I truly think that every man should own at least one dress watch. While I'm skewed towards dive watches (as shown by my latest posts about the Seamaster, Sumo and Ray watches), I definitely think that dress watch is something that a guy need to have in his arsenal - just when the times to dress up comes.

There's a few rules or so called guidelines when choosing a dress watch to wear. Remember, when going to a formal event, our entire attire will be scrutinized. I'm one of those guys that embodies "don't judge a book by its cover" but then we'll never be able to control what others might think of us. And I'd dare say it's always a good idea to put some effort to make yourselves look good and presentable to others.

And that includes wearing a good dress watch! Here are some tips in choosing a good watch (courtesy of this blog):

1. Has a slim profile: I believe this is a very important criteria for any dress watch. While wearing our jacket and tux, the sleeve will go all the way along our length. If the watch we're wearing is too thick (like those dive watches), then there will be an ugly bump on the cuff. Definitely not attractive!
2. A simple watch face design: Perhaps what's most people overlook is the attractiveness of a simple dial watch. While those chronographs do look great, it's only when you look at it closely. From a far, it will look like a big mess (which is what other people will see on your wrist).
3. Analog type: Last but not least, the watch needs to use an analog type of display aka the traditional watch with those needles and not the digital display. The reason is the analog display gives a certain traditional look that's pleasing on our eyes. Well, I'm not sure if it's just me but I never find those smartwatches attractive though their functionality is without question.

With that out of the way, I'll then list down some watches that can be a good option as your first dress watch. 

The first is this Seiko SARW011, a totally stunning white dress watch. What I love about this watch is how good it looks with that white dial and classical design. To top it off, the case is polished is a very high quality, something that Seiko is well known for. 

Another interesting feature of the watch is the power reserve indicator (at the left) and the date subdial (on bottom). This design makes the watch not symmetrical and yet it looks very nice at the same time! And a power reserve indicator is one of the best complication that an automatic watch need. So if you want a beautiful watch with good quality and movement, the SARW011 should be on your list. Read more about the watch on this site here.

Next up is the Tissot Visodate. It's one of Tissot's more affordable automatic watch, and yet I found it to be fully packed with value - and beauty. For a start, the watch dial is white in color with silver hands and markers that blend in nicely with it. The case is highly polished and exudes quality all around. And the domed sapphire crystal is one that needs to be seen to believe. It's beautifully made and causes the watch to be a marvel to look at. Last but not least, there's an open exhibition caseback so that we can see the movement inside. Check out this review to look at the Visodate's beautiful real life photos.

The last watch in this list is the Bulova Classic. It's hard to deny how good this watch looks. It has a beautiful open dial design that showcases its wheel balance inside. I really love how the hands and markers are outlined with gold that perfectly complementing the white dial. Not only that, the waffle texture on the inside of the dial and the circular pattern give the watch a complicated and yet beautiful facade. In a way, it's the opposite styling of the Tissot Visodate above.

So what do you think about dress watches? Do you feel that you need one? Let me know what you think in the comments section. Ciao!