Watches Are the Ultimate Kentucky Derby Status Symbol — Here’s How to Style Your Bulova One for the Event

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The historic timepiece maker (whose watches have been on over 40 NASA space missions) is ready to make you the belle of the ball… or, more accurately, horse racetrack.​The historic timepiece maker (whose watches have been on over 40 NASA space missions) is ready to make you the belle of the ball… or, more accurately, horse racetrack. 

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If you’re anything like us, you’re counting down the days until Saturday, May 2 — which is when one of the most fashion-forward sporting events, the Kentucky Derby, is set to take place this year. WWD recently spoke with Zanna Roberts Rassi (a Today Show correspondent and guest editor of the official Kentucky Derby Style Guide who will be covering the Derby live for NBC) to gauge her opinions on exactly what’s hot and what’s not in the realm of womenswear at the annual happening.

Though Rassi’s insights were nothing short of illuminating — try a quirky color combination! Put effort into your raincoat, as umbrellas aren’t allowed! Start with the hat! — there was one thing we failed to mention in that article, and it’s just how important a watch can be in tying together your look at large while exuding the kind of preppy, old-money energy that the Derby is known for.

This is where Bulova, a circa-1875, New York City–based watchmaker, comes in to bless last-minute shoppers with a carefully curated edit of the best luxury watches for women to wear to the Kentucky Derby. Of course, once you get your hands on the trend-aligned accessories, you’ll be taking them from Louisville to lunch dates in your own city, but the upcoming occasion is an especially apt time to play around with styling a Bulova watch in context of your clothing, jewelry, handbag, and other race day non-negotiables.

Buy best bulova watches for women

For a timepiece brand with such a rich, extensive history, Bulova sure knows how to stay attuned to the latest directives of the industry and the wants of the consumer, all while keeping innovation at the heart of its business. Case in point: Bulova’s new-for-2026 Super Seville Mini line, which directly references the vintage watch silhouettes of the 1970s (three-link bracelets; coin edge bezels; mother-of-pearl dials) and grants modern women seemingly endless opportunities to incorporate the watches’ various bracelet metals and dial colorways into their ensembles du jour.

With this collection in particular, Bulova prides itself on the chronometers’ “jewelry-like feel” and “effortless elegance.” These two descriptions are as vital as ever at a “see and be seen” function such as the Kentucky Derby, where an artful fascinator and what you choose to put on your wrist are some of the only ways to make a true statement amidst the sea of floral prints, bright hues, and frilly, maxi hemlines.

The newest arrival to Bulova’s Super Seville Mini family is a watch with a gold- and silver-tone stainless steel case — creating a natural contrast of the two materials and thereby easily complementing a wide range of sartorial color palettes. To help the piece shine brightest, we recommend teaming it up with a shorter gown in a single color and extending all that radiance with a purse that has gleaming, gilded hardware of its own.

For Bulova’s Super Seville Mini with a red mother-of-pearl dial, nothing could be a better match than a dark skirt set moment that comes to life by way of similarly red-hot heels. Rassi urges women to go with the most comfortable-yet-chic footwear choices for the Derby: being a proponent of wedges and mule heels specifically. Love either gold or silver, but never both at the same time? Bulova has options to suit those preferences, too, which you can put into direct conversation with a livelier dress pattern (think polka dots, stripes, paisley, or more unexpected prints) and metallic ballet flats if you so desire.

On a technical level, each of these Bulova watches boasts a push-button deployant clasp; a grooved bezel that contributes to its overall textural intricacy; as well as a flat, scratch-resistant, and highly protective sapphire crystal. Sans size adjustments, the Kentucky Derby style saviors can come to your door as early as April 30 — right before you fly off to Churchill Downs.

(Note that this speedy shipping will cost you an additional $30, but it’s a meager price to pay for all that soft-spoken glamour.)

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Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on seasonal style trends — watches included — and how to shop them online.