Ring watches are moving from novelty accessory to fast-growing business. Sales on shopping platform Whatnot increased 1,000 per cent in the six months to February 2026, as fashion brands expand offerings and collectors drive demand for vintage pieces.

The ring watch dates back to the 1500s and remained associated with luxury for centuries, says Emma Lawrie of forecasting company WGSN. Fashion brands including Fossil, Michael Kors, Timex, Casio and Skagen are tapping into the revival. Fossil debuted a ring watch in 2019, and by 2022 it became a permanent fixture in its mainline collection. In 2024, Casio launched the CRW-001, inspired by the yubiwa pipe crafted in 1946 by Casio's predecessor, Kashio Seisakujo. Sales beat forecasts by 120 per cent, inspiring the G-Shock Nano launch in November 2025.

Growing interest extends to vintage originals. In June, Christie's sold a Cartier diamond ring watch for $48,260, almost three times the high estimate. Lawrie suggests the revival reflects a shift towards analogue lifestyles amid digital fatigue and a desire for tactile accessories with emotional charge.