For Baume & Mercier, Chopard and Hermès, the interchangeable nature of the Linea, Happy Sport and Heure H straps is well established and each new season brings new creations flaunting a whole new colour palette. Other brands have however succumbed more recently to the vogue of interchangeable straps. A brief anthology of feminine watches that thereby offer several models in one…

His eyes, tired from witnessing the plebs go about their own lives as he rolls past them into his tinted Maybach, do their best to glimpse behind the curved and non-AR-coated crystal, desperately searching for the feast they could feel is anticipating. Their attempts give great rewards: nine enormous, baguette-cut diamonds sparkle back in them “in the vicinity of a fifth of a carat,” his trained nouveau riche eyesight makes him whisper along with the team almost claps in appreciation. They are roughly 0.23ct.As a viewing angle is located at which the entire ceiling and the rest of the shop is not reflected back at the customer, a dial at a vibrant, nevertheless noble shade of blue starts to show itself, set alight with a subtle sunburst finish. No heavy grooves or any of the rubbish, only the lightest touch on the surface. Seconds later, it becomes apparent, the 5170P is not about the dial colour, but about those splendid baguette diamonds — which, to be fair, put an honorable battle against the reflections as they overly scatter light at a thousand ways.Diamond markers be a divisive power among observe enthusiasts. People that have a more subdued confidence in their flavor (or something else, maybe?) Actively seek the opportunity to overreact and, as such, consider even the suggestion of diamond markers for a personal assault. They desire to voice their uber-conservative taste whenever potential for it is their convenient safe-place where, cosied up against the soft walls of watch taste conservatism, they’re free of making a wrong call.

Happy Sport © Chopard

Heure H © Hermès

Online selection

Bulgari opts for color and personalization as a full-fledged style element with its Bulgari Bulgari Lady and Serpenti collections. While epitomizing the timeless nature of Roman style, these watches also adopt their owner’s changing moods thanks to a whole panoply of interchangeable straps. The new Serpenti models are for example sold with two leather double wrap straps that can be complemented by a wide choice of additional colors – why not royal blue or ruby red ? The Bulgari website offers an extremely convenient configurator enabling one to try on almost all the straps available for a given watch.

Glashütte Original does likewise with its Pavonina collection and its 20 or so colorful straps in leather or satin. The same goes for Jaeger-LeCoultre, via its Atelier Reverso. It is however the supremely feminine Rendez-Vous collection with its top-flight horological functions that reigns supreme in terms of elegant transformations by means of numerous alligator, ostrich or satin straps.

Rendez-Vous Night & Day © Jaeger-LeCoultre

All brands are jumping onto the (watch)band-wagon

Another Fine Watchmaking ladies’ model, the Blancpain Calendar Moon Phase by Blancpain comes with five interchangeable straps. Whoever said that Haute Horlogerie is not compatible with a joyful touch ? Nothing could be simpler than to remove the black satin strap and fit another in red, midnight blue or sky blue alligator leather, in order to enjoy a brand-new watch ! And how about the elegant and sporty Overseas small model by Vacheron Constantin, sold with a steel bracelet plus leather and rubber straps ; or the new Reference 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar by Patek Philippe delivered on a gray strap, accompanied by an additional turquoise strap ?

One thing I have to add is that I’m usually not the greatest fan of five-link bracelets, and this preference remains unchanged here. Above you may see the white blue and gold dial 5960, which I actually quite enjoy on the leather strap, but the bracelet on the steel version is simply not doing it for me. It is performed as refined as well as one can be, however, and how the curving lugs espouse the wrist in a manner in which the five-link bracelet does appears to be the natural fit for the watch.Seen in the caseback and adorned with a 21k gold rotor with the Patek Philippe Watches Review seal, the in-house 28-520 IRM QA 24H movement is a mouthful, but a very impressive and important one in that. Our David Bredan went to the movement when the preceding steel version was introduced and I’ll repeat his overview of the movement here below:”The motion inside (and have a deep breath today) is your completely in-house fabricated CH 28-520 IRM QA 24. That translated into watch-terminology means that the motion comprises a flyback chronograph, an annual calendar, a power-reserve indication (for exactly what the brand notes as anything between 45 and 55 hours, likely depending on for just how long the chronograph is in operation), in addition to a day-night indication. Its foundation motion contains 302 parts, while the clever (and only 2.48 mm thick) annual calendar module adds yet another 154 components to that. And while we often discuss perpetual calendars–calendars which require zero adjustments prior to the year 2100–annual calendars imply a smart transition between them and the classical calendars”

Reference 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar © Patek Philippe

Hublot has even added its patented interchangeable strap-change system to the name of several collections. Be it the Big Bang One Click Cuddly Cuff, with its leather and fur cuff straps, the flashy One-Click Pop Art, or the One Click Steel White Diamonds with its rubber strap, they all reveal a range of fascinating facets.

Big Bang One Click Cuddly Cuff © Hublot

The Shine “Etoile” by Raymond Weil also features a patented strap-change system activated by rotating the caseback. No tools and no risk of spoiling your manicure ! These smooth and easy move frees the watch from its attractive steel corset and enables it to team up with a a pleasingly light black or pink Repetto leather strap.

Shine « Etoile » © Raymond Weil

Renowned fashion experts, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton have adopted accessory-style straps as a natural showcase for their timepieces. The classical RL888 is accompanied by a colorful range of leather or satin straps, while the French-based Maison is innovating with an interchangeable strap concept suited to all its Tambour models, including older ones.

The Tambour Moon and its array of interchangeable straps © Louis Vuitton

Smart bands from smart brands

Smartwatches naturally deserved to be customized, notably via their bands. The Modular 45 from TAG Heuer, Summit by Montblanc and Tambour Horizon by Louis Vuitton also appeal to women, while Frederique Constantin offers its E-Strap that can be fitted to any given watch in order to connect it. This strap available in several colors features a discreet connected module integrated via the buckle.

The E-Strap is available with a buckle in stainless steel or pink or yellow gold-plated steel © Frédérique Constant