Watch Style Guide
Even if you’ve never owned a watch in your life, you likely know that a watch offers so much more than a way to tell the time. A watch is a fashion accessory that has the power to completely transform your look. This is why it’s so important to invest in a watch that perfectly matches your sense of style.
Stylish watches for men and women have been around for as long as watchmakers have been practicing their craft. Even before the modern wristwatch, there were designer pocket watches for men and for women. Consequently, watches and style have always gone hand in hand.
However, your personal tastes, fashion, and even immediate environment can determine the type of watch that you should acquire. Fortunately, there are thousands of different watch styles to choose from, from the classic to the modern, and everything in between.
So, in today’s watch style guide, we are going to examine some of the hottest watch styles on the market — and help you find the watch of your dreams!
Casual Watches
If you like to wear a watch with you wherever you go, a casual watch is likely the best option for you. So, what separates a casual watch from other types of watches? While there is no exact science to it, casual watches are generally made to be worn in just about any environment. This means that you won’t have to worry about your watch getting ruined in the rain or breaking if it falls on the ground. In essence, casual watches are built to last and be durable wherever you go.
Additionally, casual watches often prioritize comfort over opulence. In other words, you’re far more likely to encounter a casual watch with a rubber or nylon band, rather than one made of alligator skin or something similarly luxurious. The same holds true for the casing and watch face. The materials for a casual watch are usually chosen to provide maximum comfort and durability, while still giving you a stylish watch for just about any occasion.
It’s also important to note that casual watches are not merely determined by their specific designs or materials. Oftentimes, it’s all about how and when you wear your watch. In fact, some of the best casual watches are versatile and can be used in countless situations. For example, business casual watches are great for interviews or similar professional environments, while luxury casual watches combine high-end craftsmanship with casual visual design to provide the perfect balance between practicality and grandeur.
Dress Watches
While a casual watch can be worn with any outfit (including shorts and a t-shirt), dress watches are specifically designed with fine clothing and elegance in mind. For example, let’s say that you plan to attend a cocktail party held at a swanky nightclub. You’ll want to dress the part, and finding a dressy watch to match your outfit is key. Thankfully, nice dress watches are in no short supply, and there are many different designs and materials to choose from.
Many of the best dress watches don’t have to sacrifice functionality for style, either. You can get a timepiece with a premium leather band and a diamond-encrusted watch face that still has automatic quartz movement and even GMT timekeeping capabilities. Thus, while dress watches may take advantage of more classic or refined designs than their casual counterparts, they are still extremely practical.
However, like casual watches, you can’t assume that dress watches are only designed for one purpose. It’s true that dress watches are generally meant to be worn for a special occasion or in conjunction with a fashionable or “dressy” outfit, but there are more sensible options as well. For example, you can acquire a sporty dress watch that looks great and can still go with you when you work out, take a hike, or even go scuba diving!
Fashion Watches
If you’re interested in “high fashion” or just fashionable accessories in general, you should definitely consider fashion watches. What separates fashion watches from other kinds of timepieces are often their unique and trendy designs. This means that, more often than not, specific fashion watch designs are in limited supply.
Many of the best fashion watches completely reinvent how we think about timekeeping. For example, some fashionable watches feature patterns and compositions that are literally one-of-a-kind. And while many people wear fashion watches with luxury clothing, these timepieces are generally more versatile than dress watches. Whether you want to be fashionably casual or elegant in a modern setting, a fashion watch can help complete your look!
It’s also important to note that fashion is constantly evolving. Thus, trending watches are often beholden to the fashionable concepts of our times. However, if you buy a quality fashion watch, you can be sure that it will never go out of style, as it is made to look great in any time or place!
Luxury Watches
Finally, luxury watches are exactly what they sound like: high-end timepieces made with the finest materials and expert craftsmanship. This isn’t to say that other watch styles don’t meet these same standards, but you can often tell the difference between a casual watch and a luxury watch just by looking at the two side by side. A luxury timepiece simply exudes splendor. Thus, luxury watches are usually not reserved for everyday use. Instead, they are often worn for high-end events like galas, weddings, and cultivated soirees.
Luxury watches are often associated with some of the top brands and watch designers in the world, like Blancpain, Carl F. Bucherer, and Romain Jerome. Additionally, due to the traditions of expert watchmaking in Switzerland, most luxury watches have Swiss origins or, at the very least, use Swiss timekeeping mechanisms. Consequently, when you buy a luxury watch from a high-end brand, you know that you’re getting the very best on the market.
Needless to say, luxury doesn’t always come cheap. Many luxury watches also happen to be some of the most expensive watches on the market. That said, you can always find good bargains online through reputable retailers like Ashford. This way, you can rest easy knowing that you’re getting the best possible deal on an amazing luxury timepiece.
The Bottom Line
Whether you just want something comfortable to wear on your wrist at the gym or you’re looking for a watch that will make everyone’s head turn at a swanky party, the perfect watch for you is just a few clicks away. Thanks to thousands of different brands and individual designs, stylish watches for men and ladies can essentially be customized to fit your exact needs. The key is figuring out what kind of watch style will make you happy!
In closing, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to spend a fortune just to get a stylish watch. While luxury watches or custom-made fashion watches can be a bit more expensive, you can always get great-looking timepieces at affordable prices — especially if you know where to look! So, now that you know a little more about different watch styles, you can start shopping for your next timepiece with confidence!
We hope you found our watch style guide useful! If you’d like to learn more about buying the right watch for your style, feel free to contact the experts at Ashford today!