Watches are maybe the most intimate form of mechanical excellence. A Voisin is a sterling example of clockwork in automotive form, but it’s still something that occupies your garage. Meanwhile, a Tudor Black Bay (Where is this Black Bay? -Ed.) sits on your wrist, metal to skin. To paraphrase Rocky III’s Thunderlips, watches are the ultimate male accessory.

But here’s the thing: women wear watches, too. And they care just as much about their choices as anyone else.

That point caught the eye of The New York Times and The Financial Times. Both featured women in the watch world, either as tastemakers for what was there or as craftswomen of what was next. Chief among them: Patcharavipa Bodiratnangkura. Known as Pat, she and her partner specialize in highly textured, organic shapes. With 18-karat gold plus an alloy that’s “very yellow, very intense and warm,” along with big raw chunks of stone, Pat’s watches have been sported by Rihanna and other global style icons.

Meanwhile in New York, “H. Jane Chon, a lawyer who is counsel for the Horological Society of New York; Dana Li, founder of the website Tell the Time, which describes itself as ‘all things watches for women’; Isabella Proia, vice president, head of sale and international specialist at Phillips Watches in New York City; and Katie Reed, vice president of marketing at Watches of Switzerland Group USA” sat down to to talk with the Times.

Incidentally, none of them were wearing watches specifically designed for women.

That’s the part that sets off this new vein of timepieces for women: why can’t women just wear what looks good?

There’s nothing wrong with gemstones and slim straps, but at the same time—as Chon points out—“Women wear these enormous watches and they rock. It sometimes looks better on them than their husbands.” Meanwhile, “You see athletes wearing gem-encrusted, colored, flashy, small little things and now it’s OK.”

That sounds like the mantra of you do you. If you’re a rugby player and you dig a Movado, go for it, you'll get no guff from the people who respect you. Likewise, if you were an extra in Gymkata and you want a chronograph, get that Speedy because you deserve it. Categorizing things by men and women is fine, but there’s no reason to feel limited by it. Rock what you want to rock. Taste is subjective and everyone has their own parameters. Ultimately, the only one watching you is you.

What Do Women Want on Their Wrists? [via The New York Times]

Patcharavipa augments vintage watch and jewelry pieces with Thai gold [via The Financial Times]

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