You have one watch but two straps: steel bracelet, or leather.

What do you wear?

Deliberately no details about the watch, just interested if there is an accepted preference for formal wear. Leather is not cracked/aged/vintage.

 

Plain black leather, understated but elegant.

 

In your scenario, a dress watch on plain black leather. Strictly speaking however wrist watches shouldn't be worn with black tie and you should either go matchless or wear a pocket watch in your waistcoat. Nobody cares about such things today though really.

 

No wristwatches with a tux or dinner jacket



Insulting and disrespectful to the host for you to check the time during the event and I'm not kidding

 

Theses responses are consistent with my understanding of Formal Etiquette. However, I don't think it really applies in modern age... a more appropriate ban would be on smart phones at a formal event - given the above rues, it would be insulting to look at your wristwatch, but perfectly acceptable to check your twitter account...

I will continue to advocate for the 'Dress Watch'...

 

I don't have much business in black-tie situations, but generally if I'm dressing up I'm wearing a black-face watch without an external bezel, on a black leather strap. My 2447 Carrera seems to manage the job well enough, though while it looks great with a suit it'd likely look out of place with a tuxedo.

 

Here in the relaxed state of California, USA, you're as likely to find a Timex Indiglo as a precious metal mechanical marvel. And if the demographic is under age 30 you may find nothing at all on the wrist, not as a matter of etiquette but as a matter of preference.
I agree that black tie attire calls for a naked wrist. In formal situations where a dress watch is encouraged, a simple 3-hander on a plain black strap is probably the most appropriate as tradition goes. However, tradition is rarely observed in our time (and sunny locale)!
I'll wait and see if this evolves into a thread of recommendations and photos, which I'll admit has been done before but I love it every time! Vacheron Constantin Patrimony? Whoops, didn't mean to throw that out there...

 

Whatever I feel like on the day that looks appropriate.

Most likely leather, a Cartier tank, i used to have a Louis Cartier Gold that fits the bill. Now I have a silver Must that is ok. A thin gold vintage dress.

Then again, maybe I feel all bold and get a PO in there... Or I feel Bond (ish) and wear an sm300 or an smp.

So... I don't know.

 

Yep.

Here's my choice for those events:


Molnija Pocket Watch by Troels Ølholm, on Flickr


Molnija Pocket Watch by Troels Ølholm, on Flickr

Russian pocket watch from 1951. Cheap and looks the part.

 

I would usually wear black leather but it would depend on the event.

Not all black tie events are as formal as each other, though.

 

I work for the government - in Denmark, which is pretty left-wing to begin with

 

Question: Whats the point banning wristwatches but allowing pocket watches. As it is an insult to the host to check the time, a quick glance at the wrist would be more subtle in my opinion then fiddling a pocket watch out of your tux, opening it up and checking the time. Or is this the proper way to insult the host in style then ? . I prefere a square silver watch with a black dial on a black leather strap btw.

 

I think it's two things.

One: tux and tails are such old fashioned and classic wear that truly it makes sense to be very classic.
two: Tux and tails are supposed to be fitted...shirts be cuff-link shirts. sleeves tight....as such they are typically not as well suited for wrist watches.

 

I vote pocket watch for formal events, and would also suggest a smaller one about a 12s would be good.
Damn I need to clean that dial.

 

Either black leather or 18kt.

 

"Black tie" outfit


and watch - simple gold vintage 1003



Scottish style ftw

 

Depending on how formal, no watch or black leather strap dress watch. If I were to wear a watch I would go with my JLC UT Duoface.

 

Here's mine (I'm the one in black) :

-deleted-

...Your trousers outshine my efforts by a huge margin.