A watch is often the only piece of jewellery a man wears: it gets noticed, it stays with you and it says a lot about your style. At low prices, you can own several, one for the office and one for the weekend. To choose well, ask yourself four questions: what will you wear it for, which strap or bracelet, which movement and which size?
Choosing a style
The classic watch
A legible dial, understated hands, a leather strap or a metal bracelet: the classic watch goes as well with a suit as with jeans. Minimalist watches, with their clean dials, go with everything. Gold-tone watches add a dressier touch.
The sports watch
Tough and easy to read, the sports watch keeps up with your activities. Digital watches often offer a stopwatch, an alarm or a backlight, and military watches take their style from field watches: a very legible dial and a fabric or leather strap. The functions of each model are listed on its product page.
The automatic watch
An automatic watch runs without a battery: it winds itself through the movement of your wrist. It is the choice for mechanical watch enthusiasts, particularly skeleton watches, whose openwork dial reveals the inner workings.
Choosing the strap or bracelet
- Leather: elegant and comfortable, it develops a patina over time, but it doesn't like water. See our leather strap watches.
- Link bracelet: sturdy and dressy, it is shortened by removing links. See our link bracelet watches.
- Mesh strap: a fine metal weave with a retro feel, easy to adjust. See our mesh strap watches.
- Silicone: light and washable, perfect for sport. See our silicone strap watches.
With smart clothes, try to match the colour of a leather strap to your shoes and belt, and the colour of the case to your other accessories. “Gold-tone” describes a finish, not a precious metal.
Choosing the movement
Affordable watches are most often quartz: a battery powers them, they are accurate and they need almost no maintenance. Automatic watches run without a battery but need to be worn regularly. Digital watches display the time on a screen and often combine several functions. The movement of each watch is stated on its product page.
The right size
A dial that is too big or too small makes the watch look out of proportion on your wrist. For a men's watch, cases usually range from about 38 to 46 mm in diameter. Our size guide helps you choose based on your wrist size and explains how to adjust the strap or bracelet.
Buying a watch as a gift
A watch is a gift that lasts. To get it right, think about the person's style: a classic watch for someone who often wears a shirt, a sports or military watch for a more casual style, an automatic watch for a mechanical watch enthusiast. An easy-to-adjust strap, such as a mesh one, fits almost any wrist. And if the model isn't right, you have 14 days from receipt to change your mind: see our returns conditions.