There is no shortage of articles on the best watches for small wrists. However, the initial hit of excitement at seeing a story on recommendations for good small watches is invariably followed by a wave of disappointment upon realising the article in question considers a 6.5” wrist ‘small’ and said recommended ‘small’ watches are sized from 36 to 39mm. As someone with a 5.12” (13cm) wrist, even a 36mm case can have lug overhang, rendering the majority of these supposedly small watches unwearable.
Working as an editor in the luxury and lifestyle industry for the better part of a decade, I’ve had the pleasure of trying on countless watches over the years — many of them beautiful, some of them delightfully complicated, and almost all of them wholly too large. As such, I’ve become accustomed to faking a smile and pretending to love whatever blinged out 36mm quartz monstrosity that the brand’s marketing executives proudly present as the token ‘women’s watch’. It’s not just the usual suspects—default ‘big case energy’ brands like Hublot, Panerai, IWC, Jacob & Co., and Richard Mille—whose wares unabashedly hang over the wrist. For those unendowed with radial circumference, even the likes of Zenith, Parmigiani Fleurier, Audemars Piguet, and Grand Seiko—brands not known for the overt promotion of large watches—can be on the large side.
The current state of watch and horology media doesn’t help. While the industry has definitely made strides in the past few years, there’s still a disconnect when it comes to speaking to women. And when it comes to choosing the right watch for women with tiny wrists, counsel on matters of size tends to vacillate between extremes.
On male-dominated Reddit threads and watch forums, you’ll often find commenters telling rather reasonably wristed citizens that they can’t pull off a Rolex Daytona or a large Cartier Santos-Dumont and quickly pulling up the fact that even Muhammad Ali wore a small Cartier Tank Louis. Meanwhile, in a somewhat misguided attempt at posturing as open minded and inclusive, you’ll have new watch media taking an “anyone can wear anything!!!” stance when it comes to watches for women, encouraging their female readers to don Omega Speedmasters and IWC Big Pilots without a second thought. This is a sentiment often echoed by watch retailers and brand spokespeople who are quick to assert that women simply LOVE wearing oversized watches. Now, obviously women aren’t a single homogenous entity—some of them very well may be partial to an oversized watch—and I can’t speak on behalf of all of them, but this line of thinking has always seemed like a cop out to me; an excuse for watch brands to not cater to smaller wrist sizes and simply market their existing catalogue of watches to women who look goofy wearing them.
Now, that’s not to say there aren’t luxury watch brands with viable options for women with thin wrists. Cartier is notable for producing a wide array of mini and small watches, while the likes of Audemars Piguet, Bulgari, Tissot, Rolex, Longines, and Jaeger-LeCoultre also have viable small watches in their lineups. The issue is that unlike the fashion industry, actually seeing how said watch will look on a wrist—small or otherwise—is a rarity. While most watch brands have advertisements of celebrity ambassadors modelling a couple of their most popular timepieces (or whatever they choose to promote at that time) plastered on billboards and placed in magazines, the majority of watches on a brand’s lineup are simply deep-etched product images supplanted onto a plain background (or perhaps hovering contemplatively in a peaceful forest — we see you, Grand Seiko!).
As for the rare occasions watches are modelled on women with smaller wrists (often in the case of luxury watch brands that also specialise in jewellery, like Bulgari, Chopard, and Cartier), the imagery in question often doesn’t accurately depict what the watch will actually look like on the wrist. On many occasions, the model’s arm will be positioned at a right angle (like she’s thinking! Resting the weight of her big brain on her hand! Perhaps waving!) which makes the watch drop down onto her forearm and look more proportionate than if it were actually sitting on her wrist. But unless you’re the Statue of Liberty or a royal on tour, most of us don’t go through life in a perpetual state of holding our left arm aloft… some of us have to type for a living.
On other occasions, the model will be insouciantly posed with the watch dropping down over her wrist bone and effectively rendering it a hand watch. The editorial campaign for the Breitling Chronomat 36 designed by Victoria Beckham had a whole host of stylish yet inevitably unhelpful poses, which saw the 36mm timepiece positioned almost everywhere but the wrist itself.
With all that in mind, it can be difficult for women with tiny wrists to ascertain how a watch will look on them without actually trying it on in person. To simplify the search for the best watches for tiny wrists, we’ve gone hands on with some of the best watches with small cases from the likes of Cartier, Bulgari, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, and Vacheron Constantin. I’ve tried each of these watches on my 5.12” (13cm) wrist and taken original photography of each piece. As watches often appear larger when viewed from above (i.e. a typical ‘wrist shot’), I’ve also taken mirror photos where possible.
Watches for small wrists: what to consider
Before we get into the best watches for small wrists, here are some essential factors to take into account.
Strap or bracelet?
Watches will either come on a strap or a bracelet. Watch straps are typically made from leather but can also be made from materials like rubber, sailcloth, or nylon (such is the case with NATO straps). Bracelets will typically be matched to the material of the watch case — generally this is stainless steel or a precious metal like yellow or rose gold, but there are also ceramic options on the market (like the Chanel J12). Whether you opt for a watch with a bracelet or a strap is largely a matter of preference, however when it comes to choosing a watch for small wrists, there are a couple of things to consider.
- Bracelet: if given the option for a strap or bracelet, we always recommend opting for the bracelet. This is because it’s always best to get an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) bracelet, but there are many third party manufacturers who make high quality straps. You’ll also find that down the line, if you want to buy the bracelet separately from the watch brand, it’ll be far more highly priced (and often difficult to even purchase) than buying it with the watch in the first place. When shopping for a wrist with a smaller circumference, check how many links of the bracelet can be removed. Most watch bracelets have removable links—and many contemporary ones have micro-adjustable clasps—however there’s usually a limit to how many can be removed, so it’s important to check the minimum bracelet length.
- Leather strap: a leather strap is a classic choice and works well with a dress watch. Leather straps often make larger case diameters feel more wearable for smaller wrists; this is because they hug the wrist and prevent the watch from moving around too much or clanging against other objects. Straps are also a good option as you can punch extra holes in them to fit your wrist; just make sure the strap isn’t so long that it completely wraps around and touches the watch case.
- Rubber strap: for those engaging in more rugged activities, a rubber strap is a natural choice. Rubber straps read more casual than bracelets and leather straps, however the fit is often much better. Like their leather counterparts, you can punch extra holes in rubber straps. When it comes to teeny tiny watches, rubber straps are rare as these watches tend to be on the dressier side, but you’ll still find them on slightly larger watches marketed towards women like Hublot’s Classic Fusion line and the Breitling Superocean.
Quartz or mechanical?
A common complaint when it comes to small watches is their lack of mechanical movements. The majority of small watches are powered by quartz movements, however there are a few notable examples. Both Rolex and Tudor use automatic movements in even their teeny tiny (<30mm) watch offerings, while the Chopard Alpine Eagle similarly extends its use of automatic movements to its smallest (33mm) offering in the range. While Jaeger-LeCoultre does utilise quartz movements in some of its smaller Reverso offerings, it also offers manually wound movements alongside these. Bulgari has also released its ultra-small BVS100 Solotempo calibre, an automatic movement specifically designed to fit within its Serpenti watches.
General rules to follow
When it comes to the subtle—and seemingly simple—art of wearing a watch, it’s not a complete free-for-all. Here are some rules to remember.
- Proportion is everything: it’s not a case of big watches vs small watches. Proportion is everything. Just like a tiny watch looks incongruous on a 6’3” man with an 8” wrist (excepting Mr. Ali who stands above such rules), an oversized watch hanging off a tiny wrist simply doesn’t sit right. Ideally, the bracelet or strap of a watch should be partially visible on the top of your wrist; it shouldn’t be all case.
- Dress watches should never be oversized: when it comes to dress watches, always veer on the smaller side.
- Sports watches can be a little oversized: within reason. Sports watches and watches with integrated bracelets can afford to be slightly oversized, however the lugs still shouldn’t hang over the diameter of your wrist.
The best small watches for tiny wrists
Enough talk. To make it easier to understand how watches look on a small wrist, I’ve tried an array of small watch options from the best luxury watch brands on my 5.12” (13cm) wrist. Keep in mind that as these were all trialled in store, the bracelets are set to the largest size and are therefore not fitted to my wrist — however these can all be adjusted by removing the links. The pieces I tried on varied in metal (steel, yellow gold, and rose gold) and embellishment (diamond-set bezels etc) based on what was available in store. The key focus here is size, so I’ve predominantly commented on the overall structural aesthetic and fit of each timepiece.
The best Cartier watches for small wrists
Cartier Tank Louis Small
A welcome follow up to the seminal Cartier Tank (now known as the Tank Normale) designed by Louis Cartier in 1917—which was inspired by the form of the Renault FT-17 tanks being used on the Western Front during WWI—the Cartier Tank Louis was released in 1922 and saw the brancards slimmed down and subtly curved, reflecting the Art Deco aesthetics of the time.
On the wrist: I initially went into Cartier to try on the Tank Mini Louis Cartier which was released late last year, but it wasn’t available in store. However, after trying on the Cartier Tank Louis Small, I actually think the mini might be too small (unfathomable, I know!). Because the leather strap moulds to the wrist, Cartier Tank Louis Small sits comfortably in the middle of the wrist without any lug overhang. It shows just enough strap to look proportionate, while the dial is big enough to retain legibility and not just be a pretty face. I also appreciate that—unlike the mini variant—the Tank Louis Small uses a hand-wound mechanical movement, which helps promote a greater connection with your watch (i.e. wind it, or it’ll stop running!).
Price: $19,000AUD
Model: Cartier Tank Louis Small (ref. WGTA0010)
Case size: 29.5mm x 22.0mm
Movement: 8971 MC (manually wound)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: 38 hours
Cartier Tank Américaine Mini
Compared to its Tank (Normale, Must, and Louis) family which came into being in the early 20th century, the Tank Américaine is a relative newcomer. Born in 1988, the Tank Américaine represents a more dynamic take on the original Tank, borrowing its elongated case shape and curved case from the Tank Cintrée (the difference between the two models lies in the caseback; the Cintrée has a curved caseback which wraps around the wrist while the caseback of the Américaine is flat, resulting in a more contemporary feel). The Tank Américaine exemplifies Cartier’s ability to play with shapes; alternating round and curved edges and an unapologetically stretched out rectangular case (with the elongated proportions continuing onto the dial, seen in the Roman numerals) contribute to the timepiece’s harmonious balance between classic and contemporary.
On the wrist: The Tank Américaine Mini was not on my radar at all, but I’m glad I tried it on. While it looked positively tiny in the display cabinet (and even in my hand), the Tank Américaine Mini has surprising wrist presence. Its slim silhouette means the case is almost in line with the leather strap, maintaining the jewellery-like aesthetic Cartier is known for and sitting on the wrist in a manner akin to a cuff. This also makes it easier to stack with jewellery, with the Tank Américaine Mini happily sitting alongside your bracelets without bumping up against them. That said, the elongated case means the silver sunray dial is relatively easy to read.
Price: $12,600AUD
Model: Tank Américaine Mini (ref. WGTA0341)
Case size: 28mm x 15.2mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Cartier Panthère de Cartier Small
Launched in 1983, the Cartier Panthère de Cartier was seminal in shaping the jewellery watch as we know it today. Sported by It girls and It boys alike, it’s been seen on the wrists of everyone from Pierce Brosnan and Keith Richards to Rihanna, Zendaya, Dua Lipa, and Gwenyth Paltrow. Honestly, pretty much every female celebrity today has been seen donning a Panthère de Cartier at least once (don’t quote me on that), though when it first launched it was more popular with the guys. Regardless, the Panthère de Cartier is a paragon of the jewellery watch category; it’s undeniably charming and a little blingy, yet comfortable and practical enough for everyday wear. Because it comes in four sizes (mini, small, medium, and large) and multiple metal configurations steel, two-tone, and yellow gold, there’s a Panthère de Cartier for every budget and every wrist.
On the wrist: Perfectly sized and perfectly comfortably — I can see why so many people fall in love with the Panthère de Cartier. The case of the small variant is big enough that it still looks like a watch and takes up enough of the wrist that it’s easy to read, while still leaving around a centimetre of the bracelet showing on either side (particularly important here; this is a jewellery-esque watch, after all).
Price: $37,600AUD (steel from $7050AUD)
Model: Panthère de Cartier Small (ref. WGPN0047 [yellow gold])
Case size: 23mm x 30mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Cartier Panthère de Cartier Mini
On the wrist: This definitely feels more like a bracelet than a watch. The square dial is almost completely in mine with the width of the bracelet, which, combined with the concealed clasp on the bracelet, contributes to its clean lines and jewellery-like appeal. As we’ve established, I have a pretty tiny wrist and even I thought this was a touch too small for someone after a watch that, you know, functions as a watch. Given the choice, I’d probably opt for the small over the mini.
Price: $6000AUD
Model: Panthère de Cartier Mini (ref. WSPN0012)
Case size: 25mm x 19mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Cartier Baignoire Mini
The seeds for the Baignoire were planted in 1912, when Cartier released a discorectangle watch (often erroneously called an oval); an east-west style that sees a horizontally oriented rectangular case fitted with rounded edges. However, the Baignoire as we know it today came about in 1958, when the parallel straight lines were replaced with curved ones and the now vertically oriented shape became a true oval. The watch was christened the Baignoire (meaning ‘bathtub’ in French) in 1973, and sixty years later was transformed into a miniature jewellery watch for Watches & Wonders 2023.
On the wrist: The time? I don’t know her. While the Panthère de Cartier Mini is a watch that happens to look like a bracelet, the Cartier Baignoire Mini is a bangle that happens to also be a watch. It comes in yellow and rose gold, each of which is available in mini or small and in three bangle sizes (15, 16, and 17); I tried on the mini version in yellow gold in a size 16. There was a bit of a gap between the bangle and my wrist so it felt a bit loose, but I think the size 15 (which wasn’t available at the time) would be a better fit. It’s worth noting that unlike a bracelet or leather strap, the bangle is one size and cannot be adjusted. This feels more like a piece of jewellery than a watch; because the bangle doesn’t mould to the wrist like a bracelet or leather strap, I felt like I was more conscious of its presence. This is definitely more of a cocktail watch than a daily driver. You can’t really tell the time at a glance wearing a Cartier Baignoire Mini, but then again, that’s what phones are for.
Price: $21,000AUD
Model: Baignoire Mini (ref. WGBA0044)
Case size: 24.6mm x 18.7mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Cartier Baignoire Small
On the wrist: Same watch, completely different vibe. Sizing up from the mini to the small and swapping out the bangle for a leather strap imbues the Baignoire with a completely different energy. Paired with the leather strap it feels comfortable enough for everyday wear and offers a viable alternative to the maison’s popular dress watch models like the Tank Louis Cartier or Tank Must. The Cartier Baignoire Small exudes wrist presence; its dial is readable and the case takes up just the right amount of wrist real estate while allowing the leather strap to peek through on either side. I expected the Baignoire Mini on the bangle to be my favourite, but after having tried them both on, the Baignoire Small on a leather strap would be my pick of the two.
Price: $18,600AUS
Model: Baignoire Small (ref. WGBA0022)
Case size: 31mm x 23mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Cartier Tank Française Small
Launched in 1996, the Cartier Tank Française is the newest member of the Tank family. Sitting at the cusp of the millennial and Gen Z cutoff, she’s something of an anomaly; despite the feminine name, she’s known for her robust lines, geometric forms, and decidedly chunky appearance. While the Tank family was originally inspired by military tanks, the timepieces (like the Tank Normale, Tank Louis Cartier, and Tank Must) have all had relatively rounded off brancards and softer lines, contributing to their dress watch appeal. In this sense, the Tank Française is both a radical design and true to the original inspiration. This theme continues onto the bracelet; while it’s not technically integrated, the angular bracelet seems to flow out of the case and contributes to the Tank Française’s imposing presence.
On the wrist: Now this truly feels like a tank on the wrist. Its blocky case and seamless chunky bracelet give the Tank Française a sports watch vibe. The bracelet comes with a certain heft which makes itself known more than that of the Panthère de Cartier and the case wears larger on the wrist than its proportions suggest. To be honest, this was a little underwhelming (not to mention a little too heavy) for me, however I am partial to Cartier’s jewellery-style design language which the Tank Française deviates from. That said, it’s a good sportier watch option for people with smaller wrists.
Price: $6000AUD
Model: Tank Française Small (ref. WSTA0129)
Case size: 25.7mm x 21.2mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
The best Jaeger-LeCoultre watches for small wrists
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Duetto
A true Art Deco icon, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso was designed to protect the glass of a watch from the trials and tribulations of polo matches. Rather than develop a crystal that could withstand a knock or two, Jaeger-LeCoultre developed an ingenious solution: turning the dial inwards so that the metal caseback faced outwards during games. The descendants of this original model remain in the form of the Reverso Tribute Monoface and Reverso Classic Monoface, but today the manufacture uses the Reverso to show off a second dial (in the case of the Reverso Classic Duetto and Reverso One) or showcase its metiers d’art prowess through limited-edition pieces.
On the wrist: In a word: stunning. I’m definitely biased here as I’ve always loved the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and the Classic Duetto variant (here in rose gold with a day and night dial) is one of the manufacture’s best takes on the style. When it comes to the fit, it feels comfortable on the wrist but is ever so slightly longer than I’d like due to the hooded lugs which make it wear larger on the wrist than its dial size suggests. While I’d like a slightly smaller lug-to-lug length (and a touch more of the strap showing), there’s no denying the Reverso is a glorious feat of engineering and requires a case that supports its reversible dial. I also like that even the entry level model in the Reverso Classic lineup has an option to choose a manually wound mechanical movement over a quartz one (seen in the Reverso Classic Monoface ref. Q2608140), which makes it feel eminently more special.
Price: $38,600AUD
Model: Reverso Classic Duetto (ref. Q2662530)
Case size: 34.2mm x 21mm
Movement: 844 (manually wound)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes (x 2)
Power reserve: 38 hours
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface
On the wrist: This just felt wholly too big! I’m still on team Reverso Classic Duetto. It looks good on the female model wearing it (correctly!) in the marketing images, though.
Price: $14,300AUD
Model: Reverso Tribute Monoface (ref. Q7168420)
Case size: 40.1mm x 24.4mm
Movement: 822 (manually wound)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: 42 hours
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto
The Reverso One Duetto is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedicated women’s offering for the model, defined by its elongated case shape, flowing lines, and diamond adornments. Notably, it forgoes the three fluted gadroons on either side of the case (seen in the models above) that are emblematic of the Reverso in favour of diamond-paved gadroons.
On the wrist: Despite being the same length as the Reverso Tribute Monoface, the elongated case and slimmer proportions of the Reverso One Duetto made this feel more wearable. That said, I would still like to see more of the bracelet from a bird’s eye view. From a purely size perspective, the Reverso Classic Duetto is my pick of the three Reversos I tried on, though from an—personal—aesthetic point of view, the burgundy secondary dial makes this one the winner.
Price: $66,500AUD ($42,700AUD on leather bracelet)
Model: Reverso One Duetto (ref. Q334216J)
Case size: 40.1mm x 20mm
Movement: 844 (manually wound)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes (x 2)
Power reserve: 50 hours
Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night & Day
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous collection is a decidedly feminine one. Paying homage to the instrumental role women played in the development of wrist watches (the first wrist watch was commissioned by Caroline Bonaparte, the Queen of Naples in 1810), the Rendez-Vous collection offers both 29mm and 34mm case sizes, both of which make use of automatic movements. The elegant design language is defined by a use of guilloché or mother-of-pearl dials, diamond-set bezels (although there are plain options available), and whimsical complications. Each timepiece is fitted with either a day/night indicator or moonphase complication.
On the wrist: I tried on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night & Day in 29mm. This wears larger than I expected a 29mm case to look — but that’s a good thing. The dial of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous is impeccably finished and its solid wrist presence allows the guilloché to be admired. The tapered lugs add to the Rendez-Vous’ wrist presence, but there’s enough of the leather strap on display to keep things looking proportional. While this variant is also available in 34mm, I wouldn’t go any larger than the 29mm.
Price: $41,100AUD
Model: Rendez-Vous Night & Day (ref. Q3462430)
Case size: 29mm
Movement: 967A (automatic)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day/night indicator
Power reserve: 38 hours
The best Rolex watches for small wrists
Rolex Lady-Datejust
The first Rolex Datejust came into being in 1945, to celebrate the manufacture’s 40th anniversary. Upon its release, the Rolex Datejust was notable for being the first self-winding wristwatch to feature an automatically changing date mechanism, the complication for which it is named (yes, despite its simplicity, a date window is indeed a type of complication!). Its release also marked the introduction of the iconic five-link Jubilee bracelet, which has gone on to become a symbol of refined elegance (and a design signature often imitated but never duplicated). Released in 1957, the Rolex Lady-Datejust boasted all the hallmarks of the original version—a waterproof oyster case, automatic movement, and the namesake date window at 3 o’clock—albeit in a more compact version.
Today, the Lady-Datejust is produced in a melange of metal and dial configurations. On the metal side, it’s available in oystersteel (Rolex’s version of stainless steel), two-tone (oystersteel with a precious metal, also known as Rolesor), yellow gold, everrose gold (Rolex’s take on rose gold), and white gold. Lady-Datejusts in oystersteel and two-tone (Rolesor) are available with an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, while those in a precious metal (white, yellow, or rose gold) are available with a Jubilee or President bracelet. Lady-Datejusts are available with domed, fluted, or diamond-set bezels and a wide array of dial colours (with either Roman numeral, stick, or diamond hour markers). The Lady-Datejust line is one of Rolex’s most varied collections, with a timepiece for every style.
The Rolex Lady-Datejust previously had a 26mm case size, but this has since been slightly sized up to 28mm to cater to modern tastes. The 28mm variant is the only one that has the ‘Lady’ denomination, with the regular Datejust (which comes in just as many metal and dial configurations) available in 31, 36, and 41mm case sizes.
On the wrist: Honesty time — I completely forgot to visit a Rolex boutique. Sorry! Fortunately, I do have a Rolex Lady-Datejust, although this is the 26mm variant that has now been phased out. I’m clearly biased, as I think this is the perfect size and perfectly proportionate for women with smaller wrists. The current model is two millimetres larger, though I think this would wear quite similarly. The Jubilee bracelet is a highlight of this watch; I think it’s the most comfortable of Rolex’s bracelet offerings (and one of the most comfortable watch bracelet styles on the market, period).
Price: from $11,400AUD (oystersteel with a domed bezel and stick hour markers)
Model: Lady-Datejust (ref. 279160; base model)
Case size: 28mm (26mm pictured here)
Movement: 2236 (automatic)
Water resistance: 10ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 55 hours
The best Chopard watches for small wrists
Chopard Alpine Eagle 33
The Chopard Alpine Eagle is a contemporary reimagining of the St Moritz, which was designed by 1980 by the maison’s current co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele—then aged 22—who convinced his father to produce a steel watch that catered to the tastes of the refined yet active community of St Moritz. Likewise designed by Scheufele, the Alpine Eagle is defined by its textured dial which draws inspiration from the iris of an eagle (hence the name), screw-down bezel, and distinctive tapered bracelet. While the bracelet looks like a three-link bracelet, it’s actually comprised of a single long brushed ingot-shaped link and topped by a raised central cap (either in steel or gold).
On the wrist: I’ve always thought that the Chopard Alpine Eagle (in any size) was an excellent looking integrated bracelet sports watch that deserves more attention than it gets. Trying on the Chopard Alpine Eagle 33 has only solidified my opinion; the 33mm case doesn’t overpower the wrist and the tapered lugs and seamless transition into the bracelet keep things feeling refined and proportional. It’s hard to comment on the comfort of bracelet watches without resizing them for your wrist (the same applies to the Cartier Tank Française and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto pieces above), but the slim tapered bracelet does suggest it’ll fare well in the comfort stakes. A key positive to Chopard’s Alpine Eagle collection is that it uses automatic movements across the entire lineup — a refreshing change from maisons who relegate their smallest watches to a life of quartz.
Price: $26,900AUD
Model: Alpine Eagle 33 (ref. 298617-6001)
Case size: 33mm
Movement: 09.01-C (automatic)
Water resistance: 5ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Power reserve: 42 hours
The best Tudor watches for small wrists
Tudor Black Bay One 31
With their smooth, fixed bezels and streamlined aesthetic, the Tudor Black Bay One represents a departure from the purely utilitarian aesthetic of the mainline Black Bay diver’s watches. While the Black Bay One retains many of the tool watch characteristics (think 150 metres of water resistance, a durable stainless steel bracelet) as its Black Bay family, it sits firmly in the everyday luxury sports watch category. One of the best things about the Black Bay One lineup is the size range — it’s available in 31, 36, 39, and 41mm case sizes, all of which are fitted with COSC-certified automatic movements.
On the wrist: This and the Chopard Alpine Eagle 33 were the only sports watches I tried on; despite being 2mm smaller, the Tudor Black Bay One 31 wore larger than its case diameter suggests, likely due to the integrated tapered lugs that essentially extend the case of the watch. I found this a little too big for my 13cm wrist (particularly as it’s worn on a bracelet), but I do think it would work on wrists a centimetre (or more) larger.
Price: $5900AUD
Model: Black Bay One 31 (ref. M79600-0001)
Case size: 31mm
Movement: MT5201 (automatic)
Water resistance: 10ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Power reserve: 50 hours
Tudor Clair de Rose
A portmanteau of ‘clair de lune’ (‘moonlight’ in French) and ‘rose’, in reference to Tudor’s historic logo, the Clair de Rose is the brand’s female-oriented dress watch line. Available in 26, 30, and 34mm case sizes, the Clair de Lune is distinguished by its opaline guilloché effect dial and jewellery-style five-link bracelet.
On the wrist: The narrow, curved bezel and straight lugs mean the 30mm Tudor Clair de Rose sits relatively well on the wrist. However, if I’m honest, there’s something lacking in the design here. Tudor fares best in the sports watch category and this attempt at a jewellery-style watch doesn’t play to the manufacture’s strengths. It’s fine, but nothing special.
Price: $4110AUD
Model: Clair de Rose (ref. M35500-0001)
Case size: 30mm
Movement: T201 (automatic)
Water resistance: 10ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power reserve: 38 hours
The best Bulgari watches for small wrists
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori
Uniting jewellery and watchmaking aesthetics, Roman maison Bulgari has always infused its Swiss watches with Italian flair. The Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori made its debut in 1948 as a jewellery watch designed to be wrapped around the wrist. Those earliest Serpentis employed the Tubogas wrap-around technique that remains a signature for the maison to its day. The Serpenti has undergone many iterations, having been adorned in gemstones or hiding a secret watch inside its hissing mouth. The Serpenti Seduttori is a relatively new addition to the serpentine family; launched in 2019, it represents a modern take on the reptilian motif, pairing the serpentine watch case with a scale-patterned bracelet.
On the wrist: He’s perfect. I’ve always wanted a Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori but was hesitant to try one on as I—clearly wrongly—always assumed it would be too large for me and didn’t want the illusion of my dream watch shattered. But this honestly fits perfectly; while Bulgari only specifies the diameter (33mm) from top to bottom, the drop-shaped (or snake’s head-shaped) case means the Serpenti Seduttori wears smaller than a circular watch case of the same size. Despite the elongated case, enough of the hexagonal scale bracelet that wraps around the wrist like a second skin peeks through on either side of the snake’s head. The Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori has an undeniable jewellery aesthetic, yet boasts a legible dial and is comfortable enough for daily wear. And, even though it’s not a highly complicated piece, a Serpenti Seduttori will always stand out.
As of this year, the Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori is also available with an automatic movement (the BVS100 Solotempo); this one has a case diameter that is a single millimetre larger, measuring 34mm.
Price: $52,300AUD (steel w/out diamonds from $8500AUD)
Model: Serpenti Seduttori (ref. 103147)
Case size: 33mm (diameter)
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas
The Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas is a direct descendant of the original serpentine Bulgari jewellery watches from 1948 and is distinguished by its supple body that moulds to the wrist like a snake.
On the wrist: I always thought I was a Seduttori girl, but the Tubogas has usurped it. I’ll always love the jewellery-esque aesthetic of the scale bracelet, but there’s something undeniably powerful about the feeling of the Serpenti Tubogas wrapped around the wrist. Available in two sizes (135mm and 145mm; I tried on the former), the Tubogas bracelet quite literally encases the wrist like a coiled snake, resulting in the perfect fit. At 35mm, the case of the Serpenti Tubogas is one millimetre bigger than that of the Serpenti Seduttori, but as it’s designed to peek over the bottom of the wrist rather than sit in the middle of it, it actually wears better. While some bracelet watches (like the Cartier Baignoire on the gold bangle) are best suited for occasional evening wear and not comfortable enough for daily use, the pliant nature of the Serpenti Tubogas makes it feel like something you could wear to a cocktail party and to work the morning after.
Price: $24,600AUD (steel w/out diamonds from $10,300AUD)
Model: Serpenti Tubogas (ref. 102237)
Case size: 35mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
The best Vacheron Constantin watches for small wrists
Vacheron Constantin Overseas
At less than three decades old, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas is already a cult favourite in the steel sports watch stakes. Making its debut in 1996, the Overseas was designed by Vincent Kaufmann and Dino Modolo and modernises the stylistic codes set out by Jorg Hysek’s seminal Vacheron Constantin 222 design in 1977. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas can be identified by its six-sided Maltese Cross-shaped bezel and integrated bracelet with geometric links. Currently in its third generation, the Overseas as we know it today came about in 2016, with Vacheron Constantin slowly expanding the range to include models with smaller case sizes.
On the wrist: The smallest Overseas model is a 33mm quartz variant, but for this story I opted to stick with automatic movements. The stainless steel automatic Vacheron Constantin Overseas comes in a 34.5mm case size; because the Maltese Cross-shaped bezel sits atop a case that is almost tonneau-shaped, it wears bigger than its proportions would suggest and has a little lug overhang when viewed from the top. While I like the aesthetic of the Overseas, this was simply too big.
Price: $38,600AUD
Model: Overseas Self-Winding (ref. 4600V/200A-B980)
Case size: 34.5mm
Movement: 1088/1 (automatic)
Water resistance: 15ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, balance-stop
Power reserve: 40 hours
The best Longines watches for small wrists
Longines DolceVita Small
Introduced in 1997, the Longines DolceVita collection is inspired by the manufacture’s rectangular designs of the 1920s. Suffused with Art Deco style, the collection is intended to capture the Italian concept of ‘dolce vita’ (the sweet life) through a refined, elegant design language. Today, the Longines DolceVita is available in a range of sizes and dial and metal configurations, with its female-oriented models coming in 27mm x 17.7mm, 32mm x 20.8mm, and 37mm x 23.3mm. For clarity (and brevity), we’ll hereafter refer to these as mini, small, and medium, respectively.
On the wrist: The Longines DolceVita Small felt really comfortable to wear. Even though the caseback isn’t curved, the domed sapphire crystal and upper half of the case seem to wrap around the wrist, resulting in a fit akin to that of a bracelet. Despite its relatively dainty aesthetic, the dial is large and legible, without competing with the bracelet for wrist real estate. The alternating lengths of the rectangular links on the five-link bracelet add to the DolceVita’s vintage charm. Save for the diamond bezel (it’s also available without it), this feels like a very unobtrusive watch that’s well suited to daily wear.
Price: $5850AUD (steel w/out diamonds from $2350AUD)
Model: Longines DolceVita Small (ref. L5.255.0.71.6)
Case size: 32mm x 20.8mm
Movement: L178 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Power reserve: N/A
Longines DolceVita Mini
On the wrist: This is the first time in my life that I’ve felt like I had big wrists. Is this what it feels like to be The Rock or Sylvester Stallone? Maybe I should try a Hublot or Panerai again. This looks relatively proportional when viewed from above, but in the mirror I found this looked a little too small on my wrist, particularly for a watch in stainless steel. I’d definitely opt for the small over the mini here.
Price: $4325AUD (steel w/out diamonds from $2350AUD)
Model: Longines DolceVita Mini (ref. L5.258.0.71.6)
Case size: 27mm x 17.7mm
Movement: L178 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Power reserve: N/A
Longines Mini DolceVita
Not to be confused with the aforementioned Longines DolceVita in a mini size, the Mini DolceVita was introduced in 2023 and offers a more compact take on the original. All the Mini DolceVita models are the same size at 29mm x 21.5mm — these proportions combined with an almost squared-off dial give the timepiece an aesthetic not dissimilar to a Cartier Tank. The Longines Mini DolceVita comes on a jewellery-style five-link bracelet with identical rectangular links.
On the wrist: Despite the ‘mini’ moniker, the Mini DolceVita felt more dominant on the wrist than the classic DolceVita in the small size; likely due to the slightly wider case. While I liked the look and feel of the original DolceVita more on the day, the more modern charm of the DolceVita Mini has since grown on me (and its Tank resemblance subsides the longer I look at it).
Price: $3075AUD
Model: Mini DolceVita (ref. L5.200.4.71.6)
Case size: 29mm x 21.5mm
Movement: L178 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Power reserve: N/A
The best Tissot watches for small wrists
Tissot PRX 25
Making its debut in 2021, the Tissot PRX has made a name for itself as an integrated bracelet sports watch for the people, with its democratic price point and retro aesthetics appealing to those desirous of achieving the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or Vacheron Constantin 222 look on a budget. The PRX is modelled after a Tissot Seastar from 1978, which was known for its integrated bracelet design and a quartz movement. Tissot brought the aesthetic of that Seastar back, but dubbed it the PRX, as the brand already had a Seastar collection with a classic dive watch aesthetic in its lineup. Now, the Tissot PRX is available in several variants, many with automatic movements and some with quartz. The timepiece has been recognised for its availability in both 40mm and 35mm case sizes, and recently introduced a 25mm quartz version into the mix.
On the wrist: This is so small! It looks slightly larger in photos, but the dial of this timepiece is absolutely diminutive — it’s essentially a little dot in the middle of the case. The case itself looks relatively proportional due to its tonneau shape, but I couldn’t get past the teeny tiny dial.
Price: $520AUD
Model: PRX 25 (ref. T137.010.11.111.00)
Case size: 25mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 10ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Power reserve: N/A
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 (35mm)
On the wrist: At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, this one is too big! Surely there’s a happy medium. Maybe a PRX 28?
Price: $1150AUD
Model: PRX Powermatic 80 (ref. T137.207.11.091.01)
Case size: 35mm
Movement: automatic
Water resistance: 10ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Power reserve: 80 hours
The best Piaget watches for small wrists
Piaget Sixtie
Released at Watches & Wonders 2025, the Piaget Sixtie is based on the maison’s Swinging Sautoir watch necklaces and jewellery-style watch cuffs of 1969, which saw trapezoidal shapes become a regular motif. Here, the Piaget Sixtie sees a trapezoidal case framed by finely chiselled gadroons—a design element that nods to the Piaget Andy Warhol timepiece—or a diamond-set bezel. Available in rose gold (with or without diamonds), steel and rose gold (without diamonds, and stainless steel (with diamonds), the Piaget Sixtie is a true jewellery watch, pairing a dainty 29mm case with a five-link bracelet with interlaced rectangular and trapezoidal links.
On the wrist: This looked so tiny in my hand, but on the wrist? Perfection. The thoughtfully designed bracelet coupled with the atypically shaped trapezoidal dial make for a timepiece that reconciles jewellery and watch design codes. Because it’s wider than it is long, the Piaget Sixtie takes up a solid amount of space on the wrist (which promotes greater dial legibility) without compromising visibility of the bracelet.
Price: $52,500AUD (steel w/ diamonds from $18,500AUD)
Model: Sixtie (ref. G0A50302)
Case size: 29mm
Movement: quartz
Water resistance: 5ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
Closing thoughts
While a watch is an inherently personal item, when it comes to finding the best watches for women with small wrists, there are some subjective truths to consider. Namely, that size does indeed matter and proportion is everything. I found that most of the most comfortable and most cohesive looking watches were those that were either elongated (i.e. rectangular or oval-shaped) or were presented on a leather strap or jewellery-style bracelet that hugged the wrist. That said, each watch looks vastly different in the deep-etched product images (and even on the model) than it does on your own wrist, so it’s best to try watches on your own wrist (or, look for articles like this which do it for you!) before you buy.
Enjoyed this story on the watches for women with small wrists? Check out our other watch guides here.
Words by T. Angel
