by Ian Skellern

The last few years have seen a slow but steady increase in the number of ladies’ watches with both serious artistically decorated dials and cases and high-quality mechanical movements.

Here we highlight just five stunning examples, which caught our eyes from Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Bulgari, Breguet and Delaneau.

Patek Philippe with moon phase display, small seconds and mother-of-pearl dial

This elegant model from Patek Philippe features 273 graduated diamonds (weighing approximately 2.12 carats) set in a spiral pattern around the bezel.  Central hours and minutes are complemented by small seconds and a moon phase indication all set on a mother-of-pearl dial. www.patek.com/contents/default/en/4968G_010

Delaneau high-fire enamel seahorse and coral dial

When it comes to artistic ladies’ watches, Delaneau is in a class of its own, enamel being the Geneva-based brand’s specialty. This beautiful high-fire enamel seahorse floats in a blue sea off a bank of colorful coral, all framed by a diamond-set bezel. www.delaneauwatch.com

Bulgari Berries model featuring a tourbillon and jumping hours

This Bulgari Berries model features a tourbillon and jumping hours surrounded by scintillating brilliant-cut diamonds and eye-catching emeralds that are complemented by a green strap. www.bulgari.com/

Breguet Reine de Naples Jour et Nuit Haute Joaillerie

The Breguet Reine de Naples was already one of the world’s most distinctive ladies’ watches and now Breguet has raised the bar even higher with this Jour et Nuit (Day and Night) model. A blue lapis lazuli disk is set into a diamond-sprinkled dial, while 131 baguette-cut diamonds frame it around bezel. www.breguet.com/en/8998BB-11-874-D00D

Blancpain Lady with off-center hours, minutes and fascinating retrograde seconds

There is something magical about the blend of diamonds and mother-of-pearl, and this Blancpain highlights the combination to perfection. Off-centered hours and minutes are separated from the retrograde seconds by a wave of diamonds with even more sparklers set in a spiral around the bezel. An automatic winding rotor in the shape of five petals adds icing to the cake. www.blancpain.com/en/taxonomy/term/265/mosaic