So what features do today’s knowledgeable female consumers demand of their luxury watches?

Hong Kong collector Jaclyn Li says “aesthetics and condition, followed by the level of finishing, wearability and lastly, brand and historical importance” are what matter to her. And she is not alone in her quest to find watches whose qualities extend beyond pure design – there’s a growing crowd of female collectors whose knowledge and spending power show how far this market has come.

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Local watch communities have also sprung up to play a role in shaping the industry. Daniel Sum, the host of watch-focused podcast The Waiting List and co-founder of the Instagram account Shanghai Watch Gang, has observed that male collectors have become more receptive to women entering the hobby – an arena that had previously been a daunting prospect for would-be female collectors.

In Hong Kong, spaces like Wristcheck, founded by one of the city’s well-known watch collectors Austen Chu, has cultivated a loyal fan base, many of whom are female collectors. WristCheck has promoted the hobby by “creating a safe space so those from all walks of life can enjoy their passion for horology”.

Sum also points out that the sales figures do not paint an accurate picture of the current female watch market. With many pieces notoriously limited in availability, “brands have increasingly forced their customers to purchase undesirable stock … using female watches as part of their bundling strategy for consumers to get the super desirable pieces”.

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Two camps have emerged: those who find gender labels outdated, and others like myself and another collector, designer Yiwei (of @sugarxnspice), who feel gender labels are a social construct.

Having always admired Cartier’s timepieces, Yiwei was never disheartened by the large case sizes popular in the current market. Instead, she researched vintage references that were often produced in smaller sizes to find watches that fit her wrist. Many of these were originally made for men.

This new way of thinking carries through even into the PR and events space. Shalom Sze, a creative strategist behind many watch brand events in Hong Kong, feels that such gatherings should be created for everyone, no matter whether they are male or female: “A watch lover is a watch lover – making something more feminine might result in male collectors losing inspiration and options.”

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Others have chosen to focus less on direct marketing and more on product design. The strategy to direct effort at the product itself has been well received by more seasoned watch collectors like Li. Among many of the female collectors I have spoken to, F.P. Journe and Richard Mille have repeatedly been credited for having the best designed watches.

As the watch industry continues to explore the nuances of the female consumer’s heart, one thing is clear: the current approach to marketing to women is outdated. Players who recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion stand to benefit the most.

As Chu says, “Let’s not forget that the first wristwatch was made for a woman. So in reality, women collectors were the real OGs. Let’s bring that back, shall we?”

I couldn’t agree more.