The Return of '90s Watches to the Wrist

"Back in the '90s, having survived the quartz crisis, which saw affordable electronic watches from Japan decimate the market for mechanical watchmaking, the Swiss watch industry was back on its feet. And no brand more so than Omega, which became a leading figure in the watchmaking revival. On the wrist of megawatt signing Cindy Crawford, Omega reinvented the women's watch as a quotidian luxury instead of a cocktail trinket."

"Enter the dainty yet high-glam two-tone Omega Constellation, which, as the adverts featuring Crawford trumpeted, was her choice. It's now also the choice of her daughter, fellow Omega ambassador Kaia Gerber, who is following in her mother's footsteps with eerie symmetry. With its diamond and mother-of-pearl combination, the Constellation, like the other pieces here, blends femininity with craft and versatility; all can slip seamlessly from day to night."

"Back in 1986, the Première was Chanel's first foray into watchmaking, inspired - like the No 5 perfume bottle stopper - by the aerial view of Place Vendôme. But, as hinted by the elegant braided bracelet of the new Chanel Première Galon, the '90s was when this Concorde-worthy status symbol really took flight, worn with matching 11.12 quilted purse and rose-red lipstick."

Following the quartz crisis, the Swiss watch industry revived in the 1990s with renewed focus on mechanical luxury. Omega led the revival, repositioning women's watches as everyday luxury through high-glam two-tone Constellation models worn by Cindy Crawford and now Kaia Gerber. The Constellation combines diamonds and mother-of-pearl to blend femininity with craft and day-to-night versatility. Cartier relaunched the Baignoire, drawing on its 1912 origins and 1990s couture resonance. Chanel's Première, inspired by Place Vendôme and relaunched with a braided galon bracelet, reasserted its status-symbol appeal when paired with quilted accessories and signature red lipstick.

Read at Elite Traveler