Dress to impress, four elegant dress watches from Watches and Wonders

No outfit is complete without a fine timepiece. While chronographs and other complicated offerings have their place, there’s something to be said for the understated elegance of a dressier option. Plenty of options were on hand at Watches and Wonders, the Geneva showcase of the world’s most prestigious watches, and here are four of the most exciting.

Cartier Tank Must

The distinctive rectangle of Cartier’s Tank is universally recognised as a symbol of style and good taste, and the latest models are no exception. Standouts include the steel Tank Musts and the limited-edition yellow gold Tank Louis Cartier with an inky black devoid of any detail except for the hands and the ‘Cartier’ name. The effect is stark and refreshing and adds a monochromatic edge to the famous design. The glossy, onyx dial gives Cartier’s famous Tank — already a fashion icon — a darker, more seductive edge.

Piaget Polo Date

Steel sports watches on rubber straps rarely stray into the dressy territory, but Piaget’s Polo Date is the exception. Since the 1970s, the Polo has been defined by the sophisticated pairing of a cushion-shaped dial in a round case. Measuring 42mm across the dial and a superbly slender 9.2mm tall, this Polo Date adds an interchangeable black rubber strap into the equation. Typically, rubber brings a decidedly casual air to a watch, but the sleek finish and horizontal stripes that echo the fine guilloché lines on the dial elevate this Polo Date into a truly upscale territory.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony

Patrimony is Vacheron Constantin’s quest for circular perfection, a pure approach to the watchmaker’s art, inspired by classical designs from the 1950s. This spirit of tradition is at the heart of the Geneva Maison’s latest Patrimony models, Patrimony is Vacheron Constantin’s quest for circular perfection, a pure approach to the watchmaker’s art, inspired by classical designs from the 1950s. This spirit of tradition is at the heart of the Geneva Maison’s latest Patrimony models, but they also offer their fair share of modern flair. These self-winding models are made with women in mind and, in addition to a healthy spritz of diamonds, boast gradient dials in blue or a soft blush that gives these refined timepieces an opalescent allure.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Star

Though Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Rendez-Vous Star is dazzling in the daylight, it shines brightest at night. Reflections shine from the natural Aventurine dial, and twin rows of diamonds encircle the 36mm case. The outer set features a ‘griff’ setting, which lets in more light and reveals more diamond sparkle than other settings. The piece is completed with a romantic shooting star that gives the seductive masterpiece its name, which moves across the dial when activated. This timepiece is elegant and glamour personified.