A Few Tips for Giving A Watch This Christmas

If you are giving a watch this year for Christmas, here are a few tips that might make the whole process easier.

1. Consider the Needs of the Wearer.  Any watch give as a gift should match the wants and desires of the wearer.  If they are an outdoorsman, a dressy watch that looks great with a suit might not work.  If they are an older person, a busy watch with subdials and small day and date windows will be hard to read.  Think of the age, gender, and personality of the recipient when you select a watch.

2. Value Matters.  When giving a watch for a special occasion, the brand and value of the watch will matter.  There are lots of cheap Chinese watches from no name brands in the marketplace.  A $10 watch is fine for personal use, but it's rather chintzy for a gift.  Instead, give a watch from a name brand with a solid reputation whether it is Timex or Tissot.  A little research can tell you if a new brand has a good reputation.

3. Seek Something Unique.  The world is awash in watches.  To find something unique, you may have to research smaller watch brands like AVI-8.  Orient might be a good alternative to Seiko.  These brands have good reputations and bring something a little different to the market.

A Guide to Neo-Classic Watches for Men

AN OVERVIEW OF NEO-CLASSIC WATCHES

The next step up from the minimalist watch is the neo-classic watch.  Just as mid-century modern architecture and decor has become a thing, so have straight forward watches that are simple and functional.  They remind us of the watches that our fathers or grandfathers wore in the 1970s or 1980s.  I would submit that my classic Citizens Eco-Drive dress watch is an excellent example of a modern neo-classic watch.  It looks almost exactly like the kind of Citizen watch that would have been worn in the 1950s through the early 1970s.  But, underneath, it has a modern solar power plant that charges it up and keeps it running for a very long time.

Citizen Eco-Drive Dress Watch

Not every neo-classic watch is powered by the sun, but every neo-classic watch evokes a past era of classic watch design.  The watches of the 1960s and 1970s were basic and functional.  Today, these watches make great dress watches or business casual watches.  They are great in situations where you don't want to bring focus onto your watch.  When you just want a sensible, simple, and elegant timepiece, neo-classic watches are excellent choices.

Pulsar Men's Stainless Steel Dress Watch

Whenever I have a job interview, I choose a neoclassical watch like my Pulsar.   It's simple, easy to read, and it comes from a reputable manufacturer.  Here is a very similar Pulsar watch on Amazon for an amazing price.





You'll find many neoclassic watch designs from discount stores like Walmart on up. When giving such a watch as a gift, you'll want to make sure you select a brand that recipients have heard of and respect. Brands like Pulsar, Citizen, and Seiko excel as respectable manufacturers that most people have heard of and enjoy.

A Guide to Minimalist Watches for Men

Christmas is right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about which watch will make the perfect gift.  Amazon has put together their own guide to men's watches. It's a good place to start.  Over the years, I've looked at many watches myself and I've built a personal collection that is simply way to large.  I'd like to take a crack at a short guide myself.  Over the next few weeks, I will cover some important types of watches for men and provide a little advice for Christmas shoppers.

MINIMALIST WATCHES

I think the biggest trend in men's watches today is the trend towards minimalist watches.  Perhaps  MVMT watches best typify this trend.  They have an understated, no nonsense look that fits into today's modern business casual wardrobe.  MVMT watches look really good.  While MVMT has been on-point with their marketing, it's worth noting that minimalist watches have been around for a long time.  If you are physically shopping for a simple watch, you may be able to actually find watches by Skagen and other makers at the shopping mall.  Nearly every watch maker is offering a minimalist watch today.  Now, it's just a matter of selection one--and only one if you are a true minimalist.  I've covered a few minimalist watch choices here before.

A Minimalist Watch from Skagen's Grenen Brand

In era where smart phones can do nearly everything, minimalist watches do one thing well.  They present the time at a glance.  It's easy to think that any old maker can provide you with a decent minimalist watch.  In the Christmas season, I would urge buyers to stick to major brands with good reputations.  I didn't have really great luck when I bought a cheap Chinese minimalist watch.  It would have failed completely as a gift. If you have the money, Movado is the master of minimalism.


If you'd like to read a more extended guide to watches, this looks like a good one for e-readers like the Kindle.