At Gentleman Zone, we know that the true gentleman’s outfit is incomplete without a stylish, well-matched watch piece!
But,
What Are Gentleman Style Watches?
There is no other detail or accessory of men’s fashion that binds function and style so neat and so hot.
As with other gentleman’s signature accessories (the monocle and walking cane), men’s timepieces seem to have fallen out of favor, replaced by an endless spree of emerging trends, technology, and lifestyle changes.
We now have smartphones, smart watches, high-tech rings, glasses, you name it. Still, the spirit of true gentlemanship is an evergreen standard and we see the manly watch as a statement piece worn by the elite of modern age.
Whether you want an entry-level gentleman’s watch or up your fashion game with a more luxurious horologe, here we put together a simple guide on our view.
First, Watch Functionalities Vary
From bulky functional (gentleman) sports watches to luxury timepieces that follow the motions of planets, the Moon, and tides, you have many, many models available.
Wristwatches don’t make you a gentleman, but they can make you look and feel like one. So, where to start?
Gentleman’s Pocket Watch
By the end of the 15th century, spring-driven clocks appeared in Italy and Germany and pocket watches were the most common until wristwatches grew in popularity after World War I, during which the military used the transitional design of trench watches.
In order to prevent pocket watches from being dropped, they come with an attached chain for attaching to the waistcoat, lapel, or belt loop.
Additionally, you could mount a pocket watch on a short leather strap or fob, and thus avoid cumbersome chains catching on to things. This small flap also served as a protective cover over the face and crystal.
As the 16th century progressed, pocket watch manufacturing spread throughout the rest of Europe. Early timepieces of this type only had an hour hand; the minute hand appeared in the late 17th century.
Classic Style Watches
Classic style is about simplicity and elegance, so you should aim for a watch that boasts these attributes.
Aged Vintage Watches
According to specialists at Authentic Watch Co, despite the growing market for vintage watches, there is no clear definition of what qualifies as vintage.
Depending on who you ask, there are some who believe that it is pre-1980, while others see anything older than 25 years or 50 years is vintage.
If there’s something more valuable than a beautiful gentleman’s watch, that’s an aged watch with history.
Luxury Gold Watches
Ageless, gold-coated timepieces are a classic mix of jewelry, functionality, and investment. Luxury timepieces are an asset proven in time.
Fashionable Dress Watches
In the early 20th century, men switched from pocket to wristwatches, and dress watches were the first for men’s wrists to ear.
The simple, sleek design that embodied style and class became the etiquette of gentlemanship fashion. While many at the time understated the opportunities and functionality wrist watches offer, dress watches are ideal for any occasion, formal or casual.
It was common for pioneer watchmakers to use leather bands, which were easily fitted to dress shirts. The front is typically square or rounded, with classic Roman or Arabic numerals bordering the edge.
Dress watches have many designs. They pair great with business suits, black ties, and smart casual outfits alike. Nordgreen’s collection of men’s watches is a gorgeous example:
And the slightly rawer collection:
Field Watches
The shift from pocket watches to the modern wristwatch happened upon the raging World War I with the legendary trench watch.
Watches are a tool that allows soldiers to navigate and coordinate relocation in the harsh trenches and battlefield to synchronize watches and plan attacks. The classic field watch is a descendant of the trench watch, with rugged looks.
The field watch is a small, yet easy-to-read timepiece made of steel or titanium that goes well with a range of outfits.
There are models equipped with ‘hacking seconds’, which allow the second hand to be stopped to synchronize with other watches.
This watch is great for adventure and outdoors, and matches any casual or business casual outfit. But nothing takes a higher stand in the gentleman’s caddy than tool watches.
Deep Dive Watches
Looking at modern gentlemen on the street, you could see many wearing the distinctive dive watch. The famous Sean Connery, who portrayed James Bond in the early 1960s, has been sporting this famous watch since then.
Water-resistant wrist watches grew in popularity quite fast.
Typically, of metal assemblage, with an easy-to-read interface, a dive watch is protected by hardened mineral glass, which keeps it working at low depths.
Pilot / Aviator Watches (Chronograph)
The original design came from Louis Cartier – a pilot friend in 1904. Since then, the Aviator style has become a staple of men’s fashion.
Pilot watches feature the chronograph – originally designed to measure airspeed and fuel consumption. Besides that, Aviator watches don’t have a single distinctive signature, since they come in many shapes and forms.
A “chronograph” is essentially just a timepiece that you can use as a stopwatch, with no designation of quality or rigorous testing. If your phone can serve as a stopwatch, then technically, it is also a chronograph.
Generally, they are on the larger side, with an oversized dial and a face that is easy to read. Typically, watchmakers assemble pilot watches with a leather band, but not always, of course.
With a sleek look and eye-catching design, the Aviator, or Pilot watch, makes it the perfect fit for a more casual lifestyle that you shouldn’t wear for anything formal or black tie.
The Racing Watch
Its name comes straight from race car drivers, as looking at your watch at high speed differs a lot from standing still. If you need large san serif numerals, stain steel to withstand a fit and sturdy band – be it leather or metal, there you have it – the racing watch, which has become a trendsetter since day one.
Back in 1930s, TAG Heuer introduced the legendary addition of chronograph and tachometer sections to measure speed and distance. The large dial of this watch allows you to add extra features.
Shinier than some pilot watch counterparts, the race watch offers a bold yet casual look suitable for more daily routines.
Men’s Digit Watches
Before smartwatches took the spotlight, there was another type of timepiece wrapped proudly around the wrists of the world’s fashion-forward men – digit watches.
Featuring stylish silhouettes and techy dials, digital watches were a modern alternative to the analogue designs wearers were growing tired of.
While we welcomed their introduction to the world, they often lacked a little in appearance.
Nowadays, things look quite different. The best digital watches for men offer a slew of high-tech, practical features and charmingly good looks.
Skeleton Watches
A classic design technique in watchmaking is to expose the mechanical skeleton and inner parts of a timepiece.
Although it takes a lot of resources, like time, focus, and the nerve-breaking scale, having the gears and mechanism visible, makes skeleton watches a fascinating accessory for gentlemen.
The Gentleman’s Watch Caddy
The gentleman’s watch caddy is a parking garage meant to store timepiece beauties, safe from harm, dust, and accidents.
Some Notable Brands to Mention:
- Rolex;
- Patek Philippe;
- Cartier;
- Seiko;
- Zenith;
- Tudor;
- Cartier;
- Miyota;
- Rado;
- Richemont;
- Breitling;
- Breguet;
- Chronograph;
- Alpina;
- Gucci;
- Tissot;
- James McCabe.
Picks: Gentleman Watches Under $1000:
- Timex Marlin 34mm;
- Timex Giorgio Galli S1;
- Seiko Presage;
- Mido Ocean Star;
- Seiko Prospex “Arnie”;
- Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver;
- Vaer S3 Standard Issue Field;
- Longines Conquest V.H.P.;
- Unimatic Modelo Due;
- Casio G-Shock GGMAS2100-7A;
- Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph;
- Tissot T-Classic Carson Premium;
- Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart.
Picks: Gentleman Watches Under $100:
- Casio Vintage A158WA;
- Caravelle Retro;
- Braun BN0021;
- Casio G-Shock DW9052;
- Citizen Quartz BI1043;
- Orient Tristar;
- Seiko 5 SNK Field Watch;
- MVMT Classic Minimalist.
