, the Cartier Baignoire bangle watch. Last year, The New York Times called this timepiece "the talk of the town" because of the imprint it made on the shopping space and fashion conversations alike. The Baignoire watch originally debuted in 1912, but innovations including the bangle-style timepiece continue to push it forward.

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Watch

The Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra motif was created in 1968 and has become an iconic design in the jewelry brand's portfolio. In the watch space, the timeless design takes on an elegant form that feels especially relevant in the space of beautiful cocktail watches.

Cartier Panthère Watch

Arguably one of the most-purchased and most in-demand watches in recent memory is the Cartier Panthère. While it has been a fixture among fashion's biggest insiders, it was also on the wrist of Zendaya's character of Tashi Duncan in Challengers which proved its importance both from a fashion and cultural point of view.

Bulgari Serpenti Watch

Perhaps no watch is as seductive as the Bulgari Serpenti. The snake-like timepiece is literally wraps the wrist in a snake-like form.

Piaget Polo Watch

Piaget's Polo watch is a masterpiece of elegance and fits within the cocktail watch space. The precious metals and jewelry-like bracelets make it a piece that is optimal for elegant evening events.