Watches are no longer confined to the wrists. From chokers and rings to earrings, take a look at the fresher ways of styling the ultimate wrist accessory.
Watches are no more confined to wrists alone. Celebrities are leading the trend.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 9, 2024 19:28 IST
Wearing a watch - the ultimate wrist accessory - is always a good decision.
Despite being a small part of your overall look, a sophisticated watch gracing your wrist makes you look confident, elegant and more refined.
Not surprising at all, watches have surpassed their utility quotient to earn the reputation of reliable styling accomplices. From your work wardrobe to heavy ethnic pieces, a watch can adapt to any sartorial setting to elevate the look.
Watches, however, are no longer confined to the wrists alone. If not wrists, where else do you wear a watch?
Watches go off the wrists
Just take a cue from pop sensation Taylor Swift’s red carpet look for the Grammys 2024. It doubled up as a styling masterclass on wearing a watch but not on the wrist.
Taylor Swift strutted down the Grammys red carpet in a monochrome Schiaparelli gown featuring a thigh-high slit. But more than her outfit, it was her watch that stole the show.
The statement accessory didn’t adorn her wrist but was worn as a chic necklace.
Watch necklaces
A watch necklace? Yes, a fresh twist on timeless accessorising that’s taking the fashion world by storm and certainly deserves your attention.
Taylor Swift rocked a custom-made Lorraine Schwartz watch necklace, dripping in 300 carats of diamonds. It was a vintage watch turned into a choker. The accessory was a powerful nod to her album ‘Midnight’, which won the coveted Best Album of the Year award.
And it doesn't stop there. Rihanna, the queen of style reinvention, broke the internet in 2023 when she took the front row at the Louis Vuitton show in Paris wearing an exquisite watch around her neck.
The Jacob & Co. watch featuring striking black straps and a bejewelled dial stood out, and how! Rihanna reached out to the brand with the idea of wearing the watch in a completely different way. Together, they came up with the unconventional watch choker.
Talk about making a statement!
There’s more to this trend of wearing a watch anywhere but on the wrist.
Watch rings
Timekeeping has become a fashionable affair with many brands coming up with unique accessories and they are not limited to being necklaces. Today, you can find a plethora of watch-based stylish pieces gracing the shelves of your favourite brands and e-commerce platforms.
Among the most popular ones are watch rings. Imagine slipping on a stylish ring only to realise it's also a fully functional watch.
From Amazon to Myntra, a wide variety of watch rings are available at a variety of price points. The trend, we must add, has celebrity validation as well.
American rapper Megan Thee Stallion has quite an elaborate collection that she flaunted in an Instagram post.
Brands like Fossil have also reimagined the concept of timepieces, blending functionality and fashion aspects. More than 10 designs of metallic watch rings are available on their website, featuring a variety of dials.
Shanaya Kapoor also flaunted it for a recent shoot.
Fossil even partnered with Barbie for a floral variant.
In the realm of luxury, Rolex fidgeted with the idea of creating ring watches in the 1950s. An 18k gold ring watch was sold by the auction company Christie’s for USD 13,750 (over Rs 11 lakh) in 2016, according to their website.
Watch rings can be styled up and down considering the occasion. Rock with a monotone outfit to make it a standout accessory, or wear it alongside other statement rings for a glamorous dinner outing.
Watch earrings are a thing too!
From the dainty dial studs to the chunky cascading pairs, there are a lot of options available across online shopping platforms.
Men can experiment with the trend with watch brooches and watch belt buckles. The little styling move and unexpected placement will draw attention while adding a flair to your look.
What do fashion experts think
Tanumita Ghosh, a fashion stylist and Myntra Fashion Superstar Season 1 winner, feels watches as jewellery pieces are going to be everywhere in 2024.
“Wearing watches as a pendant, a fashion ring and necklace – there is a lot of creativity in what we have seen so far in 2024. Watches are an essential part of your entire fit, and I think it is a brilliant way of adding a fashion touch to your look,” she tells India Today.
Fashion stylist Nidhi Agarwal loves the concept of wearing watches as accessories. She, however, points out that taking this route might not be the best for the utility factor of a watch.
In a major ‘wearing a watch everywhere but on the wrist’ moment, Olivia Rodrigo posed for Rolling Stone magazine wearing a full skirt-top outfit made out of watches. She even used them as armlets and foot accessories.
So, where do you plan to wear your watch now?
Published By:
Medha Chawla
Published On:
Feb 9, 2024
English (US) ·