What is a "dress watch" today?

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,810

SkunkPrince

·Jul 14, 2020

Sort of curious which of my watches might be considered a "dress watch". I would wear any of them with jeans or business casual. With a suit? Perhaps any of them again, but not likely. For example, I have a few military or military-inspired. Those are likely a bit too casual.

My Omega 2627s, one gold on steel, the other gold fill (with two reference numbers) are definitely dress watches.

Here is a pic:

From left to right:

1. Lemania rose-gold maual wind
2. Croton Aquamatic
3. Omega Railmaster LE
4. Omega CK 2390 with 30T2

I would consider any of these a dress watch. How about you?

 

Posts

8,626

Likes

71,308

Spruce

·Jul 14, 2020·Sunburst dial fan

Purely a personal view but my take is that the Omega (4) and the Lemania would qualify as 'dress' watches, fine dressed down but also good with a 'lounge' suit or a dinner jacket (tuxedo) but the other two, whilst perfectly nice, and wearable with anything, are not classic dress watches.

I await the justifiable brickbats!

 

Posts

4,997

Likes

18,549

Shabbaz

·Jul 14, 2020

1, 2 and 4.

 

Posts

1,243

Likes

3,842

wristpirate

·Jul 14, 2020

1. the gold Lemania.

IMO dress watches are made of precious metals. Stainless steel is toolwatch territory.

 

Posts

8,626

Likes

71,308

Spruce

·Jul 14, 2020·Sunburst dial fan

wristpirate

1. the gold Lemania.

IMO dress watches are made of precious metals. Stainless steel is toolwatch territory.

I’d probably agree with you, at least in part, if dress watches were worn exclusively with evening dress but stainless steel had a 'cachet' when it was first introduced and is perfectly fine with a daytime lounge suit and, arguably, a little less ostentatious (?).

(More brickbats heading my way? It’s just that I’m English and we have a poor reputation for being finicky about these things 😀)

 

Posts

24,246

Likes

53,991

Dan S

·Jul 14, 2020

The Railmaster seems sporty to me. But by today's standards, the other three could serve as dress watches IMO.

 

Posts

4,997

Likes

18,549

Shabbaz

·Jul 14, 2020

wristpirate

1. the gold Lemania.

IMO dress watches are made of precious metals. Stainless steel is toolwatch territory.

I think it depends on the occassion and the job. For me as a lawyer I dont think it's appropiate (how do you write this) to wear a gold watch. It's a bit to flashy and people may think they are paying me for the watch iso the knowledge. Under a suit SS watches look great and they are in my book the ultimate suit and dress watches. But I do like gold as well. But more for the evening during a business dinner or a tuxedo evening. By the way, I like my gold watches the most with slippers and bermuda

 

Posts

8,626

Likes

71,308

Spruce

·Jul 14, 2020·Sunburst dial fan

Shabbaz

I think it depends on the occassion and the job. For me as a lawyer I dont think it's appropiate (how do you write this) to wear a gold watch. It's a bit to flashy and people may think they are paying me for the watch iso the knowledge. Under a suit SS watches look great and they are in my book the ultimate suit and dress watches. But I do like gold as well. But more for the evening during a business dinner or a tuxedo evening. By the way, I like my gold watches the most with slippers and bermuda

Also speaking as a lawyer, I agree with my learned friend 😉

 

Posts

3,401

Likes

13,196

MtV

·Jul 14, 2020

Not a lawyer, but completely with you two. Gold watches are evening accessories for me, imo it’s just that tiny bit too... showy is already too strong a word. It looks like a more special occasion, let’s put it like this. That’s not to say that I don’t like or wear them, quite the contrary. But for work (in a suit) I find myself usually picking the steel examples.

 

Posts

1,542

Likes

3,354

Engee

·Jul 14, 2020

1,2 and 4. Certainly the Lemania, but that's not to say that a gold watch can't be distinctly un-dressy if it's on a casual strap. I have a gold-plate 162.009 on a blue leather strap and to me it's very jeansy.

 

Posts

8,626

Likes

71,308

Spruce

·Jul 14, 2020·Sunburst dial fan

Engee

1,2 and 4. Certainly the Lemania, but that's not to say that a gold watch can't be distinctly un-dressy if it's on a casual strap. I have a gold-plate 162.009 on a blue leather strap and to me it's very jeansy.

I just felt that the Croton Aquamatic, nice though it is, looked a little too sporty. The dial is not conventionally classic, with the deco numerals, and the case is a little 'clunkier' than is usually the case, as would befit an elderly waterproof watch.

 

Posts

1,534

Likes

3,238

amcclell

·Jul 14, 2020

1, 2 and 4. I am a civil servant and have no issues with gold. Nobody but me knows whether it is gold capped or solid.

 

Posts

73

Likes

71

Heisen0erg

·Jul 14, 2020

For me personally, anything would qualify as a dress watch A) that is meant to be paired with a leather strap (or a milanese), B) that has a simple dial (preferably uni color) and no complications (I would even go as far as to say that the watch shouldn't have any seconds. Only hours and minutes. Perfect for when you go out to a nice classy place, where you meet people and where time should be forgotten while you enjoy yourself.). Criteria C) is that the potential watch needs to be ultra slim so that it easily fits under a nice dress and So that it makes you forget the watch and the time altogether.

My perfect dress watch would be this beauty:

But since you want us to comment on your watches:
I would say watch 1, 2 and 4 are to be considered dress watches. The Railmaster not so much since it reminds me somewhat of the windows on a submarine boat.

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,810

SkunkPrince

·Jul 14, 2020

Heisen0erg

For me personally, anything would qualify as a dress watch A) that is meant to be paired with a leather strap (or a milanese), B) that has a simple dial (preferably uni color) and no complications (I would even go as far as to say that the watch shouldn't have any seconds. Only hours and minutes.

You do not know how much this tempts me!

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-int/h38525771-jazzmaster.html

 

Posts

849

Likes

1,749

3nicewatches

·Jul 14, 2020

SkunkPrince

You do not know how much this tempts me!

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-int/h38525771-jazzmaster.html

Come on. We’re a bunch of people obsessed with watches. We know...

 

Posts

5,636

Likes

5,810

SkunkPrince

·Jul 14, 2020

3nicewatches

Come on. We’re a bunch of people obsessed with watches. We know...

When you have that nice Lemania, you can do without the Hamilton. Believe it or not, I am trying to be responsible!

 

Posts

1,107

Likes

1,655

arturo7

·Jul 14, 2020

Simple dial + gold, ss, or black leather band.

 

Posts

1,502

Likes

5,697

KingCrouchy

·Jul 14, 2020

3nicewatches

Come on. We’re a bunch of people obsessed with watches. We know...

I just discovered the Boulton on the Hamilton Website, and now I want it.

 

Posts

849

Likes

1,749

3nicewatches

·Jul 14, 2020

KingCrouchy

I just discovered the Boulton on the Hamilton Website, and now I want it.

Yeah, I also went sniffing around the Hamilton website as well after that earlier post. Sometimes, this forum is bad news!

 

Posts

5,522

Likes

9,437

BlackTalon

·Jul 14, 2020·This Space for Rent

Funny, but the one I would reach for is #3 (Railmaster). I always need to tone down the whole 'dressed up' thing. I stopped wearing my gold Movado dress watch two decades ago.