The Tiny Watch Is the New Big Thing
Hailey Bieber wore an Audemars Piguet tiny watch to the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Y2K style may have returned with a vengeance, but there’s one look from the era that isn’t likely to make a comeback anytime soon: the oversized watch. Big timepieces have officially been replaced with the dainty, tiny watch that blurs the line between a watch and a bracelet – and that’s kind of the whole point in the age of the intentionally curated wrist stack.
“Lately, I’ve seen a number of tiny heirloom watches in my studio,” says Kate Rose, designer and founder of Kate Rose Fine Jewelry. “Gen Z is buying these tiny watches because of how they stack. A larger, chunkier 42mm face will consume all of your wrist real estate, whereas a 22 or 26mm becomes part of your stack.”
Style icons like Olivia Rodrigo and Timothée Chalamet have been sporting petite watches with gusto, proving that the mini watch is having a major moment. Luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has been fueling the craze with the coveted 23mm Royal Oak Mini, which has become a celebrity favorite since its 2024 release.
Meet the Experts
Kate Rose is the designer and founder behind Kate Rose Fine Jewelry, reimagining inherited jewelry as modern heirlooms. A former psychology teacher, she founded the studio after uniting four generations of her family’s diamonds into a single necklace — and finding no one in the mainstream industry she could trust to do it with care.
Aaron Weisman is a watch collector and the founder of Arrows Vintage Watches in New York City. He became a watch dealer to create a trusted space for people who love authentic vintage watches the way he does – not just for their mechanics, but for their quirks and nostalgia. He curates serviced vintage watches that toe the line between stylish and affordable, specializing in pieces that wear their history proudly but still feel fresh.
But the appeal of the tiny watch is timeless, especially when natural diamonds are incorporated into the mix. Whether you’re a watch aficionado or looking to buy your first special timepiece, here’s what you need to know about the tiny diamond watch revival.
Dakota Fanning Makes the Case for Going Tiny
This summer, actress Dakota Fanning appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City, promoting her new film The Sun Never Sets. Styled by Samantha McMillen, Fanning wore a butter yellow corseted dress along with a tiny watch with a big impact. She sported the small model of an 18-karat rose gold Baignoire de Cartier watch, set with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Hailey Bieber Takes the Tiny Watch Off-Duty
Hailey Bieber has an impressive tiny watch collection, with a penchant for unique vintage treasures. She was spotted wearing a rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Vintage Lady yellow gold timepiece with a diamond-set bezel on a New York sidewalk, proving that off-duty diamond watches are oh-so-wearable.
Trang Trinh Has the Holy Grail of Tiny Watches
Trang Trinh, founder of GIRLSOCLOCK, showed off what one Instagram commenter called the “holy grail of tiny watches” – one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s teeny but dazzling tennis bracelet diamond watches, made with the luxury house’s Calibre 101, the smallest mechanical watch movement ever made.
Savina Chow Keeps Her Cartier on the Quiet Side
Influencer Savina Chow showed off a diamond-encrusted Cartier Tank on Instagram, which she wore on its own and paired with a simple ring and clean mani, showcasing the understated elegance of a classic, sleek watch with just the right touch of sparkle.
Why Everyone Suddenly Wants a Tiny Watch
Tiny watches, which are often under 30mm, aren’t new – before big and bold designs became status symbols in the 2000s, wristwatches had more delicate proportions.
In fact, Cartier has long led the way with iconic, daintier styles like the Baignoire and Tank, which have been loved by collectors for decades and come in iterations dripping in diamonds for those looking for maximum sparkle.
Vintage-Inspired, Stackable, and Understated
Now, as the interest in vintage and pre-owned jewelry grows among young buyers looking for narrative-rich, unique finds, old-school silhouettes are back – and they also happen to be deliciously stackable, a big plus for those looking to layer pieces.
“There is a lot of data online that says vintage everything is popular, and this includes watches. Vintage watches typically lean smaller, which is something of a perfect storm in terms of the [daintier] jewelry that’s also popular at the moment. This goes for both men and women,” notes Aaron Weisman, founder of Arrows Vintage Watches.
Wearing a watch that looks like it came straight from your (very chic) grandma’s jewelry box earns you serious style points these days. It also fits the quiet luxury mood, lending an understated, IYKYK quality to a look.
Smartwatch Fatigue Is Real
Beyond aesthetics, some people may be choosing to ditch their smartwatches in an effort to combat digital fatigue – 81% of Gen Zers wish it were easier to disconnect from devices, according to a study conducted by The Harris Poll and Quad. While embracing “flip phone summer” to avoid being chained to technology may feel like a stretch, a small diamond watch offers an enticing analog timekeeping alternative.
A Meaningful Purchase
When Gen Z consumers buy luxury goods, they tend to care more about the way an item feels than how much it costs, according to a survey conducted by Dotdash Meredith and Ipsos. They may invest in fine jewelry or a watch to celebrate an accomplishment – think buying yourself a graduation gift. A tiny diamond watch is about as meaningful as it gets, as it combines the symbolism of natural diamonds with the enduring appeal of a timepiece as a treasured gift.
Why Natural Diamonds Effortlessly Elevate the Tiny Watch
Tiny watches can become heirlooms that transcend time. What makes one stand out and outlast trends? Craftsmanship, for one. The addition of natural diamonds takes it to the next level in terms of luxury.
With a mini watch, it’s all about the details. As Weisman puts it, diamonds “add a bit of extra sauce, the ‘flex’ aspect.” Diamond hour markers? Subtle and elegant. A diamond bezel? A little more eye-grabbing. A full pavé diamond dial or wristband? Impossible to miss, but still seamless enough to transition from day to night.
“A plain metal watch will not take you from day to evening like a glitzy little timepiece. A tiny watch with a diamond face reads as more versatile and paradoxically less fussy since there’s no need to change it out for different events,” notes Rose, who adds that diamonds bring light to a tiny watch design.
“A well-cut natural diamond returns light in about 100 directions. Even in a dimly lit restaurant, it can hold its own,” she adds. That’s exactly why a tiny diamond watch can anchor a wrist stack seamlessly, just as much as it can be worn as a statement piece.
Shop Tiny Diamond Watches
CHANEL PREMIÈRE RIBBON WATCH, $11,900, chanel.com
GRAFF Spiral Watch DIAMOND DIAL, WHITE GOLD, BLACK SATIN STRAP, $34,700, graff.com
1930’s Art Deco Audemars Piguet Transitional Diamond Bangle Watch 14k: Platinum $12,500, 1stdibs.com
Hermès Heure H watch, Mini model, 21 mm, Price Upon Request, hermes.com
Cartier Tank Américaine Watch, $65,000, therealreal.com
Cartier Tank Louis 16.5mm, 18K White Gold Case, Alligator Leather Strap, $21,200, watchesofswitzerland.com
Vintage 1990s Audemars Piguet 18K WG Diamond Dial Emerald Indices Quartz 20mm, $36,000, 1stdibs.com
Tiffany & Co. Art Deco 2-Hand 15.8 x 49 mm Watch, $33,000, tiffany.com
Longines Art Deco Ladies Platinum & Diamond Bracelet Watch Circa 1920, $6,747.58, 1stdibs.com
