SpotlightNew York Fashion Week Special: Timepieces That Supermodels Love

At the onset of New York Fashion Spring/Summer 2019 (September 6 to 14), looks, silhouettes, cuts are about to hit the runway to define what the world wears next. While trends get set and style is amped up a notch in hallowed circles of beauty and craftsmanship, the horological quotient will become a key element in the whole experience. After all, style is incomplete without a marvel on your wrist.

Supermodels with their phenomenal good looks and sleek lithe movements can take a photograph from best to brilliant in unfathomable ways. And so is the case in the world of horology, where luxury timepieces can captivate the heart’s desire as soon as they are strapped on the wrist. The ticks of the beautiful machinery, the cool metal casebacks and straps—quite like the second skin to the wearer—all ingredients of state-of-the-art watches are mysteries objectified. When the two come together, it is but natural for your heart to skip a beat. Get your lowdown on the iconoclastic ‘it’ girls with their favourite watches.

Kaia Gerber

The 16-year-old is carrying a supermodel legacy on her shoulders—and even her wrists—rather effortlessly. Daughter of Cindy Crawford—the marquee player in the fashion industry and also an Omega ambassador—Kaia Gerber is no stranger to style or the watch brand. Carrying the mantle with aplomb, Gerber adorns the Omega’s Trésor—part of the De Ville collection—that is eye-catching for its intricate details and sleek design. While the silhouette and hands are retained from the brand’s offerings for women, the black Roman numerals have become slenderer and the diamond paving has a sharper curvature.

The Trésor collection comprises nine different models and was launched under a campaign titled ‘Kaia’s choice’. Driven by the Omega calibre 4061, the white mother-of-pearl dial sits well on the slim, 36mm steel case, harmonising beautifully with the black fabric strap. Adding to the overall grace of this timepiece is a special mirrored caseback with a ‘Her time’ pattern. Reiterating Gerber’s vintage look, but with a cool, modern twist, these watches are perfect when you want to switch looks from an elegant evening dress to an everyday look of T-shirt and jeans.

Bella Hadid

The 21-year-old equestrian at heart has played muse to TAG Heuer, making them take in her toughness and elegance and create a mother-of-pearl dial with a matte black ceramic S-shape bracelet. The twelve diamonds on the ceramic case conjure a stark visual, mirroring the simple, razor-sharp beauty of the American stunner. The mixed contradictions, of fragility and power, packed in this TAG Heuer watch convey a style statement as strong as this shutterbug.

Our recommendation:

Since the year 1987, the Link collection (then known as S/el) has gained iconic status owing to its distinctive ‘double-S’ shaped links in the bracelet and a consistent focus on ‘sports elegance’—a term that explains the former name. This 29mm watch flaunts a bejewelled bezel and diamond hour markers on a silver guilloche dial. These elements juxtaposed with the steel S-shape bracelet look absolutely divine. Fitted with a quartz movement, this Link watch features a date window at six o’clock and offers a water resistance up to 100m.

Adriana Lima

A true gender-bender, the Brazilian super beauty, Adriana Lima crosses boundaries by preferring men’s watches on her wrist. A dedicated boxer, Lima is happy in an IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition. Drawing attention to the fact that the large-size watch collection is definitely her thing, Lima, as a brand ambassador, is also breaking image barriers for IWC Schaffhausen.

This special edition watch, limited to 250 pieces, commemorates the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s achievements as an aviator, as a part of their commitment to the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Incorporating a powerful complication such as an annual calendar and an equally powerful IWC 52850 automatic calibre, visible via the see-through sapphire caseback, this watch offers a whopping power reserve of approximately 168 hours. The 46.2mm 18-carat rose gold case houses a brown dial with big, bold numerals, sword hands and a power reserve display, with a brown leather strap by Santoni completing the look.

Cara Delevingne

The fierce British beauty, Cara Delevingne has imprinted her mark in the TAG Heuer portfolio in an unmistakable way. Exhibiting the indomitable qualities of a lioness with the personality of an ‘it’ girl, Delevingne’s choice is the TAG Heuer Carrera ladies’ watch.

The 36mm black PVD-treated polished steel case with a rose gold bezel is graced by the black opaline dial, which features a date window at three o’clock, rose gold-plated, faceted and polished applied indexes and hour and minute hands with black SuperLuminova. Fitted with a quartz movement, this watch sports a black alligator rubber/leather strap. Evoking envy and lust, this watch endorsed by the steely ferocious woman spreads the message of #DontCrackUnderPressure just like she does.

Kendall Jenner

In the age of social media frenzy, when this super-influencer and brand ambassador posted an image of a Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Bondi on Instagram and got 26,25,113 likes, you know she’s a ‘true friend’ of the Swedish watchmaker Daniel Wellington.

Perfect for fans of minimalism, the eggshell white dial and white leather strap on the watch Kendall Jenner wears bring in oodles of freshness. Running on a Japanese quartz movement, this ultra-thin watch, with a 32mm steel case, makes a grand statement and promises a modern punctuation to your elegant ensemble.