10 Best Entry Level Luxury Watches For Women In 2023
Are you ready to invest in your first luxury watch? If so, this guide on the best entry level luxury watches for women will give you the perfect base understanding of what you should look for in your first watch.
So you’ve finally decided to purchase a luxury watch! Choosing a high-quality watch is an important turning point in a woman’s life, as it can symbolize hitting a milestone, or celebrating an important part of your life. It also marks the start of your luxury watch collection, so make sure your first watch is a special one.
Watches are a symbol of luxury and elegance, and they are quite literally timeless – meaning, you can pass your watch down to future generations, or keep it as a reminder of your success in life.
However, luxury watches come with hefty price tags. So before you decide on your first entry-level luxury watch, there are some things that you should consider and look for.
What To Look For In A Luxury Watch
1. Watch Type (Digital / Analog)
Digital watches tend to go out of style quickly (think Apple Watch – every year there’s a new one!) and are usually more fragile than any other type of watch. The latest digital watches often need to be updated every year to work functionally, so they’re not really future-proof.
Analog watches, on the other hand, are old-fashioned ones with ticking hands on them, so they give off a classy look on your wrist. Most luxury watch brands prefer selling analog watches since these tend to last very long and have timeless appeal.
2. Strap Type
Would you like leather or stainless steel? What about gold? Or how about nylon? If you’re in a place with a warm and humid climate, a leather strap might not be the best choice as it will absorb sweat and moisture, therefore damaging it in the process.
3. Watch Movement (Mechanical / Automatic / Quartz)
Mechanical movement watches are the oldest out of the three options, and the hands are usually required to be wound every day.
Automatic movement watches, on the other hand (no pun intended!) are not required to be wound since they wind themselves up automatically. This is the best and the most common option.
Quartz movement watches are battery-operated and are usually the cheapest option.
4. Quality
Each brand has its own set of quality standards, but since we are talking about luxury watches, expect all of them to be of high quality. If you want the best quality out there, look out for Swiss-made watches, since Swiss watches are the most durable and high-quality watches in the world.
5. Water Resistance
Of course, you don’t want our expensive watches to get water damage, so it’s important to find out if your watch of choice is water-resistant. Thankfully, the watch industry has made water resistance an important feature in watches, so there is a lot to choose from.
Notable Luxury Watch Brands To Choose From
1. Rolex
Rolex is perhaps the most well-known luxury watch manufacturer in the world. It hails from Geneva, Switzerland, which is the place where the most luxurious and high-quality watches worldwide are being made.
Most of their watches start at $5,000, so expect to spend a crazy amount of money if you want your own Rolex. But hey – their watches are built like a tank and can withstand the test of time. Plus, with Rolex prices going up every year, their watches fare very well on the secondhand market if you ever wanted to sell them in the future.
2. Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is another Swiss luxury watchmaker hailing from Geneva. They make highly exclusive limited edition watches, therefore making them one of the most well-loved luxury watch brands alongside Rolex.
Patek watches are highly popular among collectors and are actually more expensive than Rolex. Why is that? While Rolex watches are produced by machines, Patek watches are made by hand, therefore only releasing a limited number of watches per year.
3. Cartier
Cartier is the only luxury brand on this list that isn’t originally from Switzerland, even though it is now owned by the Swiss holding group Richemont. In fact, Cartier is one of France’s most known luxury brands, famous for its fine jewelry and watches alike.
Cartier has a long history of sales to royalty and is often referred to as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers”, as Edward the VII of Great Britain put it first.
4. Longines
Longines is yet another Swiss luxury watch brand, and their timepieces hold their value very well. Their watches are not as expensive as most other brands on this list (they are actually quite an “affordable” option), but they are built to last and are very much worth it.
5. Audemars Piguet
This is another luxury watch manufacturer from Switzerland, and their watches are gorgeous (but super expensive as well). Audemars Piguet creates a very limited amount of timepieces, hence the high price tag. So if you own one, consider it as the same as owning a piece of history.
6. TAG Heuer
This Swiss watch brand is probably the most popular, and you can see their watches in outlets and malls almost anywhere. Their watches are also built to last like a tank. TAG Heuer is the fourth-largest luxury watch brand in the world.
7. Omega
Omega is a premium Swiss watch brand that is considerably more affordable than other brands on this list (some of their watches start at $2,000). They also make quartz i.e. battery operated watches, which are the most affordable watches on the market.
Price Ranges To Consider
Luxury watches are… luxury, so expect a high price tag on them as you scroll through this list. However, there are also pre-loved luxury watches being sold online from reputable resellers that have maintained their high quality for a lesser price, so you might want to get your hands on that.
Luxury watches don’t have to be overly expensive as well, so don’t be scared to expand your options and to really do your research on the best affordable luxury watch for your specific circumstances.
If you don’t mind second-hand watches, Fashionphile is where you can find the best high-quality luxury watches (and other luxury products too) for a more affordable price. We’ve included a number of pre-loved entry level luxury watches for women on this list for your convenience!
Let’s get started, shall we?
The Best Entry Level Luxury Watches For Women
1. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Watch
Browse all Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watches on Fashionphile
If you’ve been researching luxury watches that hold their value, you knew we were going to start with the Rolex Datejust.
Rolex watches can retail for more than hundreds of thousands of dollars, but luckily the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Watch is way more affordable than that. You can get this beautiful watch second-hand for just $6,175, or even less if you go for the diamondless version (those can be yours for under $5,000).
We know, that’s a lot of money, but this Rolex watch is one of the most famous watches after all, and it’s a great investment piece.
The watch is made of stainless steel and 18-carat yellow gold and features a champagne dial, gold hands and Roman numeral hour markers, date indicator, sapphire crystal, two-tone jubilee bracelet, and an automatic movement. This particular Datejust watch also features diamonds on the dial, however, you can get one without them too (and save a few hundred dollars).
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
2. Cartier Tank Française
Get this at Selfridges | Pre-loved on Fashionphile
Cartier stands out from this list as the only non-Swiss brand that we’ve featured. This brand hails from Paris, and is very famous for not only its fine jewelry but also its watchmaking expertise and definitely a brand to consider for your first luxury watch.
Not only is Cartier an instantly recognizable brand, but the resale value of the Cartier Tank Francaise watch will also continue to be strong, as this watch is one of the brand’s all-time best sellers.
This luxury timepiece has signature Cartier style and is crafted of stainless steel with a square dial frame. This quartz watch features sword-shaped hands in blued steel, sapphire crystal, and a stunning steel bracelet.
This beautiful piece can be yours for around $3,500.
Get this at Selfridges
3. Longines La Grand Classique Watch
Browse all La Grande Classique watches on Macy’s
The Longines La Grande Classique Watch tops this list as the most affordable (just under $2,000!) quartz watch, making it the perfect entry level luxury watch for women. It comes with a stainless steel case and strap and is water-resistant for up to 30 meters. It is dainty and lightweight and is a good option for everyday wear.
If you’re more into gold watches, the Grande Classique Watch also comes in yellow gold and two-toned gold and silver options (gold plated, not real gold).
If you’re into adding a bit of sparkle to your wrist, the Grande Classique Watch offers that too: here is the silver version of the watch with diamond markers, and here is the gold version. Of course, be prepared to spend a few hundred extra on these beautiful additions!
4. Cartier Panthère de Cartier
Get this at Selfridges | Pre-loved on Fashionphile
Another one of Cartier’s best-selling watches to consider is the Panthère de Cartier, which retails for roughly $4,000, depending on what size you go for.
The mini watch retails for $3,350, the small for $3,950, and the medium, which is also the most popular one, goes for around $5,000. (Of course, if you want to have this watch in gold or with diamonds, the price will go up accordingly.)
The main difference between the Tank Francaise and the Panthère de Cartier watches is the style of the bracelet.
Get this at Selfridges
5. Audemars Piguet 25 mm Royal Oak Quartz Watch
Browse all Audemars Piquet 25 mm Royal Oak Quartz watches on Fashionphile
The Audemars Piguet 25 mm Royal Oak Quartz watch is a great watch whether for everyday wear or for special occasions.
The watch is crafted of 18-carat yellow gold and stainless steel and features a dark grey dial, gold hands and hour markers, sapphire crystal, and matching two-tone link bracelet, and a quartz womevent.
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
6. Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Stainless Steel Diamond Quartz Watch
Browse all Twenty-4 watches on Fashionphile
If you want something simple that can grab anyone’s attention, get this Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Stainless Steel Diamond Quartz Watch.
The watch is crafted of stainless steel and features a gray dial, silver hands with Roman numerals at 12 and 6, diamond hour markers and a diamond bezel weighing approximately .45 total carat weight, sapphire crystal, and a Swiss quartz movement.
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
7. TAG Heuer Aquaracer Watch
Browse all Aquaracer watches at Selfridges
This gorgeous TAG Heuer Aquaracer Watch is a great watch for those who want a touch of hyper-femininity on their wrist. Nothing else screams “feminine” other than subtle rose gold and diamond touches.
This version of the automatic watch comes with 11 diamonds (just wow!), rose-gold plating, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, luminescent hands and indices. Plus, it is water-resistant for up to 300 meters.
As this is a quartz TAG Heuer watch, it’s a relatively affordable entry level luxury watch for women at $2,800.
8. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer Watch
Browse all Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer watches on Fashionphile
With the price tag of $14,930, some may argue that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer is not really an entry level watch at all. However, as we mentioned, many Rolex watches sell for double, triple, even 10x the price of this watch. So, in the world of Rolex, this is definitely an entry-level watch.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer is sleek and crafted with stainless steel and 18 carat yellow gold. It features a black dial, white hour markers, sapphire crystal, the iconic oyster bracelet, and an automatic movement.
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
9. Omega Stainless Steel Seamaster Quartz Watch
Browse all Omega Seamaster watches on Fashionphile
This version of the Omega Stainless Steel Seamaster Watch features a classic look and is crafted of stainless steel and features a silver dial, silver hour markers and hands, a date display. This watch retails for just under $2,000 on Fashionphile, making it one of the most affordable watches on this list.
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
10. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watch Blue
Browse all Roley Oyster Perpetual Blue watches on Fashionphile
This is by far the cheapest Rolex on this list, with resale prices starting at just around $3,500. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watch in the color blue is built simpler than the others with stainless steel, blue dial, luminous hands, hour markers, and a smooth bezel.
For the price, you could expect this to be a quartz watch, but you’d be wrong – it’s actually an automatic movement watch.
Shop pre-loved at Fashionphile
So, have you found the best entry level luxury watch for yourself from this list? We hope you did! If you’re still looking for more luxury ideas, check the posts down below.
Get More Luxury Ideas
25 Designer Watches For Women That Are Simply Gorgeous
25 Chic Designer Apple Watch Bands For A Luxe Look
