If there is one area that men’s style is lacking in va riety, it is jewelry. However, our saving grace comes in the form of something en tirely ubiquitous, if a bit old fashioned in today’s digital age — the analog wristwatch.
I specifically say analog be cause, though digital watches are inexpensive and easy to come by, they are usually not very stylish. To find a watch that fits your personal style, you will have to delve deeper into the different kinds of watches. The movement, or mechanism that moves the hands, affects the style of a watch more than you may think.
Most common are quartz watches, which are battery powered and keep time based on the oscillations of a min iscule tuning fork made of quartz, hence the name. They are extremely durable and ac curate, usually keeping time to within 10 seconds per year.
Quartz movements can also be made very thin, which is desirable for formal watches, and tend to have a more con temporary look to them than mechanical watches. Finally, quartz movements are rela tively simple and thus easier and less expensive to make.
Mechanical movements propel the hands around the face with gears turned by an oscillating spring. Relative to their battery-powered coun terparts, mechanical watches are more expensive, less ac curate and in some cases re quire daily winding, so you may (logically) question why anybody would prefer them.
Foremost among these rea sons is the styling of mechan ical watches, which tends to be classy and timeless. Also, if you take care of a mechanical watch and have it serviced oc casionally to keep it running smoothly, it can be passed on for generations.
When looking for a watch, understated and versatile is best. It should serve to com plement the rest of what you are wearing, not draw atten tion away from it. Watches such as the Timex Weekend er and the Seiko 5 are good starter quartz and mechani cal pieces, respectively. They are similar to older military-style, or pilot’s watches, and feature clean faces and bezels, which are the rings that sur round the watch face.
Another style to consider is the classic dive watch. Most watchmakers that make me chanical pieces will offer a dive watch that looks very similar to every other man ufacturer’s basic dive watch. This is because they all take design cues from the Rolex Submariner, the aesthetic of which is always stylish. A watch in this style that won’t break the bank is the Orient Mako. These are only two styles of many, but they are timeless and would be at home on any man’s wrist.
Beyond the shape of the watch itself, one must con sider the color of the face, cas ing and what kind of strap to put it on. A black watch face is most common and most adaptable to varioius styles of clothing. Navy blue and brown are also solid choices.
As for the casing, most watchmakers let the natural color of the steel show. The steel can be colored through a process called physical vapor deposition, but this is found most often in quartz watches and is considered very infor mal.
The watch strap can serve to dress a watch up or down dramatically. The NATO strap is made of nylon, comes in a variety of colors and is the least formal choice. A metal bracelet is the easiest choice. It can be worn with almost anything and in any setting. There is a variety of metal bracelets to choose from, with different shaped links to suit different watches.
Leather straps are typi cally more formal, but that shouldn’t stop you from wearing one. When paired with the right watch, a leather strap can be worn with all but the most casual of clothing and can enhance your entire appearance. Obviously there are more than three types of straps, but these three types comprise a large majority.
Though the analog watch may seem like a thing of the past for the internet genera tion, they have actually seen a resurgence in popularity recently. There are plenty to choose from that will fit nicely into any style, so experiment with different styles, colors and straps and find one that suits you. Your grandfather wore a watch and so should you.
