What Makes A Watch Good for Work?

A sensible watch is an important part of a any man's wardrobe. Outside of creative fields or sales, the primary purpose of a work watch is to tell time and project an image of competence. In creative fields, you may want your watch to express your creativity. In sales, you may want a watch that helps align your status with those of your clients. In law or medical practice, you may want your watch to assert authority, competence, and a degree of success. For the rest of us, a competent professional watch should suffice. 

This old Pulsar Quartz Watch is a nearly perfect work watch

Here are a few components of a professional looking watch for the workplace. To me, there are four main  factors to consider:

• Readability
• Distraction-Free
• Reliable Brand
• Wardrobe Compatible

First, a watch you wear to work, should be readable. In a normal office setting, you should be able to quickly glance at your timepiece and know what time it is. Just as being on your phone during a meeting is considered rude, obviously glancing at your watch during a meeting is a bit of a faux pas. A readable watch should provide you the time with only the most incidental of discreet glances. Of course, you'll still want to know when the boring meeting ends.

Timex is a reliable brand for work watches

Second, your watch should not cause a distraction in the workplace for yourself or your co-workers. Generally, you don't want to bring a meeting to a screeching halt with your co-workers asking questions about your flashy new watch. You also don't want to circle your section of the cubicle farm flapping your arms like a bird because your vintage watch doesn't like sedentary office work.

This Hilfiger Quartz 3-hand watch is a simple attractive watch for work.

Third, you'll want to wear a watch from a brand that people have heard of and have found reliable over the years.  This generally means brands like Armitron, Bulova, Citizen, Fossil, Hilfiger, Lacoste, Nautica, Orient, Seiko, and Timex. The watch  brand you choose is an extension of your own personal brand. If you aren't a senior-level employee, a brand like Tudor or Rolex might brand you as a trust fund baby. An Ali Express special might send the signal that you're ok with outsourcing to save money. A big honking gold Invicta might let everyone know you are a made man with a "no show" union job in New Jersey. It's brutal, but I don't make the rules.

Finally, the watch you wear should complement and blend in with your other wardrobe choices. That allows for a bit of freedom on any given day and let's you show that you have a degree of taste and refinement.