Can the Swiss watch industry create complex timepieces for women?

Fashion is increasingly distancing itself from gender stereotypes and obscuring the line between male and female. Swiss watchmakers too are having to choose whether or not to maintain the traditional division between men’s and women’s styles. “A watch for Sylvester Stallone wouldn’t do for Audrey Hepburn,” says designer Bruno Bellamich, co-founder of the brand Bell & Ross. “Not because of some male or female fashion ideal, but simply because of the difference in wrist sizes of these two American stars.” Bellamich, however, is not taking into account the resistance that has accompanied all fashion revolutions. Think of Coco Chanel, who used to borrow items from the male wardrobe and didn’t like small watches for women. Of course, in Coco Chanel’s day, men’s watches were of the size of women’s timepieces now. As for Stallone, these days he would have to content himself with a smaller model. The extra-large timepieces that were fashionable in the 2000s have disappeared. The trend is ...