Watches are not just a useful tool for telling time; they are so much more than that. They’re a fashion statement and can be a tasteful accessory to a good outfit, complementing a man’s overall image. This is why it’s important to choose your watches carefully and pick more than one because you have to be ready for all occasions.
A man should have a minimum of three watches; a casual, dress, and sports watch. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have a tool watch as well, based on your needs. It’s also good to have more than one watch of each style to complement different outfits.
In this article, we’ll break down watch types you should have and explain why. We’ll also explain what your watch says about you, so you’ll know how to pick the right watch for each occasion.
Casual Watch
The primary type of watch you need is a casual watch. It’s a watch that goes well with your everyday outfits and does a good job of helping you in your day-to-day activities. Since it’s the watch you’ll probably wear the most often, you need to carefully consider your choices, so you don’t pick something that doesn’t complement your casual outfits.
Of course, if your casual outfits differ significantly, you might want to get more than one casual watch. This will allow you to mix and match, so your watch always looks great, no matter what you’re wearing on a given day.
Things To Consider
The most important thing to consider when getting a casual watch is what casual is for you. Casual dress can encompass an incredibly wide range of choices, so you’ll have to choose a watch that is casual for you.
A young man, for example, may consider casual wear to include jogging pants and a hoodie. You might have a different taste and prefer wearing jeans and shirts. To make matters even more complicated, older gentlemen may consider casual dress to mean khaki pants and a button-up with a sweater.
The point is that what might seem very formal to one may seem casual to another, and your choice should be based on that. For a man who wears sports clothes as his casual wear, a sports watch may double as a casual watch. For an older man, a classy, black-leather watch might be something he wears every day.
The only person who decides what’s casual for you is you.
Dress Watch
The type of watch that requires the most consideration is your dress watch. This is the type of watch you’ll wear on special, solemn occasions, and it must complement your suit perfectly. When choosing a casual watch, you can maintain a degree of carelessness, but you can’t do that when it comes to your dress watch.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a dress watch.
The Occasion
You should not overestimate or underestimate the event you’re dressing up for. Wearing a watch that looks too cheap or simple might be tasteless, but wearing a watch that’s too flashy for the occasion is even worse. It’s okay to have a watch that you use for showing off your hard-earned riches, but not every occasion is suitable for that.
Most of the time, a sleek watch with a leather band will do just fine, as long as it’s not worn out, and looks like it’s seen better days. It is a particularly good choice for event types such as:
- Business casual
- Formal
- Semi-formal
On these occasions, it’s important to look your best, so accessorizing with a great watch should be a must, but there’s no need to overdo it. On the other hand, there are times when it’s perfectly suitable to wear a gold or silver watch, or whatever your finest piece is. For example, you might do this at a wedding, but doing so at a business dinner might seem tacky.
Remember, the goal is to look your best, make a good impression, and maybe even impress someone. Going too far will do the opposite of this.
Your Outfit
Your watch should not only look great with your outfit but enhance it. It should be suitable for the occasion, and look alright on its own, but you don’t want people to look at your watch in disbelief when they see you.
For example, your watch should have a black leather strap if you’re wearing black shoes and a black belt. Brown shoes and belts go with a brown watch strap, and so on. While the shades don’t have to match exactly (it’s best if they do, though!), they shouldn’t be too different.
Likewise, if your watch has a metal strap, the color of the metal has to match the other metal accessories you have, excluding wedding rings. Don’t wear a gold watch if you have a silver belt buckle, for example.
Additionally, silver watches go best with dark suits, while gold watches look great with beige and tan suits. You can bend the rules only if you wear an heirloom watch inherited from a family member. Heritage is more important than style.
Sports Watch
If you’re an active man who often engages in sports and outdoor activities, you should also invest in a sports watch. Such a watch will often have additional features such as a step tracker or a heart-rate monitor, and should be durable.
A sports watch is usually made of rubber and plastic, so it’s not a good choice for anything but sports activities. However, it’s essential to have one, not just because of its nifty features, but also to protect your other watches from wear and tear. You don’t want to wear a Rolex while jogging, just like you don’t want to wear a sports watch while at a fancy dinner party.
If you need a watch for specific activities, such as diving, you might add a tool watch to your collection. This is not necessary for everyone, but it’s a valuable addition for some.
What a Watch Says about You
For a man, your watch might be your most important accessory. It can say many things about you, and it’s a statement about your personality and background. Even though it might seem like a simple accessory you tell the time with and which says something about how much you can spend, it often says much more than that.
First of all, wearing an appropriate watch implies that you’re conscious of the social setting you’re in and that you’re willing to take your time to pick something tasteful. This shows not only that you care about your looks; it may also imply that you’re ready to show respect for the people you meet.
On the other hand, wearing a ridiculously overpriced watch for the situation paints you as someone who likes bragging, and nobody likes that. You might impress someone superficial, but most people will just scoff.
Furthermore, wearing a leather-strap watch might imply that you value practicality and comfort since it’s much easier to make it fit your wrist well. It’s also a watch you can wear to all sorts of events, which implies practicality. On the other hand, a metal watch might imply that you’re a fan of durability and sturdiness.
A digital watch might imply that you value precision over everything else. It also might also imply that you’re a lover of gadgets, especially if it’s a high-tech one. However, wearing one to a formal event might seem reckless and disrespectful, so it’s not a particularly good choice.
Final Thoughts
You should have at least one casual, dress, and sports watch. It’s also a good idea to supplement this with a tool watch, if necessary.
When choosing a watch to wear, you should consider the occasion you’re attending and the outfit you are wearing.
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