dress watch

[boogiebot]

just wanted to get the opinion of the members on here. is a dress watch a must have in a collection?

[kilyung]

Not if you don't get dressed up. I'd say no - no point in owning a watch you rarely ever wear.

[boogiebot]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Not if you don't get dressed up. I'd say no - no point in owning a watch you rarely ever wear.

good point Mike. Its true dressing up only happens a couple times a year for me. And when i do i usually just wear a sub with the suit.

but lets say owning a watch like the JLC reverso, this is considered a dress watch right? and it does seem to have a wide range of wearability so to speak

[financeman]

I personally don't need a smaller "dress" watch in my collection because I think my subs looks just as good with a suit as they do with jeans. There is no need for me to buy a watch that can only be worn when I am dressed up. My TT sub looks great either way.

[sierra11b]

Although I can think of a dozen dress watches I would love to own there's plenty of versatile watches out there that can justify another worthwhile purchase.

To answer your question I say no , especially if you own a sub... But in my collection of strictly sports and dive watches I wanted something purty and with an exhibition back, and something substantial enough on the wrist not to be considered strictly dress. It also needed to be versatile for casual wear as I rarely dress.

For me I had five watches in mind and they were:

Grand Seiko SBGR061 (still on my list)
Grand Seiko SBGM021 (runner-up on my list for GS)
JLC Master Calendar (too cumbersome for my tastes and no exhibition back)
JLC MUT Moon (tempting but borders on the line of being strictly dress)

I went with what's in my avatar which was also on the list.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by boogiebot

good point Mike. Its true dressing up only happens a couple times a year for me. And when i do i usually just wear a sub with the suit.

but lets say owning a watch like the JLC reverso, this is considered a dress watch right? and it does seem to have a wide range of wearability so to speak

Ah. Yes, I guess the Reverso is now considered a dress watch in some cases although they were initially a gentleman's sport watch. It's a classy watch that can be dressed up or down so a definite from me.

[boogiebot]

Mike the Reverso looks super cool.

@ Eric - any of those watches you mentioned would be nice to own. in terms of sticking with that dress watch theme the JLC MUT moon wood really be the bees knees

@ Heath - what does a sub not go well with hahaha.

[steveclocks]

no, a sub can be a dresswatch too!
this said, I bought a Cartier Santos 100 and recently (for my Christmas) a Jaeger-LeCoutre Reverso Squadra Hometime

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=270603

so you really have to decide for yourself if you add one to your collection or not

[77T]

I can't agree on a Sub as a dress watch. It doesn't fit the discrete roles required in formal attire. Just my opinion.

But there can be a happy medium found in a 36mm DJ or DD. Either go well in business attire and dressier situations.

[Java]

I really struggle with "Dress watch" as a definition. In some senses I guess it should mean a watch with absolutely no complications, as in maximum 3 hands and no date. It should be slim and small enough to fit comfortably under a shirt cuff. In another sense anything that isn't actually a tool watch is a dress watch by definition.
Going beyond that, I could say that since the mechanical watch renaissance, every mechanical watch is a dress watch.

To answer the OP . Yes I think dress watches, by any definition, are a very important part of a watch collection, and by some definitions, the whole of the collection.

[yessir69]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Not if you don't get dressed up. I'd say no - no point in owning a watch you rarely ever wear.

What he said.

[joe100]

If you must, the Reverso really is a natural choice.

[p_mcgee]

I don't think so. My PP dress watch stays in the safe 95% of the time. It's nice to have but in retrospect perhaps I would have gotten more use out of a high end sports watch instead.

[vman]

Given the fact that sartorial elegance is on its death bed, you can easily get away without having a dress watch. My personal observations suggest that nobody will even notice as it has become quite acceptable to wear whatever you want whenever you want.

However, I refuse to follow the current trend and when I wear a suit, I have a dress watch on a leather strap. It is nothing to brag home about, but I think it looks way more sophisticated than a colorful Royal Oak Offsore that can't fit under a cuff. In fact, if I had to have a single watch in a collection it would be a dress watch. I have a cell phone for every other occasion.

[htc8p]

i wore my planet ocean with coat and tie to my sister's engagement. worked just fine. felt a little like james bond! hehe

but i would have worn my gmt2c if it were with me.

i refuse wear a dress watch. it feels "icky"

[ColT32]

Originally Posted by vman

Given the fact that sartorial elegance is on its death bed, you can easily get away without having a dress watch. My personal observations suggest that nobody will even notice as it has become quite acceptable to wear whatever you want whenever you want.

However, I refuse to follow the current trend and when I wear a suit, I have a dress watch on a leather strap. It is nothing to brag home about, but I think it looks way more sophisticated than a colorful Royal Oak Offsore that can't fit under a cuff.

What he said

[drchuck72]

I've struggled with this myself. Trying to justify the purchase of an expensive wristwatch that would spend most of the time (99%) in the watchbox. Which is why, even though I was in serious acquisition mode in 2012, all my purchases were sportswatches.

I've always just worn my Sub with everything but recently, I actually started wearing my Panerai (which doesn't always fit under the shirt cuff) with the OEM black Croc Strap as my dress watch. Again, most people won't notice but after reading the Watch Snob's take on must have watches, I have to admit, I agree that a dress watch should fit certain criteria:

leather strap
precious metal case
simple dial
elegant, slim case

When at a formal function, I notice, and admire, proper dress watches that I see from the well known watch houses (JLC, PP, VC, Breguet etc). As mentioned before, the sartorial rules have been pretty much thrown out the window so you see oversized Invictas being worn with suits and even tuxes (bleh!) so the proper dress watch isn't a must but when funds allow, I will be looking into a Jaeger LeCoultre Master Calendar in the future.

[vman]

Originally Posted by drchuck72

I've always just worn my Sub with everything but recently, I actually started wearing my Panerai (which doesn't always fit under the shirt cuff) with the OEM black Croc Strap as my dress watch.

I had the same issue with my Panerai. I could never get it fit under a cuff and I did not feel like re-making my shirts. Moreover, I have a nasty habit of wearing a watch one either of my wrists, so it would entail enlarging both of the cuffs.

Do not fear of dress watches. If you dress properly, you won't regret them a single bit. The watches will slide nicely under the cuff and stay protected. I have yet to get major scuffs -- knock on wood -- on my 36mm Nomos. A jacket over a shirt will offer even more protection.

I will be honest -- the dress watch thing is new to me as well. I have changed my mind after I saw a well dressed gentlemen with a dangling ROO that he could not fit under his cuff. It was somewhat comical as the color of the watch totally clashed with his outfit.

[TattooedGQ]

I wear my dress watch often enough to warrant it. I'm in a suit all day at work, but it's work, so I wear everything, sports, casual, divers, etc....but when I go out in a suit or a tux its always my Cellini. Hell sometimes I'll wear it with a T and Jeans just to feel classy lol

[steveclocks]

Originally Posted by htc8p

i wore my planet ocean with coat and tie to my sister's engagement. worked just fine. felt a little like james bond! hehe

but i would have worn my gmt2c if it were with me.

i refuse wear a dress watch. it feels "icky"

exactly how I feel about it ! Even if I own two "dress"watches myself

[FeelingTheBlues]

Well I mostly own dress watches but I cannot say I really wear them this way, all my watches are being work with jeans as well as with fancier outfits, I find them very versatile but they are not as sporty as a lot I see on this forum.

[Widows Son]

The Watch Snob defines a dress watch perfectly. Nothing looks goofier than a sports watch sticking out below a cuff. I was at Lodge last night, wore a black suit with my vintage gold Seamaster on a black strap, perfect!!!!

[Longhorn]

I was told the "definition" of a proper dress watch is a precious metal and one simple complication usually a seconds hand or a sub-seconds dial. Must be thin and on a leather strap. Granted the man was trying to sell me a Calatrava. For a formal occasion I generally throw my Tissot Le Locle on a leather strap and leave the sub at home. I am looking to get a dress type watch this year. Reverso seems to fit the bill!

[AzPaul]

If nothing else, the 'need' for a dress watch is a great excuse to go vintage.

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

If nothing else, the 'need' for a dress watch is a great excuse to go vintage.

Exactly! That's why I got this:

[shafran]

[warren G.]

I don't think a dress watch is require in one's collection. It also really depends on your style. I tend to be more on the business casual on most days.

[drchuck72]

Originally Posted by shafran

NICE!

[capote]

There really are no "must have" watches IMO, but I really like dress watches myself. Speaking of which, I came across this photo surfing tonight.



Pic off the internet

[Cabaiguan]

I love the MUT. Very classy piece.