Baselworld 2006: 4 Watches For Every Occasion

This month, a fascinating international conference/exhibition that most men have never heard of took place in Switzerland: Baselworld. At this annual event, virtually every significant watchmaker assembles to show off what’s new for that year in the world of timepieces.

Why should you care? The reason is simple: A man’s watch serves as his single most important fashion accessory. If attending the most recent Baselworld exhibition taught me anything, it’s that no other accessory can define a man’s style as successfully as the watch he wears. So, become watch-savvy by learning about the four types of watches to wear on different occasions, complete with great style tips and recommendations straight from Switzerland.

1- The everyday watch

This watch is as basic as it sounds; every man should have a status quo watch. You would wear this watch to places like work, the supermarket or even when hanging out at a friend’s house.

While an everyday watch can take a number of different forms, a few potential characteristics tend to stand out. For starters, stainless steel is ideal. An everyday watch needs to be relatively durable, so a watch that could rust just won’t cut it.

Another nice benefit of stainless steel is its neutrality. An everyday watch should look good with virtually any casual to semi-formal outfit. If your watch is yellow, orange or purple, your potential clothing options will be limited. You should also stay away from anything too gaudy; if your watch has diamonds or cubic zirconia, it goes without saying that it’ll look over-the-top.

While your everyday watch doesn't have to be high-end, I would suggest at least splurging for something that runs in the middle-range. Designers like Kenneth Cole and Seiko offer plenty of great looking watches that fall into the moderate, but reasonable, price range. For an everyday watch a little on the higher end, check out the steel-on-steel Omega Speedmaster Professional 1861 -- an updated version of the classic Omega watch used by astronauts. I figure if it’s good enough for NASA and James Bond, an Omega will serve most men’s everyday wear quite well. 

Think digital watches are straight from the ‘80s? Find out how to pull them off in the 21^st century... Next Page >>