Back in the 40’s and 50’s, watches were not something that everyone had the luxury of owning, and those who did had something to be proud of. Men took great pride in passing them down from generation to generation. But with the popularity of cell phones, in addition to more casual business environments, men have begun to abandon wrist watches in exchange for cell phones as their means of keeping punctual. Indeed, your phone does display time and may even have a nifty alarm, but your phone is not going to give you a professional edge or psychological advantage over your ill-equipped competition.
It is a competitive world out there professionally, and you need every possible advantage over your competition. Wearing a wrist watch sends a subconscious message to others that you are a force to be reckoned with! It tells the world you are responsible and should be taken seriously, which is very important in the professional arena.
Let’s talk about watches… just in case you decide to put down your phone and pick one up.
There is no “right” watch to wear for business; however there are some wrong watches to wear. Stay away from ultra casual sports watches, flashy colors and Velcro bands. Avoid the temptation to buy that trendy, oversized or flamboyant watch and go with a more classic style and design. By wearing an inappropriate casual watch, you will be sending the message that you don’t know any better, lack maturity, and are possibly quite sloppy. I’m not sure which is worse!
Choose a watch that is either silver or gold in color; whichever matches the metal of the other accessories or jewelry you regularly wear (rings, bracelets, belt buckles, tie bar, cuff links). Mixing and matching metals is one of the most common mistakes men make when outfitting themselves with accessories. If you wear a gold wedding band, you have three options: get a new silver band (clear it with the wife before just surprising her or having her notice), buy a gold watch, or wear a watch with both silver and gold metals (how ingenious of those manufacturers).
Once you have decided on the watch, you then have to decide on the band material. You can opt for a matching metal band (silver or gold), leather band (black or brown), or in some cases men are wearing their watch with an ultra hip black rubber band. The band you choose is more about personal taste and preference, and less about a style or image statement. However, it is a good idea to think ahead and buy a watch and band that will be versatile enough to wear with both casual and business attire.
As men, we have gotten the short end of the accessory stick in terms of options compared to our female counter part… but not with watches. The watch is one of the areas and accessories that we can express our own unique taste and individual style. There are thousands of watch brands out there. Some will cost more than your car and others are quite reasonable. With some watches, you are paying for the name and logo, which only a passionate watch aficionado would notice; yet there are plenty of other fabulous watches for the rest of us. Here is the rundown on some brands to know and consider… and some to plan on getting once you climb that corporate ladder:
Good Looking Brands For Under $100:
- Guess
- Fossil
- Timex
- Pulsar
- Nixon
- Invicta
- Kenneth Cole
Great Watches Between $100-200:
- Bulova
- Michael Kors
- Armani
- Swiss Army
- Seiko
- Citizen
- Luminox
Stylish Selections For Around $500:
- Tissot
- Azzaro
- TW Steel
- Phillip Stein
- Welder
Luxury Watches:
- Rolex
- Panerai
- IWC (International Watch Company)
- Breitling
- Bulgari
- Swiss Legend
- Oris
- Franck Muller
- Cartier
Wearing a wrist watch lets the world know that, you, my friend, know what time it is… both literally as well as figuratively.
by Aaron Marino
