Round-UpWhich Side Are You On, Brat Or Demure?

Every other day, a new trend or micro-trend pops up on our social media feeds, demanding our attention. From the ‘mob wife aesthetic’ and ‘eclectic grandpa’ to now ‘very demure, very mindful’ and ‘brat summer’, the internet is beaming with fleeting fashion lingo. And, while most of these styles last only a season, some tend to reverberate a little longer. One such trend that is making the rounds on the internet for its polarising, yet evergreen appeal is ‘brat vs demure’. Inspired by the ‘brat summer’ and ‘very demure’ trends, these styles are completely opposite, catering to two distinct target groups. While brat, as the name suggests, embodies unapologetic boldness in popular culture, demure translates to elegance and modesty. Think of it in terms of celebrities: if singer Sabrina Carpenter is ‘demure’, then the singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is definitely ‘brat’. Similarly, in watches, if the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M is demure, then the Seamaster Planet Ocean is inevitably brat. But before we dive deep into the segregation of watches, here’s more about the two trends.

New Day, New Trend: Brat vs Demure

The ‘brat summer’ aesthetic is inspired by British singer-songwriter Charlotte Emma Aitchison, aka Charlie XCX’s album Brat. While the word’s literal translation is a petulant child, the album is about embracing one’s imperfections and challenging the status quo. “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt,” explained Charlie in a TikTok video. Some of the elements that have come to define this trend are lime green or ‘brat green’ colour, smudged eyeliner, messy hair, leather, and Y2K lip gloss.

The ‘very demure’ trend, on the other hand, is anything but bratty. Taking cues from the ‘clean girl aesthetic’, this style focuses on modesty and mindfulness. It gained prominence when TikToker Jools Lebron uploaded a video, advising her followers on how to appear demure and mindful at work. “You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure, very mindful; I don’t come to work with a green crease,” she said. What started as satire soon became a full-blown trend, with celebrities such as Penn Badgley and Khloé Kardashian following suit.

Since then, these trends have been utilised for various marketing campaigns and even a political campaign—the official X account (formerly, Twitter) of US Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris featured ‘brat green’ colour on its cover. Today, #BratSummer has approximately 10 lakh posts on social media.

While clothing is a major factor in determining whether one looks more bratty or demure, accessories play an equally important role. When it comes to timepieces, for a watch to be considered demure, you could consider clean, symmetrical dials and a touch of sophistication. Conversely, a bratty piece would be loud and bold—one that can’t be ignored from even a distance.

The stunning Arnold & Son Ultrathin Tourbillon Platinum, featuring a 'Cosmic Grené’ dial is recognisably demure

Whereas, the Constant Force Tourbillon with a skeletonised dial and brown leather strap is a brat

Here is a list of brat and demure watches under five distinct categories. Take your pick.

• Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm vs Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm
• Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph vs Laureato Chronograph 42mm
• Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 vs Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue vs Pilot Automatic
• Bulgari Serpenti Spiga vs Divas’ Dream

Gold Watches

Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm vs Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm

While gold is quite demure, if used for a bulky or skeletonised model such as the Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm, it can also reflect a bratty appeal. Crafted from rose gold, this timepiece, featuring the collection’s distinctive ‘X’ and rectangle design elements, is available in an alluring colour combination of gold and navy blue. But what makes it a true brat is its skeletonised dial revealing the beating heart underneath. Run by the manual-winding manufacture calibre UN-371, the movement is composed of 173 parts, offering a whopping power reserve of 96 hours. In contrast, the rose gold Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm, with a matching fluted bezel, is distinctly demure due to its neat dial with a vintage aesthetic. It showcases navy blue Roman numerals, a moon phase display and small seconds at six o’clock, and a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock on a clean white background. Powered by the automatic manufacture calibre UN-119, it beats at a frequency of 28,800vph, offering a respectable energy reserve of 60 hours.

Read more about gold watches here

While gold is quite demure, if used for a bulky or skeletonised model such as the Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm, it can also reflect a bratty appeal

The rose-gold Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm, with a matching fluted bezel, is distinctly demure due to its neat dial with a vintage aesthetic

The Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm vs Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm in a nutshell

• Ulysse Nardin Blast Skeleton X 42mm
• Case: Rose gold, 42mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 50m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes
• Movement: Manual winding manufacture calibre UN-371; 96-hour power reserve
• Strap: Leather

• Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Moonphase 42mm
• Case: Rose gold, 42mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 50m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, moon phase, small seconds
• Movement: Automatic manufacture calibre UN-119; 60-hour power reserve
• Strap: Leather

Chronograph Watches

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph vs Laureato Chronograph 42mm

Being one of the most popular complications, it’s no surprise that the chronograph can be found in both brat and demure watches. Take the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph, for example. Measuring 44mm, this bulky timepiece exudes a brat vibe all the way! Despite its size, it sits comfortably on one’s wrist due to its lightweight titanium case. Also, perfectly complementing the case is its blue dial featuring the small seconds at three, and 12-hour and 30-minute counters at six and nine o’clock. It also features a date display placed between four and five o’clock. Another chronograph watch from the same family, but with a softer appearance is the Laureato Chronograph 42mm. As compared with the Absolute edition that comes with a fully integrated rubber strap, this timepiece’s case and bracelet are crafted from stainless steel, making it a classic sports watch with a demure aesthetic. Both models are powered by the automatic chronograph movement GP03300, with an energy reserve of up to 46 hours.

The Laureato Chronograph 42mm's case and bracelet are crafted from stainless steel, making it a classic sports watch with a demure aesthetic

Measuring 44mm, the bulky Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph exudes a brat vibe all the way

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph vs Laureato Chronograph 42mm in a nutshell

• Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph
• Case: Titanium, 44mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 300m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, chronograph, date, small seconds
• Movement: Automatic calibre GP03300-1058; 46-hour power reserve
• Strap: Rubber

• Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm
• Case: Stainless steel, 42mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 100m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, chronograph, date, small seconds
• Movement: Automatic calibre GP03300-0138; 46-hour power reserve
• Strap: Stainless steel

GMT Watches

Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 vs Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo

A GMT watch displays the time of an additional time zone alongside local time. With its bold design featuring a 44mm stainless steel case, protruding lugs, and a raised bidirectional-rotating bezel, the Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 is a quintessential brat, complete with a date display at three o’clock. It is presented on a blue leather strap matching the colour of the dial. The limited-edition (1,750 pieces) Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, is a fine example of minimal luxury and is discernibly demure. Born from a collaboration between NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo and Swiss watchmakers, this 40mm stainless steel globetrotter features a ‘Good Land green’ dial, evoking the Milwaukee Bucks’ basketball heritage beautifully. These GMT editions are run by the automatic COSC-certified calibre Breitling 32, offering a 42-hour power reserve.

With its bold design featuring a 44mm stainless steel case, protruding lugs, and a raised bidirectional-rotating bezel, the Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 is a quintessential brat, complete with a date display at three o’clock

The limited-edition (1,750 pieces) Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a fine example of minimal luxury and is discernibly demure

The Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 vs Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo in a nutshell

• Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44
• Case: Stainless steel, 44mm, with sapphire crystal, bi-directional rotating bezel; water-resistant to 300m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
• Movement: Automatic calibre Breitling 32; 42-hour power reserve
• Strap: Leather

• Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Case: Stainless steel, 40mm, with sapphire crystal, unidirectional rotating bezel; water-resistant to 200m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
• Movement: Automatic calibre Breitling 32; 42-hour power reserve
• Strap: Stainless steel

Pilot Watches

Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue vs Pilot Automatic

According to Charlie’s definition, a brat is someone who charts their own path—just like Zenith. Their vintage-inspired Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue watch—with a 45mm stainless steel case, and chronograph counters, at three and nine o’clock, respectively—is as brat as it gets. An archetypal pilot’s watch, it features a distinct round case, a large onion-shaped crown (for easy handling while wearing gloves), and prominent hour markers and hands. Powered by the automatic El Primero 4069 calibre, it offers an energy reserve of approximately 50 hours. Conversely, the Pilot Automatic in 40mm, featuring a smaller case size and contemporary design elements with interchangeable black and khaki cordura-effect rubber straps, is a demure version of a pilot watch, for those who prefer subtlety without skimping on style or function. This timepiece is powered by the El Primero 3620 calibre, with a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.

The Pilot Automatic in 40mm, featuring contemporary design elements with interchangeable black and khaki cordura-effect rubber straps, is a demure version of a pilot watch

This vintage-inspired Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue watch—with a 45mm stainless steel case, and chronograph counters, at three and nine o’clock, respectively—is as brat as it gets

The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue vs Pilot Automatic in a nutshell

• Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Rescue
• Case: Stainless steel, 45mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 100m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, chronograph, small seconds
• Movement: Automatic calibre El Primero 4069; 50-hour power reserve
• Strap: Leather

• Zenith Pilot Automatic
• Case: Ceramic, 40mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 100m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
• Movement: Automatic calibre El Primero 3620; 60-hour power reserve
• Strap: Rubber

Jewelled Watches

Bulgari Serpenti Spiga vs Divas’ Dream

Among the first few watch brands that come to mind instantly when thinking of jewelled watches is the Italian luxury casa, Bulgari. While their Serpenti (an Italian word for ‘snake’) collection, with its iconic tubular design is everything brat, the high-jewellery line, Divas’ Dream is aspirational for the demure. The double-spiral 35mm Serpenti Spiga, with a diamond-set case, dial, and bracelet, is a showstopper in every sense of the word. Crafted from 18-karat white gold, it features a fully paved dial with blue hands and indexes, further enhanced by a diamond-set bezel. Furthermore, its coiling bracelet is carved with an abstract wheat stalk pattern, set with 425 brilliant-cut diamonds. In contrast, the 30mm Divas’ Dream, featuring a meticulous setting of precious stones on its bezel, dial, and lugs, radiates timeless elegance. Inspired by the fan-shaped mosaics of the Baths of Caracalla, its 18-karat rose gold case comes in a round shape with elegant lugs. Its beige dial, with diamond indexes, further accentuates the beauty of the watch. Both stunning creations are powered by quartz movements.

Read more about jewelled watches here

The double-spiral 35mm Serpenti Spiga, with a diamond-set case, dial, and bracelet, is a showstopper in every sense of the word

The 30mm Divas’ Dream, featuring a meticulous setting of precious stones on its bezel, dial, and lugs, radiates timeless elegance

The Bulgari Serpenti Spiga vs. Divas’ Dream in a nutshell

• Bulgari Serpenti Spiga
• Case: White gold, 35mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 30m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes
• Movement: Quartz
• Strap: White gold

• Bulgari Divas’ Dream
• Case: Rose gold, 30mm, with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 30m
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes
• Movement: Quartz
• Strap: Satin