How much thought do you give to your watch when deciding what to wear for a particular occasion? Many men carefully select matching items of clothing and footwear but then spoil the look they want to create by automatically putting on the same watch every day. 

A watch not only tells its owner the time, but also gives other people clues about the wearer’s personality, tastes and status. Adding a watch that matches your look can be the finishing touch that makes all the difference, especially when you need to make a good first impression.  If you wouldn’t wear the same style of clothes to an important business meeting as you would for a relaxed evening out with friends, it makes sense to accessorise those different clothes with different styles of watches. 

You don’t need lots of watches in order to match everything in your wardrobe (although collecting watches can be a fascinating hobby!). Most men will find that owning one example from each of the following main groups allows them to always wear a watch that looks just right. 

Dress watches

A dress watch compliments a tailored suit and is the ideal choice for formal social events. Quality is important so buy the best you can afford, preferably made by a respected watchmaker. Choose a classic design that won’t go out of fashion, analogue rather than digital, and with no distracting gimmicks. Gold or platinum are acceptable but think ‘cool elegance’ not ‘dazzling bling’.  

Everyday watches

An everyday or casual watch is the one you’ll be wearing the most so make sure it’s comfortable and reflects your personality. It should also be fairly robust to withstand the inevitable accidental knocks and scratches of daily wear. It can be analogue or digital, mechanical or quartz movement, gold, stainless steel, titanium, and with a band or strap made from metal, leather, rubber, fabric – whatever you find most appealing. If fashion is important to you, you might want to buy a watch by one of your favourite designers. To get several looks from one watch choose one with a strap that can be easily swapped for others in different colours or materials. 

Sports watches

Some men enjoy taking part in sports, others prefer to be spectators, but a sports watch is a must-have accessory for all men. They look good worn with casual clothes and come with added features such as a stopwatch, alarm, compass and night visibility that can be useful even when you’re not on the playing field or race track! They are built to take rough treatment and most have some degree of water resistance, although you should choose a diver’s watch if you are keen on water sports.  

If a new watch would boost your look, pay a visit to an independent jewellery shop that stocks a wide range of men’s watches that you can try on. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will understand how important it is for a man to find exactly the right watch to match the impression he wants to project and will do their best to help you.