In the last few years, we’ve seen a renaissance of oversized, baggy, and very noticeable accessories. But there’s one fashion staple that seems to be getting tinier and tinier (and a little inconspicuous). Small watches are taking over and it’s something our favorite celebrities and artists are wearing, too.
Wristwatches and pocket watches developed in the accessory space out of necessity. They were worn to tell time. Skip to the ’90s and early 2000s and we saw them become oversized on stars like Flavor Flav (and his giant chain watch) and Paris Hilton (and her oversized bedazzled watches)—signs of glamour maximalism that was standard of the times. But then the cell phone came around and changed everything.
In the digital age, watches were rendered obsolete from a purely timekeeping standpoint. With iPhones and Androids in our hands, most people look to their phone for the time. So watches became less in the mix, from a fashion trend standpoint. But they’ve made their wave back in in a new form. “People are wearing watches and they’re purely a luxury accessory,” Brynn Wallner of Dimepiece tells Cosmo. “A lot of people I know don’t even set their watch; they just wear it as kind of a bracelet.”
But tiny watches are the rising star right now. “Because watches are new again and people are just rediscovering them, especially young women, they’re gravitating to smaller watches because they’re easier to wear,” Wallner says. “You don’t need the statement of a big watch because wearing a watch itself is becoming a statement again. Smaller watches feel more proportionally logical, and they’re easier to wear, easier to stack. You can wear them for night and day—they get you through so many different looks. Whereas the bigger watches are harder to pull off.”
Because we’re wearing watches for style purposes, we’re seeing an influx of ultra-tiny wristwatches, ring watches, and pocket watches worn on belt loops. The choices are endless. And we found 21 people who understand why the tiny watch era is here.
Bronwyn Newport, 40
Occupation: Fashion historian and Bravo personality
Social handle: @bronwynnewport
Three words to define my personal style: Eclectic, colorful, maximalist.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: I love a tiny watch! I love tiny handbags, too, and tiny watches give the same vibe. It makes you take a closer look and want to know more. Most great vintage and jewelry-forward watches are tiny. I love that they add proportion and a delicate curve to whatever I’m wearing. A tiny watch also always feels elevated and more formal.
The most I’ve spent on a watch: I once bought my ex-husband a very rare watch for a big celebration that was high six figures! I’ve never felt so nervous carrying that bag home!
Sandy Liang, 35
Occupation: Fashion designer
Social handle: @sandyliang
Three words to define my personal style: Comfy, moody, girl.
My style inspiration: Depending on my mood, sometimes a fictional character from a movie or a person walking down the street, a photo of myself from a few years ago, or Princess Diana.
Why tiny watches are better: Because they’re dainty and cute.
The story behind my watch: I asked my friend to help source it and I didn’t expect to get one so small. I don’t even know how to adjust the time because there isn’t a dial—isn't that precious?
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated.
Brynn Wallner, 36
Occupation: Journalist and founder of Dimepiece
Social handle: @brynnwallner @dimepiece.co
Three words to define my personal style: Preppy meets sk8rgirl.
My first tiny watch purchase: The small steel Cartier Tank Française, my first luxury watch, a gift for myself one year into Dimepiece.
What made me get into tiny watches: When I first started reporting on watches, no one cared about tiny watches. I became a cheerleader for them, highlighting them on social media and even writing “In Defense of Small Watches” for Harper’s Bazaar. Obviously, they don’t need defending anymore, but my work is not done here....I won’t stop until watch brands continue intentionally designing smaller watches for women.
Maiya the Don, 24
Occupation: Rapper
Social handle: @maiyathedonn
Three words to define my personal style: Bold, chic, expressive.
What I’m reading this summer: I’m a Black-romance girlie. I’m going Kennedy Ryan, Natasha Bishop, J.L. Seegars, and Jahquel J.
What made me get into tiny watches: The fact that I think big faces are obnoxious (derogatory).
Chris Brickley
Occupation: Basketball skills trainer
Social handle: @cbrickley603
Three words to define my personal style: Unique, original, different.
What I’m reading this summer: Abloh-isms by Virgil Abloh.
My style inspiration: Kurt Cobain. He was often photographed wearing smaller, understated watches and I always appreciated how effortless they looked, which made me gravitate toward that style myself.
What was your first tiny watch purchase?: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Date.
The story behind my watch: As a basketball trainer, I try to stay ahead the same way I do with drills — paying attention to what's next, in fashion too. That's what drew me to this piece. I especially like this watch and the green dial because it elevates an outfit without overpowering it, I can wear it just as easily with gym clothes as I can with a suit.
Julia Azeroual, 32
Occupation: Watch dealer
Social handle: @watchbyjuls
Three words to define my personal style: Edgy, elegant, strong.
What made me get into tiny watches: Tiny watches are timeless! I got into them because they are the pieces in the collection that most feel like a jewelry piece. When a woman is wearing a tiny watch, it looks very stylish because it signals she curated her collection to different watch sizes.
My thoughts on stacking watches: Occasionally, I stack two watches. It depends on the situation and your style! Last time I stacked watches was back in Vegas. We were there for watch shows and went out at night. I stacked two Piaget: one yellow gold and one white gold with diamonds.
JohnAnthony Rodriguez, 25
Occupation: Musician/artist
Social handle: @54ultra
Three words to define my personal style: Vintage, creative, flattery.
My style inspiration: The Jacksons, Héctor Lavoe, Diana Ross, John Travolta, Al Pacino, and old photos of my family members.
My first tiny watch purchase: A 1949 Bulova His Excellency or a 1980s Cartier Santos.
The most I’ve spent on a watch: About $17,000 for my 1959 Rolex.
A watch moment that’s stuck with me: Tony Montana’s watch in Scarface is iconic. And the Rolex Daytona that was popularized by Paul Newman.
Morgan Maher, 30
Occupation: Photographer
Social handle: @morgan.maher
Three words to define my personal style: Short, soft, sweet.
My style inspiration: Courtney Love.
What I’m reading this summer: The Secret of Life by Elizabeth Wurtzel.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: I love that it feels like a bracelet.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: Shelly Johnson’s watch in Twin Peaks.
Emilia Petrarca, 34
Occupation: Freelance writer
Social handle: @emiliapetrarca
Three words to define my personal style: Uptight but goofy.
The story behind my watch: It belonged to my grandmother on my mom’s side. There’s no branding on it that I can discern, but she was a very formal woman, who, I’m told, drank a martini most nights (those were the days), and I like to channel her when I wear it. I sit up a little straighter.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: No one did it like Flavor Flav.
Serena Morris, 32
Occupation: Content creator and culture curator
Social handle: @shes__underrated
Three words to define my personal style: Crazy, sexy, cool.
Craziest place I’ve seen someone wear a watch: Rihanna wearing a $400,000 Jacob & Co. watch on her ankle. Absolutely legendary. A diva move. The kind of fashion choice that only Rihanna would come up with.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: Amalita Amalfi in season 1 of Sex and the City. After Carrie gets her credit card cut up in a Dolce & Gabbana store, Amalita swoops in wearing her Rolex Datejust and saves the day. A truly glamorous woman who is always right on time.
Trang Trinh, 28
Occupation: Founder, GIRLSOCLOCK
Social handle: @_girlsoclock
Three words to define my personal style: Simple yet subversive.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: Who doesn’t love cute, tiny things?
The story behind my watch: This watch was a birthday gift from an ex. We don’t speak anymore, but nothing that’s ended is owed forgetting. I’ll always love wearing what my exes have given me. Right after the breakup, I took it off to do dishes and, mid-tidying-frenzy, tossed it down the garbage chute. I noticed the next day, called my mom, and we spent an afternoon elbow-deep in strangers’ trash. By some impossible luck, we found it.
Cara Barrett, 40
Occupation: Founder of Parchie and former Hodinkee editor
Social handle: @its.cara.time
Three words to define my personal style: Classic American, European twist.
My watch style—a one-watch person or a watches-in-rotation person: No way one watch, for the same reason I’m not a “one slice of pizza” gal either.
Craziest place I’ve seen someone wear a watch: The neck. I’m a diehard Swiftie, but I can’t get behind that choker.
Olivier Rogers, 35
Occupation: Designer
Social handle: @Olivier
Three words to define my personal style: Simple, classic, uniform.
My style inspiration: Martin Lawrence.
The most I’ve ever spent on a watch: $17,000.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: LeBron James’s blue Audemars Piguet watch.
Amalia Yoo, 24
Occupation: Actor
Social handle: @amaliayoo
My style inspiration: My best friend Hannah and women in Éric Rohmer films.
The story behind my watch: When my mom and dad got married, my grandparents got them matching Cartier watches and this is my mom’s that she lets me borrow. It has a sapphire on the crown, which I love.
What made me get into tiny watches: My grandma wears this beautiful tiny Tiffany & Co. watch with a black satin band and I’m in love with it.
Mina Hasan, 24
Occupation: Founder of The Kismet Reserve
Social handle: @minahasan
Three words to define my personal style: Simple, timeless, chic.
What I’m reading this summer: Lena Dunham’s Famesick
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: They blend the worlds of jewelry and watches in one. I also think that smaller watches are a sign of them finally being accessible and open to women.
Elias Marte, 36
Occupation: Vintage watch dealer and organizer at Alfargo’s Marketplace
Social handle: @Staycrispymyfriends
Three words to define my personal style: Well-dressed papi.
What I’m reading this summer: You Deserve to Be Rich by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: Small wrists mean smaller watches work better for me anyway, but I’ve come around to loving the size—it disappears under my sleeves instead of announcing itself. Smaller movements are more interesting, and on a leather band it reads as a subtle flex, one that flies over most people’s heads. I’m glad people are finally getting over the dick-measuring contest of “bigger is better.”
Yvanna Bollanga, 24
Occupation: Host, model, influencer
Social handle: @yvannabollanga
Three words to define my personal style: Classic, minimalistic, feminine.
What I’m reading this summer: Women, Culture & Politics by Angela Davis.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: Personally, I’m not a big jewelry wearer. For me, a tiny watch has always been a staple because it’s a barely there statement piece. They feel more refined and intentional.
Mojdeh Cutter, 33
Occupation: Director of partnerships & TimeForArt at the Swiss Institute
Social handle: @notmyrodeo
Three words to define my personal style: Girlie ex-goth.
The story behind my watch: I’ve been fawning over it ever since I was a little girl. My mom would occasionally pull it out of the safe for special occasions, and I would impatiently wait by her side to see it.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: Rafael Nadal winning tennis tournaments wearing his Richard Mille.
Lynette Nylander, 36
Occupation: Executive digital director, Harper’s Bazaar
Social handle: @lynettesaid
Three words to define my personal style: Eclectic, uptown, and downtown.
The story behind my watch: I bought this vintage Cartier Centure for my birthday from Gallerie Parisienne in Paris. My friend Lauren Rodriguez Hall consulted me over FaceTime.
A pop culture watch moment that’s always stuck with me: That Cameron Diaz film where she wants to go out with the heir of Jaeger-LeCoultre. [Editor’s note: That movie was ‘Bad Teacher.’]
Ryder Kramer, 27
Occupation: Tailoring at J.Mueser
Social handle: @ryderkramer
Three words to define my personal style: Consistent, clean, and stiff.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: Subtle is sexy.
My watch style—a one watch person or a watches in rotation person: I like the principle of having one but prefer the idea of changing them like a pair of underwear.
Christina Holevas, 35
Occupation: Writer, editor, stylist
Social handle: @christina_holevas
Three words to define my personal style: Wore it already.
Why tiny watches are better than regular watches right now: They’re more subtle. They enhance, rather than overpower, an outfit.
The story behind my watch: Randi from For Future Reference sources the best vintage watches that I feel lucky to borrow. What girl would say no to a tiny 70s Omega with an opal dial and diamonds.
Craziest place I’ve seen someone wear a watch: I love watches dangling from trouser belt loops.
Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).
