How to Shop for a Fine Men’s Watch

There was a time when watch on a man’s wrist was purely a functional thing—they used it to tell time. Today since you likely have a smartphone in your pocket, the need for a watch to know what time it is becomes less important. The shift, instead, is toward fashion and the ability to make a statement. Even though it might not be necessary for time-telling, an elegant watch is perhaps one of the most important accessories a man can own. Here is a guide to shopping for the right accessory for every occasion.

Purchase More Than One Watch

Many casual watches have made their way into the daily fashion of men, including in work, formal, or office settings. Unfortunately if you wear that sport-oriented watch to your office, it can convey subtle messages about how serious you are about the formality of your setting. It’s okay to love (and wear) your multi-function sports watch around, but pick up another watch that is appropriate for formal or dressy occasions.

Go for Lasting Styles

Even if you are on the cutting-edge of fashion, you may want a watch that is classic, and likely to stand the test of time. While you might be tempted to go for the tech-crazed new option that is out there, keep in mind that a classically stylish watch could last for decades, and screams sophistication. Look for stainless steel watch bands (rubber straps are an indication of less formal watches), and a traditional two-hand display (avoid digital displays on fancier watches).

Go for Bold Watch Faces

Keep in mind the size of your wrist relative to the size of the watch face—on some men with larger arms/wrists, a standard-size watch could end up looking more like a ladies watch. Many watches today come with options for larger-than-standard faces, which can create a bold but stylish look no matter what the size of your wrist. It’s important to try the watch on first, though, as you also don’t want to purchase a huge watch that looks cartoonish if you have a smaller wrist.

Go for Functionality

Just because you have a more stylish watch doesn’t mean it has to only tell time. A “complication” is the word used to describe anything that the watch does beyond displaying the time of day. Consider watches with things like the moon phase, perpetual calendar, day/month/year display, and a secondhand sub-dial for added style. Other features like water resistance can be beneficial if you plan to wear your watch every day, but deep-water resistance levels are usually unnecessary for most daily or formal watches.

Next time you are searching for fine men’s watch, whether for daily wear or formal attire, check out the selection at AAA Jewelry.