Watch Styles

Watch Styles: Casual Watches

Perhaps the best place to start in the discussion of what makes a watch "casual" is the case material. Stainless steel (normally 316L, which is a surgical-grade, hypoallergenic steel) is by far and away the most common material used for casual watches. It is increasingly common to see this steel pla...

Watch Styles: Dress Watches

If you want to get a good idea of what the modern watchmaking industry regards as a dress watch, you have to look back in time to the classic, thin watches that used to be worn by many. Common features include a small (by modern standards), gold (or gold-toned) watch, with a classical typeface (either Roman numerals or an elegant Arabic script) or baton markers, set against a plain dial background.

Watch Styles: Fashion Watches

In a world of luxury watches, the term "Fashion watch" can feel confusing or even derisive. But, in reality, the fashion watch played a huge role in returning mechanical watchmaking back to popularity and reviving the industry overall. In the late 1970s...

Watch Styles: Military Watches

Military watches were born out of an essential need - survival. Exactly when wristwatches first started being worn in combat situations is very unclear. Some say that the German Imperial Navy wore timepieces made by Girard-Perregaux as early as 1880. Others believe that British soldiers during the Boer war (1889-1902) or that the Japanese personnel involved in the Sino-Japanese war (1894-1895) were the first to don wristwatches.

Watch Styles: Pilot's Watches

It is almost certain that you have seen a Pilot's watch in your life before. These large, clean and clear timepieces are popular for their straightforward design and a high degree of legibility. One of the most appealing things about Pilot's watches is that they are clearly built for purpose. They ...

Watch Styles: Dive Watches

The dive watch segment is perhaps one of the most crowded and competitive in the watch industry. But how did these serious tools that play a significant role in keeping recreational and commercial divers safe become such a voluminous segment of the watch market? As watchmaking took strides to redefi...

Watch Styles: Racing Chronographs

Racing chronographs make up a very specific, but highly popular niche of watchmaking. In fact, as a testament to their popularity, the most expensive wristwatch ever sold - at a price tag of $17,750,000 - is a racing chronograph. But before we discuss the remarkable story of that particular watch, l...

Watch Styles: Railroad Watches

Many of humanity's great inventions were born of necessity. This was particularly true in the 20th century, where the post-industrial world saw an explosion of scientific discovery and technological progress. One invention, which pre-dated the 20th century but became increasingly relied upon, was ra...

Watch Styles: Sports Watches

In 2019, Odell Beckham Junior stepped onto the field in Week 1 of the NFL football season with a 350k Richard Mille strapped to his wrist. He wasn't alone. Tennis star Rafael Nadal powered his way to a 19th Grand Slam title while sporting the same brand. On the greatest stage, under the brightest li...

Watch Styles: Luxury Watches

A dictionary definition of luxury is, " a material object, [or] service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity ". The key word, especially in the context of luxury watches, is "necessity". Under that definition, many mechan...