On which wrist to wear a watch?
Ah, one of the oldest watch debates in the world. If someone tells you that you're wearing your watch on the wrong hand, pat them on the back with your leather glove and tell them you're challenging them to a duel. Otherwise, just explain that the rule is to wear a watch on the non-dominant wrist. In other words, if you are right-handed, you wear it on your left wrist. If you are left-handed, the watch goes on your right wrist. In any case, this is the traditional rule. Nowadays, it is perfectly acceptable to wear a watch on the wrist of your choice.
Choosing the right watch for the right occasion
Have you ever seen a grown man wear a G-Shock with a suit to a wedding? On a charm scale of 1 to 10, he's an Adam Sandler. So here's how to choose the right watch for the right occasion.
Adventure sports and diving watches
The line is a bit blurred these days, with many watchmakers incorporating a "diving/sport/adventure heritage" into their more refined pieces intended for formal use, but we're talking about serious sports watches here that are made for it. Think bulkier Breitling Superoceans, Bremont's Endurance GMTs, or OMEGA Seamasters fitted with rubber straps for dedicated active duty. These watches aren't bad by any means, but they're not designed to go with a suit, as they can't fit under a sleeve and tend to sport bright colors. Outdoor watches like these are more of a sports watch, so you should wear them with your casual outfits. Think active and cool outerwear.
Dress watches
At the other end of the spectrum, we have the dress watch. Although some of them may have names that draw on their sporting heritage, they are essentially more refined versions that still fall into the category of dress watches. Dress watches often feature a sleeker dial and more modest functions (hours, minutes, seconds, date) that hark back to tradition rather than versatility. In terms of size, they also tend to be slimmer and feature more traditionally shaped cases, paired with leather or steel straps. Their design is only intended to accompany you in formal affairs, whether in business suits, wedding suits or chic tuxedos.
Aviation and motorsport watches
This is another gray area, as motorsport and aviation watches are acceptable as dress watches today. As a style guide, we recommend sticking to traditional dress watches with suits and tuxedos if you're the conservative type. Driving and aviation watches paired with suits are for those who want to add a bit more character, conversation and "pop" to their overall look. These types of watches can achieve this because they often come with original design elements and distinct functions from their respective fields (motorsports and aviation). The best way to describe these watches is somewhere between a dress watch and a sports watch. They have the sophistication of a dress watch, but with the added flair of a sports watch. That's why we recommend pairing them with a smart casual look: a blazer with jeans, a denim shirt with pants, a button-up linen shirt with fitted shorts, a leather jacket with jeans. The idea is that the watch should match your activity for the day.
How to accessorize your watch
Other than playing around with the plethora of straps available on the market, there's no other way to accessorize a beautiful luxury watch – and that's a good thing. Just swap out a black leather strap for a brown leather strap to take a dress watch from formal to casual chic. The same is true if you replace it with a NATO strap for casual weekend use. Every strap material has its place and purpose, so again, know what the occasion is and style your watch accordingly.
Black leather straps and steel bracelets are more suitable for formal settings like work or special functions.
Brown leather bracelets can also be used in formal situations, but they can also be used in casual situations.
NATO straps are usually made of woven nylon or fabric and feature cool colors and patterns. Use them to lighten up your watch while standing out for all the right reasons.
Rubber straps are purely for active use like sports, sailing, diving, adventure etc.
Wear a watch with a dress shirt
A formal event demands a formal look. Whether it's a wedding, a fancy bar or a job interview, it's an art to pair a watch with a dress shirt.
First rule: A long-sleeved shirt should cover 85% or more of the watch when the arm is extended. Only when the arm is folded should the watch be visible. Also, make sure the sleeve length isn't so long that it goes down halfway through your forehand. A repair shop can solve this problem.
Second rule: Watches should always be placed under the sleeve, not over it (unless you want to look like you robbed someone).
Third rule: The thickness of the watch should be moderate so that it can fit comfortably under the sleeve. As we mentioned, a big diver's watch won't work well in this shirt-jacket scenario.
Fourth rule: Make sure the bracelet fits your wrist properly. You're out of school, so wearing a watch around your forearm will never be cool.
Wear a watch with short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts
We are no longer talking about suits and dress shirts here. Watches are also great to pair with your casual short sleeve and long sleeve button down shirts. There's no rule on which handle style is right for watches or not - as long as the fit is right.
One of the tried-and-true looks for the casual shirt-watch combo is the long-sleeved button-down shirt with rolled up sleeves. This is a great way to show off the watch and we recommend opting for sports watches or driving and aviation watches. The same can be applied to short sleeve shirts.
If you're more of a casual T-shirt type, don't choose a dress watch, because it won't look out of place. Again, sports watches or driving and aviation watches are the most suitable, whether long or short sleeved.