Whether at the office or a cocktail party, the dress watch is seen paired with formal or semi-formal attire. The dress watch is known for its elegance and modest design but has evolved over time. Even though it is a more formal watch, it can be seen today with a sports blazer and jeans. So what are the traditional characteristics of a dress watch and what has changed?
Dress Watch Characteristics
Size: Watches have gotten bigger in size compared to the mid-1900s watches. So, it's not a shock to imagine a traditional watch being small by today's standards. A classic dress watch diameter should be between 34mm to 36mm for a round watch face. For a modern dress watch, this can go up to around 40mm but it really is the preference of the wearer.
Similarly to the diameter size, a traditional dress watch should be small or slim in its profile to fit under a dress shirt cuff. The classic dress watch should be around 8mm to 10mm thick. Modern dress watches, with the bigger sizes, will be thicker and can be less than 15mm thick.
Simple Design: Dress watches were known for their simple design. Traditional dress watches typically would have no complications or extra features outside of the standard hour, minute and second hands and maybe a date window. These watches were made not to draw much attention, but still show its elegance and refinement. The simplistic design conveys that. Modern dress watches have added complications to their designs. You can see multiple design features on newer watches like an open heart design and moonphase complications. Just like the size of the watch, it really is the preference of the wearer and what make you feel good with what's on your wrist.
Watch Strap: Traditional watch straps are made from a fine leather. Classic dress watches can be seen with a smooth leather strap to an alligator grain straps. Modern dress watches have moved into the metal strap arena from oyster to mesh bracelets.
Case Metal and Finish: Sticking with the elegance of the dress watch, the material of the case is traditionally a precious metal like gold or platinum and has a polished finish. Modern dress watches have used stainless steel. This is a great alternative to a precious metal if you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a dress watch. Polished stainless steel definitely has an elegant look.
So whether you want to stick to the traditional characteristics or not, it's all about your preference and what make you feel good. So, what do you prefer?
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