Recommended brands you should know if you are buying a dress watch

What kind of dress watch should I choose?

In fact, there are several types of dress watches, and depending on the design, they may be deemed inappropriate for the occasion.

This time, we will introduce you to the definition of a dress watch and how to choose one, which is something you will not regret knowing.

What is a dress watch that everyone should own?

"Dress watch"

The name alone gives a glamorous impression, but the connotation would be more accurately described as a "dress code" dress rather than a flashy dress for women.

A simple definition of a dress watch is "a watch for formal occasions such as weddings, funerals, and other formal occasions."

This is a watch that can be worn not only for formal occasions, but also for semi-formal and informal occasions such as parties, and even for business .

Specifically, these include occasions where formal attire is required, such as weddings and funerals, dinners and ceremonies at prestigious hotels, parties, and business settings.

If you are unsure which to choose, it may be a good idea to consider whether the attire required for the occasion is formal wear or a suit (business).

What makes a dress watch?

The requirements for a dress watch are slightly different for formal occasions and those for other occasions .

A dress watch is one that does not have a chronograph and is not too casual. So-called sports watches are not considered dress watches.

Here, we will explain the requirements for a dress watch, focusing on dress watches that are suitable for formal occasions with specific specifications .

Must be a two or three hand model

First of all, when choosing a dress watch, make sure to choose an analog watch with two or three hands . Please note that digital watches and smartwatches cannot be called dress watches, no matter how high-end they are.

Those who are not familiar with clocks may not understand the number of hands. There are three hands: hour hand, minute hand, and second hand. These are the basic hands of a normal clock .

So, is there a fourth hand? Actually, there is. It is called a 24-hour hand (GMT hand) and allows you to tell the time zone at a glance. There is also a chronograph hand that has a stopwatch function.

When it comes to dress watches, you should generally choose a simple watch without any unnecessary functions. However, unless the dress code is very strict, a date display or other date display function is often considered a good choice.

By the way, the order of formality is "2 hands (hour hand and minute hand) > 3 hands (clock, minute hand and second hand)" , so if you are choosing it exclusively for a more formal occasion, then 2 hands would be better.

This is because the watch has a second hand, which gives the impression that the watch is "keeping an eye on the time down to the second."

The case must be a thin model.

Since the main focus at weddings, funerals and other ceremonial occasions is always the recipient , it is best to choose a watch that is as inconspicuous as possible when it comes to accessories.

An elegant, thin model will make the wearer stand out more than a bold model. As a guide, choose one that is thin enough to be hidden under your sleeve.

In formal situations, watches with a bold design are not very popular. Recently, there has been an increase in large, imposing watches, but they do not suit formal occasions.

The dial must be inconspicuous, such as white or silver.

When attending a wedding, funeral, party, etc., there is another person who is the main character. Also, in formal situations, it is originally considered good manners not to wear a watch because it shows that "wearing a watch shows that you are concerned about time."

However, ceremonial occasions and parties last a long time. People have their own schedules, and it may not be the kind of thing that allows them to forget about time. As a practical matter, a watch is essential as a way to check the time.

However, it is true that there is such an unspoken understanding, so it has become good manners to wear hats in colors that are as inconspicuous as possible .

Generally, the dial color should be white, but gray and silver are also acceptable. Here too, it is a good idea to choose a watch by determining your priorities, such as "white > gray = silver."

If the occasion is relatively casual, simple colors will be fine , so it's best to choose according to the occasion. If you want to use it in all situations, inconspicuous colors will be more versatile.

The belt must be black leather

For more formal occasions, a black leather strap is appropriate. In the West, crocodile leather is considered the best choice for the upper classes, but in Japan, any black leather strap is acceptable.

However, metal straps are fine for casual parties that are not weddings or funerals. Of course, leather straps of other colors are also fine. It's good to remember that black leather straps are only for weddings and funerals.

By the way, these days there are a variety of materials available for cases, but you should choose one made of precious metal .

Recommended dress watch brands you should know about

Rolex

Rolex is the most well-known watch brand in Japan. Rolex has a collection of dress watches called Cellini . If you are looking for something completely formal, it is worth looking at the Cellini collection.

However, the price tends to be quite high. Therefore, in this article, we will introduce the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Boys as a dress watch that can be used for occasions other than weddings and funerals .

The Oyster model, which became the prototype for each Rolex model, is a masterpiece that, while simple, is packed with the best of Rolex .

Breguet

This luxury brand was founded by Breguet, the genius who accelerated the history of watches by 200 years . Many of the brand's products incorporate the designs of the genius Breguet in more sophisticated ways, and are full of a mysterious charm that is both classical and cutting-edge.

The image is of the Breguet Classic. It is a dress watch with a simple design and a black leather strap. It is gold so it cannot be used in formal situations, but it has enough dignity as a dress watch.

Breguet has many elegant dress watches like this one.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre is said to be a watch brand for gentlemen, and many of its watches have elegant and sophisticated designs without being overly assertive.

It is a first-class brand of dress watches and is extremely popular in the country of gentlemen, England.

A. Lange & Söhne

A. Lange & Söhne, which made a comeback as a German brand and quickly became one of the top brands, is also known for making simple and elegant dress watches .

The model in the image is the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia, a model that is known as the classic dress watch among A. Lange & Söhne's models.

Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin reigns as one of the three great watches in the world. Its simple yet elegant design makes it a first-class dress watch .

Vacheron Constantin watches are completely streamlined and bring out the beauty of their watches to the fullest, blending in with any setting and attracting attention.

Patek Philippe

It is one of the top three watch brands in the world and boasts the status of being the best watch in the world. If you want to add status to your watch, there is no better brand to choose.

The Calatrava in the image is said to be the pinnacle of dress watches among Patek Philippe, and is highly regarded as a dress watch.

Seiko

Seiko, known as one of the leading luxury brands in Japan, has made its technological capabilities known around the world, to the point that it was once said to surpass Swiss-certified chronometers.

The model in the image is a commemorative model for the 130th anniversary of Seiko's founding, and has been much talked about for being a sophisticated dress watch, even among Grand Seiko, which is relatively simple and has a relatively small number of sports watches.

summary

In this article, we have introduced the requirements and brands for a dress watch.

We have explained that even for dress watches, there are particularly strict requirements for formal occasions, such as the following :

• It is an analog clock
• It must be a two- or three-hand model (the more prestigious the model, the more likely it is to have two hands than three hands).
• The case must be a thin model.
• The dial must be inconspicuous, such as white, grey or silver.
• The belt must be black leather
• A watch made of precious metal

As a dress watch, having one that meets these criteria will be no problem.

The calendar and date functions are unlikely to be an issue unless you live with a very strict dress code.

He also mentioned that the conditions would be relaxed a bit more in more casual settings such as business and dinner parties.

• Freedom of dial color (avoid flashy designs)
• Colors other than black and metal strap materials

We have introduced seven brands of dress watches that are considered to have high status.

• Rolex
• Breguet
• Jaeger-LeCoultre
• A. Lange & Söhne
• Vacheron Constantin
• Patek Philippe
• Seiko

However, there are some watches that are unclear as to whether they meet the criteria of a dress watch. Also, it can be difficult to judge for yourself whether they are dress watches or not, depending on the occasion in which they will be used .

In such cases, please contact Commit Ginza, where we have appraisers who can advise you on the appropriate usage scenarios for the watch.

Thank you for reading.

If you are interested in a dress watch, please feel free to contact Commit Ginza!

If you are looking to buy a dress watch or sell it for a high price, be sure to come to Commit Ginza!

• "I want to sell my unused watch for as much as possible."
• "I want a thorough assessment."
• "I want to buy from a store with a good track record."
• "I want to buy luxury watches at low prices."

If you have these requirements, Commit Ginza is perfect for you !