Women's Sport Watches

What sets a women's sport watch apart, measured across our catalogue

We compared the watches classed as sport with our full range of women's watches. Three differences stand out clearly. 10 ATM water resistance is roughly two and a half times more common there: nearly one sport watch in four, compared with fewer than one in ten for the rest. The chronograph appears in roughly one sport watch in three, whereas it remains rare on a classic women's watch. And the date is displayed on four sport models out of five, compared with one in four elsewhere.

The size also changes. The median diameter of a women's sport watch is 38 mm, compared with 36 mm across our women's watches as a whole. The case is 8 to 10 mm thick and the strap 16 to 18 mm wide. A sporty watch is therefore more noticeable on the wrist: on a slim wrist, aim for 36 or 37 mm instead.

Water resistance: the word “sport” is not enough

A sporty style does not guarantee swimming. In our selection, about one watch in seven is water resistant to only 3 ATM: rain and handwashing, nothing more. Most are rated 5 ATM, which withstands an occasional shower but not swimming. For swimming, choose a women's sport watch rated 10 ATM, the only one of the three ratings that covers swimming pools, the sea and light snorkelling. In all cases, keep the crown pushed in, and avoid hot water from a sauna or hammam. Our guide understanding water resistance ratings details each level.

Silicone, steel or leather: which strap for a women's sport watch

Steel remains the majority, even in sport versions: it features in more than two thirds of the selection, and it is the most versatile strap. Silicone appears twice as often as on the rest of our women's watches, and it is the best choice for exertion: lightweight, washable with soapy water, and unaffected by sweat. Our women's silicone watch page gathers more of them. Leather, found on some models, is best reserved for the city: sweat and water mark it quickly.

The women's sport chic watch, from the gym to the office

A good part of the selection falls into sport chic: a pronounced bezel and structured dial, but polished steel, a rose gold case or a sunburst blue dial. This is the women's sport chic watch that goes from training to a meeting without changing wrists. Blue is also more common there than on our other women's watches: see also the women's blue watch selection. For a signature chronograph, the Michael Kors women's chronograph page extends this selection, and on the men's side, discover our men's sport watch.