Are you a watch enthusiast searching for the best watches for men? Then this article is for you.
There are hundreds of different types and styles of watches. However, there are 5 types of classy watches for men: dress, field (military), pilot, dive, and racing. Each has a unique style that will appeal to different people for various reasons, such as functionality or aesthetics. If you’re in the market for buying your first wristwatch but don’t know where to start, this article will give you an excellent overview.
5 Types Of Watches
From the rugged, tech-heavy chronograph to a classic, slimline formal watch designed to complement your suits, your choice of watch can say a lot about you. That’s why we’ve taken the time to pick out the best men’s watches available for purchase and chosen to share them with you.
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Dive Watch
The most popular type of dive watch is built with specific adventurers in mind: divers.
These watches are strong products that can withstand high water pressure, moisture, and significant impact.
You’ll find dive watches to be one of the most classic pieces in your collection. You can wear them in a suit, like James Bond, or casually on the weekends. The dive watch is characterized by a unidirectional bezel, which enables the diver to identify how long they have been underwater with a simple glance.
Accuracy and water-resistance are also essential, of course.
Diver watches comply with ISO 6425, ensuring at least 100 meters of water resistance. Although, the more you play, the deeper the watch will be able to delve.
It is vital to select a watch band made of corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel, titanium, silicone, or nylon.
Here are some examples:
- Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600
- Rolex Submariner
- Tudor Black Bay Heritage
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Chronograph
This style is perfect for weekend warriors and racers!
Races are a thrilling event to watch. They can be fascinating when your favorite driver is in the running for first place. If you’re looking for something that will capture people’s attention and help keep track of time, then an analog racing watch might be what you need.
It’s easy to slip on a chronograph if you find a dive watch a little too understated.
A chronograph is a stopwatch with either a second hand that sweeps or secondary dials that measure seconds, minutes, hours, and even tenths of a second. Well-designed chronograph dials are incredibly satisfying, as they attractively convey a lot of information.
Chronographs are different from chronometers. These watches undergo multiple tests and certifications to ensure a certain level of precision.
The tachymeter on these watches allows their owners to convert speeds into times or vice versa, so they know how fast their car is going at any given moment during the race, but also gives them other helpful information like distance traveled and time elapsed. This can come in handy if it becomes too difficult to see where drivers start and stop on televised races. Certain camera angles may cut off parts of a track sometimes.
Here are some examples:
- Tissot Chrono XL
- TAG Heuer Formula 1
- Omega Speedmaster
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Dress Watch
A dress watch is a stylish watch for formal occasions! It has the sole purpose of complementing formal wear.
In the world of design, less is often more. But in this case, with this delicate piece, you want to get that minimalist look right!
A dress watch has a simple leather strap or metal band for comfort and adjustable sizing, which you can wear single-handedly thanks to its simplicity.
They are generally small due to their need not only to fit under your shirt sleeve, but also because they should hug closely against your wrist bone to prevent any discomfort. And given how lightweight most of these models are nowadays, there is no chance of anything slipping around where it shouldn’t.
Here are some examples:
- Skagen Signatur Roman Numerals
- Frederique Constant Slimline Watch
- Cartier Tank
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GMT Watches
This is a jet setter’s dream piece.
Rolex developed the GMT watch to give Pan Am pilots a way to keep track of time at their destination and departure locations.
The Rolex GMT-Master was born with a Pepsi bezel, with the GMT hand pointing to the 24-hour time scale. Business travelers loved this complication (and still do) since they could keep track of time both on business trips and at home. In addition to displaying time in the 24-hour format, most GMT watches have an extra dial with hour and minute hands to indicate an additional time zone.
Examples include:
- Rotary Havana GMT
- Bell & Ross Vintage BR 123 GMT Automatic
- Rolex GMT Master II
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Field Watch
Love taking care of your garden? Wear a rugged field watch!
The first field watches were developed in the early 20th century for the military. Civilians later adopted them.
They call these watches “field” because they were initially designed for soldiers. They have a long and storied history in the military; both World War I and II saw their rise in popularity as it became harder to coordinate attacks without precise timekeeping devices.
The dials are easy-to-read with large numerals that can be seen at all times of day or night, making them useful even when you’re surrounded by heavy smoke on an airship.
Unlike other watch styles, which may only offer variations like date windows or chronographs to satisfy tastes, field watches come fully-equipped. Because they were developed specifically for military purposes, field watches are highly durable, lightweight, have a high resistance to corrosion, and are highly legible with a high contrast dial and large letters.
A few examples include:
- Timex MK1 Aluminum
- Hamilton Watch Khaki Field Auto
- Tudor Ranger
Pro Tips For Buying The Best Watch
These tips will help you buy the best piece..
- Formal attire requires a black leather strap. An office space requires a metal strap with a black dial, and your casual weekends require a chronograph.
- It’s okay if your main priority is watching your budget, but if you’re planning to buy the best of the best, then stick with the classics.
Which watch best suits you?
