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You know not to wear a black belt with brown shoes, right? And you know that a patterned tie just wouldn’t go with a pinstripe suit? So why is there so much confusion surrounding how you should wear your watch? Being familiar with watch-wearing etiquette could be the difference between a second date or a failed attempt to make a great first impression with a lady.
Not knowing how to wear a watch could either make or break you in an important interview. It could be the difference between a deal or no deal in a business handshake. Yep – wearing a watch correctly really is as important as you would imagine. First impressions count. Making a lasting impression is even more important. That’s why we’ve come up with this simple and easy-to-follow guide on how to wear your watch.
Knowing how to wear a watch comes as second nature to some men. To others, the rules remain fuzzy. The best thing about these simple rules to wearing a watch correctly is that they apply to old watches, new watches, budget watches, and high-end ones. This guide on how to wear a watch will ensure you don’t make any fashion blunders in situations that matter.
Which side should I wear my wristwatch on?
There’s one simple answer to this question – choose any side. One great rule to wearing a watch is that you can choose whether you wear it on the left or the right. Tradition seems to suggest that left is best, but we live in the modern world, and it makes sense to wear your timepiece on the wrist that a) feels most comfortable and b) suits the lifestyle you lead or the job you do.
Some people prefer to wear their wristwatch on the opposite side to their writing hand. Other’s don’t. Don’t allow tradition to dictate which hand you wear your watch on, especially since opting for the side that doesn’t necessarily suit you can sometimes be uncomfortable or impractical.
How tight should I wear my wristwatch?
Deciding on how tight you should wear your watch and which side you should wear it on are the easiest steps in ensuring you’re wearing your watch properly. Both aspects are about what suits you best. When it comes to deciding how tight or loosely you should wear your watch, it’s more about using your common sense.
If your watch is too loose, you’ll instantly look like you haven’t paid enough attention to yourself before leaving the house. If you wear it too tight, you’ll compromise on comfort. Wear your watch just tight enough, somewhere in the middle. You don’t want your watch to slide around to the underside of your wrist, where it can become damaged. Likewise, you don’t want to cut off your circulation!
Color-match your watch to your outfit
This makes sense whether we’re talking about how to wear your watch or how to style your clothes. You must match the color of your watch to your outfit. Why do you think so many people own more than one watch? In fact, studies show that the average watch wearer owns around 3 or 4 timepieces. More serious collectors own around 19 watches on average.
Having more than one watch isn’t always about wanting to own every possible style of watch for the sake of it. It’s much more practical than that. You can choose between a metal bracelet and a leather band, for example, or choose a blue dial over a silver one if the occasions warrant it. You can add a statement piece to an outfit without being bold and overbearing.
No matter how beautiful your favorite wristwatch is, there may be some outfits it just won’t match with. It’s a good idea to match light with light and dark with dark. Evening attire is the perfect excuse to pair it with a dark dial face. Likewise, daytime attire is where you can get away with wearing a light or even colored dial or strap.
Consider whether you can match elements in your outfit with the materials in your watch. Metal bracelets pair nicely with cufflinks, belt buckles, and polished shoe buckles. Similarly, a brown leather strap will marry perfectly with brown leather shoes and a brown leather belt, as will a black watch, respectively.
Match the style of watch to suit the occasion
When looking to invest in a new timepiece, don’t get carried away with how much charm and character a watch has before thinking about your wardrobe back at home. Buy a watch that will suit most of the occasions you attend or one that suits your lifestyle on a practical and comfort level first and foremost. If you own more than one watch, it instantly becomes easier to style your watch to suit the occasion you’re attending.
Even though Agent 007 looked dapper in a dive watch with a suit, we’re living in the real world, and unfortunately, dive watches and suits don’t always go hand-in-hand. A dive watch is bulky, so it won’t sit well underneath the cuff of an elegant dinner jacket. It’s also a tell-tale sign that you don’t know the rules in how to wear a wristwatch. Similarly, a dress watch will look out of place when accompanied by relaxed attire.
Formal wear with a smart tie and a stylish pair of cufflinks are the perfect excuse to don a dress watch to the wrist. Like you wouldn’t wear a pair of sunglasses at night, you wouldn’t wear a refined, slimline 18k rose gold watch equipped with a moon-phase indicator with a pair of sneakers or a baseball cap. There are just some rules to wearing a watch that are as obvious as the difference between day and night.
Keep your dive watches, and your chronograph watches for pairing with jeans and sportswear. Polo shirts and casual outfits are ideal for a bulky rubber strap and a chunky diver’s bezel, even if you don’t tend to wear your dive watch for underwater ventures. A casual t-shirt and hoody or athletic wear will accentuate the sporty undertones of your chronograph watch.
Tip: There’s one other little side note to consider when perfecting the art of wearing a watch, and that’s the implications associated with checking your watch too many times. You may love your watch so much that you admire it at any given chance but when you’re in the company of others, be aware that checking your watch too often can come across rude and antisocial.
Don’t give someone the impression that you have other engagements on your mind, in the same way that you wouldn’t start checking your phone for messages when someone is talking to you. Or at least, we hope you wouldn’t.
Remember that wearing a watch is an extension of your personality. Timepieces, no matter how inexpensive or high-end they are, portray your sense of style and how much pride you take in your appearance.
If you want to make a lasting impression, go the extra mile and ensure you think about adding the correct finishing touches to your overall look before walking out of the door. Attention-to-detail is key in balancing style with sophistication. Consider color matching and wearing the correct style of watch to fit the occasion. Lastly, remember that comfort is key. The rest is easy!
