Mens Fashion Tips - A Guide To Mens Watches

As with most of the men's fashion world, the watch universe speaks its own language. It's a good idea to pick up all of the jargon so that you don't get left out of the conversation once you're at the watch store.

Movements refer to the mechanisms that tick away behind the watch face, literally the beating heart of the timepiece. Most of the premium watch brands in the world use their own patented movements, and a better movement always means a more accurate watch. If you'd like a peek, a lot of models have little windows at the back of the watch case.

Complications is the industry word for bells and whistles. Any extra feature on the watch beyond keeping track of the hour, minute and second is considered a complication. This can range anywhere from a simple date indicator to a built-in radio that unlocks your car. It goes without saying that more complications also require more greenbacks to buy.

Automatic watches are currently the standard, which means that the watch is winded by the movement of your wrist as you walk. This might seem like the most convenient and sensible option, but you'll still come across many models, particularly the vintage ones, that still require regular manual winding.

Brands Are Best

Even if you could do 'the look for less' for your clothes, this economizing is something you'll want to skip for your watch. That's because all the best watch brands have heritage to back up their horology; almost every single one of them has been over a century in the business. You're the higher price tag to get the quality and the craftsmanship that only the premium brands can offer.

Remember that you'll be putting a lot of money into a single watch, and that it's basically an investment. Any banker will tell you that the safest investments to make are those in well-established companies, and the same advice goes for watches. A premium brand watch retains much of its value, even a full decade after its purchase. Some watches (like those from Patek Philippe) even appreciate in value over time.

Catch a Classic
If it's your first time to buy this kind of watch, your best option is to get a watch that's considered a 'classic' among the connoisseurs. Not only will it be a good investment, but you'll also be able to pair your watch with virtually everything in your wardrobe.

There's a whole bunch of watches that are regarded as the plain black ties of the watch world. Like the basic black tie, timepieces like the Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Submariner work with any outfit and look good on any guy. Their designs are also very timeless, so you won't find their value depreciating anytime soon.

Watch and Wear
Design-wise, start your watch collection with a simple round-faced watch. It's the basic and most versatile ones among all the squares, oblongs and pillow shapes on the market. There's one simple rule for complications: the more there are of them, the less formal the watch is. Something like the Movado Museum will be more formal than, say, a full-on chronograph with a rotating dial and multiple adjusters on the side.

Let the thickness of the watch as a whole be determined by the formalness of the event. The most formal dinners demand a thin, subtle watch with a black leather strap. Thicker steel bracelets, meanwhile, should be appropriate for the office as long as the dial is plain. Chunk metal or rubber straps should be worn only with casual outfits.

The watch is a crucial element of your outfit. No fashion-conscious guy leaves home without it, and you shouldn't either.