The bigger, the better? When it comes to watches, we think not. A small watch can be a very elegant accessory and do the job just as well as a bigger one, as the following list proves. They tell time, look great on your wrist and show that size doesn't matter when it comes to sheer luxury. Read on as we bring you 5 of the smallest watches in the world...
5. Longines Mini
"Watchmaking becomes jewellery” was the phrase coined by Longines to describe their Longines Mini. And they were right. This 16mm diameter watch is elegant and decorative in the fabulous way only jewellery can be. The white mother-of-pearl dial is surrounded by tiny diamonds and the leather strap comes in different colours. The Longines Mini watch, just a few years old, is driven by a L298.2 quartz movement and perfectly shows how the trend has moved from 'big, bigger, biggest' to 'small is beautiful'.
4. Chajka USSR
The brand Chajka - meaning 'seagull' - from the Soviet Union and Russia started producing precision watches in 1940. Based north of Moscow, on the banks of the river Volga, Chajka specialises in decorated ladies' watches. These watches are adorned with jewels and with a 16mm watch face these beauties look perfectly dainty on any wrist.
3. Hermès Faubourg
We are in love with this Faubourg diamond-set yellow-gold watch from Hermès! With a 15.5mm diameter watch face, this is a very stunning, if small, piece of jewellery. But it comes at a price as it is set with 44 diamonds. It has a diamond-set lacquered dial driven by a quartz movement made in Switzerland, where of course many of the best watches originate!
2. Gucci G-frame
Measuring 14 by 18mm, this rectangular watch face is even smaller than the width of the Hermès Faubourg. The Gucci G-frame has a smaller face and a smaller price tag, but then again it isn’t covered in diamonds and it isn’t made of gold. It is very unique and elegant however - the perfect pocket sized accessory. Pyramidal sapphire crystal creates a beautiful lighting effect and the decorative strap wraps around the wrist twice.
1. Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101
This is the world’s smallest mechanical watch movement, and is almost 90 years old. The Jeager-LeCoultre Calibre 101 measures 14mm in length, 4.8mm wide and 3.4mm thick. It contains 98 parts and weighs only 1 gram! It has a tiny little watch movement that has to be manually wound and is handcrafted with the greatest precision - only a few watchmakers have mastered the skills required to make this movement. This precision work takes time too, which is why it is estimated Jaeger-LeCoultre have only have about 2,000 since production began in 1929. One thing is for sure: you need a good pair of eyes to tell time with it!
If you're looking for a small watch to elegantly decorate your wrist, take a look at our Vintage Watch auction and see if it's your time to bid. If you have a watch you would like to put up for auction we are happy to help too; you can register as a seller and start offering up your watch for auction in no time.