Cannes Style Spotlight: The Best Unisex Watches Seen on Stars

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Not so long ago, women were routinely buying men’s status timepieces to attain the larger case sizes and features that have long been de regueur in the watch world — but as men become increasingly adventurous about their accessories, it seems turnabout is fair play.

Hollywood stars including Timothée Chalamet, Rami Malek and The Weeknd lately have been sporting small dials on and off the red carpet. The Weeknd — who was billed by his given name, Abel Tesfaye, for HBO’s The Idol — sported a women’s Piaget Limelight Gala high-jewelry timepiece embellished with yellow and white diamonds on the Cannes red carpet in May for that show’s premiere.

Related: The Most Stylish Men’s Watches for Every Budget, from $250 to Under $1,000

Chalamet, meanwhile, has sported small-size watches by Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre on recent red carpets, but lately he’s been wearing a $3,300 mini Panthère de Cartier in steel, including in an Instagram he posted on Aug. 23, in which he’s sharing a laugh with his Call Me by Your Name and Bones and All director, Luca Guadagnino. And Malek, named a Cartier ambassador in 2020, wore a $13,000 Tank Louis Cartier in yellow gold with a black lacquered dial to May’s Met Gala; while known as the style’s “large model,” the case measures just 1.32 inches x 1 inch.

A post shared by Timothée Chalamet (@tchalamet)

Men’s watch sizes undeniably have been trending smaller in recent seasons, down from hefty, “look at me” cases that exceeded 48 millimeters and might hit as much as 60 millimeters (Sylvester Stallone has been spotted in a special-edition Panerai in the latter size). But Hollywood A-listers lately embracing tiny dials may influence the trend toward more modest sizes in pieces that feel decidedly unisex in styling. Here’s a look at nine status watches featuring smaller cases and details that might appeal to women and men alike.

Rose-gold panels (surrounded by diamonds) open to reveal a guillochéd mother-of-pearl dial on the Ludo secret watch; $159,000, at Van Cleef & Arpels, Beverly Hills

Courtesy of Brand

Cognac and mandarin spessartites adorn the rose-gold case of the Gondolo Serata, with a lacquered dial in a floral motif; $40,220, at Patek Philippe, Beverly Hills

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Limelight Gala high-jewelry timepiece in 18-karat white gold set with yellow and white diamonds and sapphires; price upon request, at Piaget, Beverly Hills

Courtesy of Brand

More than 630 diamonds adorn the coiled white-gold bracelet and case on the new Serpenti Spiga watch; price upon request, at Bulgari, Beverly Hills

Courtesy of Brand

On the Code Coco Cybergold, quilted calfskin and black-coated steel surround a lacquered dial and a princess-cut diamond; $9,200, at Chanel, Beverly Hills

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Diamonds accent the rose-gold case on Cartier’s latest Tank Américaine; $19,300, at Cartier, Beverly Hills

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Crafted in steel and ethical rose gold, the 25mm case on the latest Happy Sport watch includes five diamonds that dance across the satin-brushed silver dial; $5,590, at Chopard, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa

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The Hermès pyramid stud first appeared on the house’s belts in the 1930s and now has been used to create this Medor Mini secret watch, crafted of 18-karat rose gold and set with 76 diamonds; $63,400, at Hermès, Beverly Hills

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The latest Gem Dior watch highlights an onyx dial housed in a yellow-gold case with a bezel embellished with diamonds; price upon request, at Dior, Beverly Hills

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The steel case with diamond-set bezel on the STGK021 measures just 27.8mm; $9,000, at Grand Seiko, Beverly Hills

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This story first appeared in the Aug. 23 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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