The Royal Family has been a style icon for centuries. Throughout the decades, generations of people have turned to the Queen and her family for inspiration. The Royal Family have had a lot of influence on the fashion industry, especially when it comes to weddings and accessories. The watches worn by the Royal Family are frequently talked about and are greatly desired by many. Jewellery and timepieces are the ultimate statements in any outfit, and the Royal Family certainly use this to their advantage. The Royals wear a great variety of timepieces, but many of them are far out of most people’s budget. Today, we will offer some more affordable and accessible alternatives for the most iconic watches worn by the Royal Family.
The Watches Worn by the Royal Family
The Queen
As the head of the Royal Family and the head of state, the Queen is often seen to be an ultimate style icon. She is often seen sporting bold and vibrant colours that are lavishly accessorised with gemstone-set brooches and paired with one of her many watches. Many female watch enthusiasts admire and envy Queen Elizabeth II’s impressive wristwatch collection for its variety and sheer size. One of the most iconic timepieces that the Queen has worn is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101. She wore this particular watch on her coronation day. Innovative for its time, this model is still believed to have the world’s smallest mechanical movement.
Michel Herbelin Art Deco | Women’s Stainless Steel Bracelet | White Dial | 17438/22B
We have selected this Michel Herbelin model as a lookalike for the Jaeger-LeCoultre watch due to its impressively small size. Although this watch is not quite so extravagant as the Queen’s timepiece, this one is certainly more wearable and affordable. The watch features a white dial that is detailed with small black Arabic hour markers. A stainless steel case houses the quartz movement that powers the watch. The case of this model measures just 18.8mm in width, creating a flattering appearance on the wrist. The dainty size of this timepiece will allow it to become a much loved and very versatile model in anyone’s collection. The watch is secured on the wrist using a traditional stainless steel bracelet.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
The Prince of Wales has inherited his mother’s love of luxury timepieces. He has a collection that includes big names in the industry such as Patek Philippe, Cartier and Parmigiani Fleurier. However, it is a Hamilton watch that stands out amongst the others in this collection. Prince Charles was given a Hamilton RAF Pilot’s Chronograph watch in the early 1970s when he was training as a jet pilot. The model was a special edition that was designed for RAF pilots. The Prince has proudly worn this watch since. Hamilton still produces similar timepieces, so the Prince’s iconic style can be easily emulated.
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chrono H76409530
Although the Prince of Wales’ exact watch cannot be purchased, this is certainly a close match. The watch exhibits a distinctive pilot’s watch design with two bold sub-dials positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock on the dial. The black dial is detailed with luminous hands and hour markers, ensuring that it can be read in all kinds of lighting conditions. This feature is incredibly important the pilots, as they depend greatly on their timepieces. A stainless steel case houses the automatic movement that powers this watch. This movement gives the watch up to 60 hours of power reserve, making it reliable. For a distinctive pilot’s watch aesthetic, this watch is finished with a brown leather strap that will remain comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
The Duke of Cambridge’s watch collection is not nearly as expansive as his father’s or grandmother’s. In fact, he is often seen wearing the same watch time and time again. Prince William’s favourite timepiece seems to be the Omega Seamaster Professional. It is believed that he was gifted this watch by his mother, Princess Diana. The Prince has worn this timepiece since his youth and even sported it on his wedding day. This timepiece is practical and elegant with a truly iconic design.
Certina DS ACTION DIVER | 43MM | POWERMATIC 80 | BLUE C0326071104100
The blue dial of this Certina model is certainly reminiscent of that of the Duke of Cambridge’s favourite watch. However, the price point of this model is considerably lower despite still being a luxury watch. The blue dial is detailed with luminous hands and hour markers alongside a date aperture to keep the wearer in perfect time. A blue ceramic bezel frames the dial and a stainless steel case surrounds it. Antireflective sapphire crystal protects the dial, allowing the time to be read even under bright light. This model is equipped with Certina’s DS Concept. This means that there is a good level of shock resistance as well as increased robustness and longevity. The watch is finished with a stainless steel bracelet.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Much like his brother, the Duke of Sussex seems to have very few watches that he wears on rotation. His most frequently worn timepiece appears to be the Rolex Explorer II. Prince Harry owns a special edition of this timepiece that he was given to his Apache attack helicopter regiment. This watch will be incredibly meaningful to the Duke as it represents the time he spent in this regiment with his colleagues. Rolex watches are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain for many, whether that is due to rising prices or increased rarity. However, there are some good options that are significantly more affordable and attainable but do not sacrifice quality.
Tissot Seastar 1000 | 36mm | White Dial | Stainless Steel T1202101101100
The Tissot Seastar 100 has a fairly similar appearance to the Rolex Explorer II and is built with many of the same qualities. This specific model is provided with two straps. The stainless steel bracelet can be worn for many occasions and is the perfect accessory when trying to emulate Prince Harry’s style. It can be swapped for the white silicone strap went the watch is worn for sporting and swimming. The watch is water-resistant up to 300 metres, so can be worn for most water-based activities. The watch has a clean white dial with luminous detailing and a date aperture. It is surrounded by a rotating bezel that makes this timepiece an excellent diving companion. The quartz movement is housed within a robust stainless steel case. The case measures 36mm in diameter to ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist.
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge appears to only ever wear one wristwatch. No one can blame her when that watch is the Cartier Ballon Bleu. This stunning timepiece perfectly complements Kate Middleton’s engagement ring with its eye-catching blue detailing. The neutral tones of this timepiece allow the watch to be worn with every outfit that the Duchess wears to any occasion. This watch is believed to have been gifted to the Duchess by her husband, Prince William. This makes the watch a very sentimental piece for the Duchess that is sure to be treasured for years to come.
Tissot Bellissima | Automatic | Stainless Steel | T1262071101300
This Tissot Bellissima watch is just as beautiful as the Cartier Ballon Bleu. The watches share many similarities, making it easy to accessorise just like the Duchess whilst wearing this timepiece. The watch exhibits a silver dial that is decorated with black Roman numeral indices. Blue hour, minute and second hands are set at the centre of the dial, just like those of the Cartier model. The watch is powered by a quartz movement that is housed within a stainless steel case. This case measures a dainty 29mm in diameter, creating a flattering fit on any woman’s wrist. The crown of this watch is detailed with a blue insert to perfectly complement the blue tone of the hands. This model is secured using a stainless steel bracelet.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex
The Duchess of Sussex is also a fan of Cartier, just like her sister-in-law. She owns two Cartier watches, one the Tank and the other the Tank Francaise. Meghan Markle gifted the Tank to herself upon the renewal of a television show she starred in. The Tank Francaise previously belonged to Princess Diana. The watch was inherited by Prince Harry and subsequently gifted to his wife. Both of the Cartier watches hold great sentimental meaning for the Duchess and will be equally treasured. Meghan Markle is rarely seen without one of these timepieces on her wrist, making them a must-have accessory for those who admire her chic and classic fashion sense.
Michel Herbelin Art Deco Women’s Two Tone Watch 17478/T08B2T
If the Cartier Tank is out of your price range, this Michel Herbelin watch may be slightly more budget-friendly. The watch exhibits the same distinctive rectangular case shape and two-tone colour palette as the Cartier Tank, making it a great option when emulating Meghan Markle’s look. The watch features a textured silver dial with vintage-style black Roman numeral indices. A stainless steel case frames the dial and houses a quartz movement. The bracelet of this watch is designed in a polished silver shade combined with gold PVD plated elements. This two-tone look means that the watch can be paired with either silver or gold-tone jewellery for a modern, mixed metal look.
What do you think of the watches worn by the royal family? Did any of our lookalikes catch your eye? Let us know in the comments below!
