A stripped-back elegance defines these timeless watch designs

Watches from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex and more speak to universal design codes

watches
Left, Cadenas 18k yellow gold watch, price on request, available Van Cleef & Arpels. Right, Seamaster Milano Cortina watch in Moonshine Gold on alligator, £18,200, available Omega
(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

What is good watch design? A careful consideration of proportion, effortless balance between form and function and distinctive design codes are all key, but for a watch to become a timeless choice it must also embody a joyfulness, making it a pleasure to both look at and wear.

watches

RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon in Gold Carbon TPT, price on request, by Richard Mille

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

Watch brands including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Richard Mille, Omega, Rolex, IWC, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Tag Heuer and Longines have mastered this spirit of pleasure. Uncluttered dials, curves in precious metals and sharply drawn movements won't go out of style, making these watches a timeless choice.

watches

Clair de Rose watch with blue dial, £2,340, available Tudor

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Ultra-Chron Carbon watch, £4,550, available Longines

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Carrera Day-Date watch with black opaline dial, £3,850, available Tag Heuer

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Carrera Day-Date watch with black opaline dial, £3,850, available Tag Heuer

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch with chocolate dial, £12,550, by Rolex

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41, £22,400, available IWC Schaffhausen

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Panthère de Cartier 18k yellow gold watch, £28,700, available Cartier

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon in Gold Carbon TPT, price on request, by Richard Mille

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Clair de Rose watch with blue dial, £2,340, available Tudor

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Panthère de Cartier 18k yellow gold watch, £28,700, available Cartier

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

watches

Calatrava 5227G white gold watch, £35,730, by Patek Philippe

(Image credit: Photography: Tais Sirote. Watches: Hannah Silver. Concept: Sylvia Pérez. Set stylist: Henry Hawksworth. Digi tech: James Bryant. Lighting assistants: Chloe Yates, Sara Kompa)

A version of this article appears in the May 2025 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print on newsstands from 3 April, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.