Guest post by Carolyn Gill
Regardless of whether you’re talking about mens watches, or women’s, there’s one rule that a lot of people seem to forget about – you should always match your watch to your outfit. Yes, that might seem a bit overkill at first, but hear us out.
Imagine a black-tie event, and a man wearing a tuxedo. He’s got all the style and posture he needs to grab people’s attention. However, when he lifts his wrist to check the time, you’re noticing his calculator Casio wristwatch and that rubber strap it comes with. This doesn’t work.
Men are limited to only a few pieces of jewelry, and a watch is one of the best ways to express their personality. And most men will have a few timepieces, so they can choose the one that best suits their outfit.
That being said, how do you match your watch to your outfit? How do you make sure everything is perfect, regardless of whether you’re in a suit and tie, or in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans?
Match the Formality
The first thing you’ll want to do is wearing the appropriate watch. It should be just as formal as your outfit, otherwise, instead of a statement of your personality, it’s going to look completely out of place.
For example, when you’re at a black-tie, or white-tie event, you should be as formal as possible, and here simplicity is key. A dress watch with a minimal design, styled in a classic manner and with a simple leather band is more than enough.
On the other hand, with a business casual attire, you could go for a Chrono watch, a field watch, or even a pilot watch. And a metal band watch is very casual, which makes it perfect for day-to-day attire, such as jeans and a t-shirt.
Metal Works with Metal
When you’re wearing a watch, you should have the metal case complement the metal on all of the other accessories you’re wearing. The options in terms of shape are usually square, round, rectangular or polygonal. The finish, on the other hand, is either matte or shiny or has inlays of crystals or other jewels. When it comes to material, steel is the most popular variant, but you also have gold, silver, titanium, and platinum.
The metal should be coordinated with things such as your belt buckle, or your cuff links, or your shoe buckles. If you’re wearing a ring, it should match the watch color, too. These might seem like small things, but they do make a lot of difference.
Leather Goes with Leather
Just like the metal band goes with the metal accents on other accessories, the leather band should match your shoes and your belt. Therefore, a black band goes with black shoes and a black belt, whereas a brown band is suitable for brown shoes and a brown belt. If, however, you have a silver or gold band, you could go for either color – it does work.
If you’ve got shoes in different colors, it might be a good idea to have interchangeable bands. You can switch them out as you need them, and you’ll always be sure that you’ve got the right watch on you.
Heirloom Watches Are an Exception
Unlike a conventional watch, heirloom pieces are representative of a legacy. They’re either worn as a memory of their original owner, or as a good luck charm. In either way, they aren’t subject to the rules of matching your watch with your clothes.
They are actually excellent conversational pieces and are something people will remember you by. An heirloom watch isn’t based on what’s trendy, or what’s fashionable. It is actually a reminder of family history and culture.
Last but Not Least, Size Matters
When you’re picking a watch, you should consider your size as well. It’s not only about your wrist but about your body type, too. Thin men work better with slim watches, while a bigger guy can easily pull off a larger, more robust watch.