What is a "dress watch" today?

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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!
I agree that 1 and 4 are dress watches, but I believe that a tuxedo requires a black dial (on preferably gold watch).
 
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I agree that 1 and 4 are dress watches, but I believe that a tuxedo requires a black dial (on preferably gold watch).

A gentleman, wearing a tuxedo (I assume you mean "evening dress"?), does not wear a common wrist-watch. He wears, instead, an understated pocket watch in his waist-coat.

If he must participate in such vulgarity, only a watch presented by the lads in the regiment from the Great War will do.
 
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A gentleman, wearing a tuxedo (I assume you mean "evening dress"?), does not wear a common wrist-watch. He wears, instead, an understated pocket watch in his waist-coat.
You’re both wrong. He wears a Seamaster.
 
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54 years ago, I wore this for a dress watch. Last time I dressed up. Still wear it on occasion.

 
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Because watches have become something of a novelty (at least ones not branded by Apple) it's fun to wear just about anything, dress or not.
 
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I always enjoy an elegant smaller sized gold watch for the most dressy of occasions. This would be my go to at the moment a 34mm Omega Geneve:

In the broader understanding of the term where business wear is concerned I would probably lean towards stainless steel and again smaller in size, like this IWC:

Or for a smart casual, 'technical' professional, maybe something that shows more personality like an older watch from the 40s, like this two tone Zenith:
 
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I always enjoy an elegant smaller sized gold watch for the most dressy of occasions. This would be my go to at the moment a 34mm Omega Geneve:

In the broader understanding of the term where business wear is concerned I would probably lean towards stainless steel and again smaller in size, like this IWC:

Or for a smart casual, 'technical' professional, maybe something that shows more personality like an older watch from the 40s, like this two tone Zenith:
Love the older Genèves from the 50s and early 60s. Beautiful, high quality pieces.
 
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You’re both wrong. He wears a Seamaster.

He is an entertainer wearing what Omega cut a check for him to wear.
 
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Of the OPs 4 options, I'd choose between 1 and 4 depending on whether gold is preferred for the occasion. In both cases definitely on leather.
I never really have reason to dress up these days but this is what I'd wear.

 
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Of the OPs 4 options, I'd choose between 1 and 4 depending on whether gold is preferred for the occasion. In both cases definitely on leather.
I never really have reason to dress up these days but this is what I'd wear.

Okay, you win 🥰
 
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What an interesting topic. The lines are more blurred than ever as fashions have become more tribal and relaxed. At black-tie events you will now see a mixture of looks (rightly or wrongly). Whilst I wouldn’t wear my Gshock, I have worn my Panerai 233, I might wear my Speedmaster on a black strap, but more recently I’ve considered getting an OEM black leather and deployant for my Seamaster 300 as I feel that is a great modern balance between sports, casual and dress, with 3 hands, black dial and black bezel.
 
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You’re both wrong. He wears a Seamaster.
I’d wear an Invicta with my black tie if the product placement fee was high enough.
 
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Okay, you win 🥰
Damn it @Spruce, if you make me the winner I'll need to go out and buy a fancy new dress wardrobe to go with the watch, and then put myself out there to get invitations to fancy-pants dressy events. I'm feeling stressed. 😟
 
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He is an entertainer wearing what Omega cut a check for him to wear.
Ernst Blofeld weighs in ...
 
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@SkunkPrince, I'd wear any of your four with a suit for work, but only 1, 2 or 4 with black tie. There’s a lot more flexibility now than there used to be, but for a true and traditional dress watch, I think you won’t go far wrong with sticking to the old rules:

1. Black leather strap
2. Uncluttered face
3. Black or white/silver dial
 
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I always enjoy an elegant smaller sized gold watch for the most dressy of occasions. This would be my go to at the moment a 34mm Omega Geneve:

In the broader understanding of the term where business wear is concerned I would probably lean towards stainless steel and again smaller in size, like this IWC:

Or for a smart casual, 'technical' professional, maybe something that shows more personality like an older watch from the 40s, like this two tone Zenith:
Really like the Geneve - thats a good period for them. Not sure that the later ones were as attractive a watch.
 
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Really like the Geneve - thats a good period for them. Not sure that the later ones were as attractive a watch.
Agreed. They were originally positioned just below the flagship Constellation line, but beginning in the mid-60s Omega began shifting them toward an entry level watch and the line was ultimately discontinued in 1979. The early Genèves are getting harder to find now in good condition.