When choosing the correct watch to go with your outfit, you must take into account the formality of your dress and the event you are going to. You would not attend a black tie event or a business lunch in trainers, so why would you wear a casual watch? When there are so many different types of watches in the market, it is often difficult to know which watches are considered formal and which are not. Read on to find out how to style your watch with your outfit and what you should be looking for when choosing your next timepiece.
Black Tie Dress Watch
Over a century ago, it was believed that at formal black tie events, attention should be on conversation at all times, which is why it was considered rude to wear a watch at such an event. Times have subsequently changed, yet this rule could explain why the watch style for a black tie event is simple and understated. A dress watch traditionally has a thin strap and a minimalist face, which would not attract too much attention, yet would sit elegantly under a sleeve of a dress of under a man’s jacket. The dial of a dress watch is usually a conservative black or silver and the straps are usually brown or black, which provides them with an understated sophistication without anything glaring or flashy. An example of a dress watch that is perfect for a Black Tie event would be a delicate Raymond Weil or an elegant leather strapped Cartier. When buying a formal dress watch, you must look for a chic watch that subtly whispers its elegance.
Business Dress Watch
Although the business dress watch is often considered to have a similar style to the dress watch, the business dress watch is often mechanical with more practical features. Patek Philippe recently launched a new mechanical watch named 7130G, which is a white-gold wristwatch with a peacock-blue face. The intrinsic mechanical build of this watch can be seen through the sapphire crystal case and allows onlookers to admire its practical beauty. This women’s watch is the perfect timepiece for business, given its mechanical elegance which conveys power and efficiency in the workplace. A business dress watch should not be overly flashy with faces remaining small to medium in size, yet should be bold in design and practical in its structure. As well as Patek Philippe, another example would be the Rolex Submariner range or the Omega Speedmaster, which both provide a sophisticated practicality.
Casual Watch
Unfortunately, the average person’s calendar is not full of black tie dinners and so there is a need for a casual watch. Casual watches usually have a metal band with larger faces, making them easy to read and appear less formal. Whilst business watches and dress watches are often more conservative in colour, casual watches can afford to have contrasting colours with bolder frames. Usually, roman numerals tend to be found on more formal watches, whilst casual watches are more inventive from having vibrant numbers to no numbers at all. The more tricks the watch can do, the less formal it is considered. For example, a watch that contains a stopwatch and a depth measuring gadget would not be considered as a black tie timepiece. When looking for the correct strap, choose a metal band, which is more versatile compared with a leather strap, which does not pair easily with jeans.
Whether you’re looking to buy a watch for your next formal event or are looking for an everyday watch, head over to our auction page now where you can find a wide range of watches and more. It’s time to style your outfit and timepiece correctly.