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Baselworld 2006: 4 Watches For Every Occasion
This month, a fascinating international conference/exhibition that most men have never heard of took place in Switzerland: Baselworld. At this annual event, virtually every significant watchmaker assembles to show off what’s new for that year in the world of timepieces.
Why should you care? The reason is simple: A man’s watch serves as his single most important fashion accessory. If attending the most recent Baselworld exhibition taught me anything, it’s that no other accessory can define a man’s style as successfully as the watch he wears. So, become watch-savvy by learning about the four types of watches to wear on different occasions, complete with great style tips and recommendations straight from Switzerland.
1- The everyday watch
This watch is as basic as it sounds; every man should have a status quo watch. You would wear this watch to places like work, the supermarket or even when hanging out at a friend’s house.
While an everyday watch can take a number of different forms, a few potential characteristics tend to stand out. For starters, stainless steel is ideal. An everyday watch needs to be relatively durable, so a watch that could rust just won’t cut it.
Another nice benefit of stainless steel is its neutrality. An everyday watch should look good with virtually any casual to semi-formal outfit. If your watch is yellow, orange or purple, your potential clothing options will be limited. You should also stay away from anything too gaudy; if your watch has diamonds or cubic zirconia, it goes without saying that it’ll look over-the-top.
While your everyday watch doesn't have to be high-end, I would suggest at least splurging for something that runs in the middle-range. Designers like Kenneth Cole and Seiko offer plenty of great looking watches that fall into the moderate, but reasonable, price range. For an everyday watch a little on the higher end, check out the steel-on-steel Omega Speedmaster Professional 1861 -- an updated version of the classic Omega watch used by astronauts. I figure if it’s good enough for NASA and James Bond, an Omega will serve most men’s everyday wear quite well.
2- The leather band watch
Classic, yet often overlooked, watches with leather bands are offered in a large spectrum of styles from punk to casual to formal.
For a casual, contemporary look, try one of the many trendy watches offered by Fossil. These watches are also relatively inexpensive, as they will cost you less than US $100. These watches go great with casual clothing, like denim.
One great example from Fossil is their Brown Degrade Dial watch, consisting of a stainless steel frame with a brown face on a wide, brown leather strap.
Black leather band watches with silver/steel faces provide the most formal look. These watches look great with a suit or tuxedo. For a unique classic look, find an antique Cartier or Rolex watch in this style.
3- The high-end watch
Every man who cares about style should invest in a high-end
watch. Renowned watchmakers like Rolex, Omega and
Breitling produce items that are more than just watches:
They are fine timepieces. Wearing a high-end watch
makes a statement; the watch immediately denotes your style, your class and level of sophistication.
You can try to get a high-end watch for a bargain price, but beware: If you have ever walked the streets of a major city, you’ve seen people trying to sell knock-offs for cheap. Make sure your watch dealer is a legitimate seller and not someone looking to unload a piece of junk with a Rolex emblem. It might seem like a large investment, but the utility you will gain from having it will far outweigh the cost.
Obviously, a high-end watch is ideal for formal occasions. If properly cared for, a high-end watch will last for most or all of your life and can be passed on as an heirloom. Rolex is perhaps the most classic example of a high-end watch. One
model that I love is the two-tone Oyster Perpetual Datejust
with its black dial, domed bezel and oyster bracelet.
4- The digital watch
Despite technology’s ever-increasing appeal, the most technologically-advanced watches are also the least stylish to wear. However, digital watches do have their benefits. With the singular exception of a specialty watch for an activity like diving, a digital watch is the only watch you should be wearing when exercising or engaging in intense outdoor activity.
Digital watches are also great from a functionality standpoint, especially for exercises like outdoor jogging. You can find a reasonably priced digital watch from Nike and Casio equipped with the time, the date, a stopwatch, a timer, an alarm, and moderate water resistance. These functions, as seen in the Nike Triax Speed 10 Regular, will provide most people with active lifestyles everything they could possibly need in a digital watch.
time to act
Even if you aren’t ready to purchase plane tickets to Switzerland for next year’s Baselworld conference, you should be all set with this basic watch knowledge. By investing in the proper wrist wear, you’ll start to enjoy the additional dimension of style these types of watches can bring to your wardrobe -- and the added punctuality is always a plus.
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