Show Stoppers | Female Icons and their Timepieces

Over the years, Diana was photographed wearing many headline-grabbing accessories, but two of the most consistent appearances were both Cartier Tank timepieces - a Tank Louis Cartier, with a yellow gold case and black alligator strap, and a Tank Française. 

Though the design is over 100 years old, its appeal is timeless. In a 2015 interview with 'People' Magazine, Meghan Markle, who would have been Diana's daughter-in-law, revealed that she invested in a two-tone Tank Française to celebrate the success of her show 'Suits' and bought it with the intention of passing it onto her future daughter. 

It's a quintessential '70s photo: style icon Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, her hair wrapped in a pink terrycloth, wearing a Pucci dress of swirling greens and pinks and giant tortoiseshell glasses, smiles as she looks through the viewfinder of a Rollei Magic camera. 

The look is casual and carefree, but not without a hint of glamour, thanks to the classic and petite 26mm yellow gold Rolex Datejust she's wearing. First introduced in 1957 as a scaled-down version of the sporty chronometer, which was intended to withstand diving, climbing and exploring, the women's version had a similar multi-faceted appeal, but with the same timeless femininity as one of its most famous wearers. Grace Kelly was spotted wearing her Lady-Datejust often over the years - at home, on holidays and even in official portraits. 

She's worn it to rallies, meeting dignitaries and on the cover of magazines, but perhaps the most tellingly of all, former First Lady Michelle Obama wore her Cartier stainless steel Tank Française in her official White House portrait. Like its wearer, it's a timepiece that exudes a quiet, understated confidence.  

Striking similar to the Cartier Tank her predecessor Jackie O wore, this updated stainless steel watch was first released in 1996 and features a matching stainless steel chain-link bracelet, but the same iconic rectangular case and bold Roman numerals.

When asked what type of watch she likes to wear, Jennifer Aniston replied, "Something discreet, in precious metal and well-designed, but definitely not too girly." It's no surprise then that a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date President, complete with a champagne dial and fluted bezel, is one of the best-known watches in her collection. At 36mm, it has a cool, slightly over-sized feel on her wrist and, over the years, she has worn it on countless photo shoots, TV appearancces and even to red carpet events.

A powerful statement timepiece, it's te definitive Rolex, and the design hasn't changed much since its initial launch in 1956. At the time, the Day-Date was the first water resistant and self-winding chronometer wristwatch to show both the day of the week and date of the month. It was billed as a power piece, with one ad campaign proclaiming "A Rolex will never change the world. We leave that to the people who wear them." 

In the six decades that have followed, its appeal hasn't waned, only evolved. Though it is still lusted after as a traditional and iconic timpiece, it contrasts beautifully with feminine styling, and so has become one of the most popular watches that A-list women wear. 

On the 2nd of June 1953, an estimated 27 million Britons tuned in to watch the coronations of Queen Elizabeth II. Every tiny detail was hungrily pored over - from her pearl, sequin and crystal encrusted gown to her bouquet which combined flowers from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. 

One of the smallest details proved to be one of the most interesting: a diamond studded Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 101 on her wrist. Designed in 1929, to this day it still holds the record for the smallest watch movement in the world, not to mention, one of the oldest still in production. Its 98 components have a combined weight of only one gram, and there are only three watchmakers in Jaeger-LeCoultre manufacture who can make it.

It had been a recent gift to Queen Elizabeth from Vincent Auriol, then the President of France. It is thought the young queen wore the diminutive timepiece - which, from a distnace, looks more like a bracelet - so she could discreetly check the time throughout proceedings (it was considered inappropriate for woman to wear watches in the evenings or at formal events). The historical piece's current whereabouts are unknown, however in 2012 Jaeger-LeCoultre gifted her Majesty a white gold diamond 101 in honour of her Diamond Jubilee.

The ultimate watch lover's watch and a darling of the horology world, Patek Philippe's Nautilus 5711/1R is one of the most sought-after timepieces around. In an industry as fast-changing as fashion, it's certainly telling how often Victoria Beckham has been snapped wearing a Nautilus (both stainless steel and rose gold variants).

Refined and elegant yet versatile and understated, he case's soft, sensuous lines were inspired by a ship's portholes. The first sports watch to be positioned as a luxury good, and one of the first watches you could wear "at the beach or the boardroom", the iconic timepiece's A-list appeal is clear.