Bangle Watches Make a Chic Comeback: From Cartier to Chanel, Icons Embrace the Trend

The resurgence of the bangle watch is making waves in the fashion world, with style icons like Kendall Jenner and Elle Fanning leading the charge. Jenner has been a long-time admirer of Cartier's Baignoire, frequently seen sporting the timepiece at high-profile events, including the Venice Film Festival. Similarly, Fanning showcased the Baignoire with various outfits at Cannes. The Baignoire, a distinctive piece that merges jewelry with horology, features an oval dial on a rigid bracelet, diverging from traditional strap designs. This trend signals a broader shift away from the decade-long dominance of sports watches towards timepieces that function as statement jewelry.

Cartier revived the Baignoire in 2023, drawing attention to its iconic design that first appeared as the Ovale Cintré in 1958 and was officially named Baignoire in 1973. The updated model retains its signature curves and sapphire-set crown, embodying Cartier's approach to watchmaking with a jeweler's sensibility. The revived Baignoire has since been released with various embellishments, including playful polka dots, classic pavé diamonds, and most recently, the intricate Clou de Paris motif, a pattern deeply rooted in Cartier's design history since the 1920s.

The concept of bangle and cuff watches is not new, with watchmakers extensively producing them in the 1960s and 1970s. Piaget offered models with ornamental stone dials and elaborate gold bracelets, while Georg Jensen in Denmark introduced a minimalist silver interpretation in 1969 by Vivianna Torun, which remains a staple of the brand. Today, this form is being reinterpreted by contemporary watchmakers. Van Cleef & Arpels introduced the Toi et Moi secret watch in 2024, blending French jewelry artistry with Swiss watchmaking, featuring the brand's signature Perlée gold beading. Subsequent versions in 2025 incorporated diamonds, turquoise, and rose gold with jasper stones.

Bvlgari's 2026 update to its Serpenti Aeterna showcases a sleek open bangle, an evolution of its iconic snake motif, now adorned with 122 multi-colored gemstones. Chaumet's Joséphine Aigrette watch offers the illusion of an open bangle with its pear-shaped case, available in a striking rose gold and steel two-tone design. Chanel has revisited its 1987 Première watch, whose octagonal case echoed the N°5 perfume bottle stopper and the geometry of Place Vendôme. The latest iteration, the Première Galon, draws inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel's tailoring, transforming braided trim details into a sculptural gold bracelet, available in polished or diamond-set white or yellow gold.

Gucci is also embracing the bangle watch concept with its Play watch, a revival of an 1980s design that includes six interchangeable ceramic bezels for customizable style. The house has also revisited its iconic bamboo motif, originally introduced in the 1940s and translated into watch bracelets in 2017. While not strictly a bangle, the Bamboo collection's rigid upper section secured by a bracelet fastening offers a similar aesthetic.

Piaget, a house renowned for its exploration of the intersection between watchmaking and jewelry, has a rich history with bangle watches. Starting in 1963, Piaget utilized colorful ornamental stones for dials and became known for its solid gold cuffs in the 1960s and 1970s. The Décor Palace technique reappears on the Sixtie, a modern interpretation of the 1970s cuff watch, featuring an opal center and diamond detailing. Newer versions incorporate engraved textures and opal or enamel dials, drawing from Piaget’s heritage of sculptural gold cuffs.

These contemporary bangle watches highlight a significant shift in women's watchmaking, positioning timepieces as versatile accessories that complement a jewelry wardrobe. Their elegant design and smaller dials make them particularly suitable for evening wear, offering a sophisticated alternative to sports watches. As consumers increasingly seek functional alternatives like smartwatches, the desirability of mechanical and quartz timepieces as objects of art and adornment becomes paramount. The current revival of the bangle watch suggests that watchmakers are increasingly viewing the wrist as a canvas for both horology and high jewelry.