The 7 Watches to Wear to be Effortlessly Elegant

Nowadays, elegance takes on many forms, from the slim and sleek silhouettes of classic Ivy League prep to the heavy selvedge denim of Amerikaji.

Watches share this freedom in standards and aesthetics: from the classic slim lines of vintage watches to avant-garde cases that stand out in one’s wardrobe, gone are the days where a beloved timepiece was only saved for formal occasions.

The right watch can add a touch of elegance in any menswear look, whether you want to look like an innovative techie, an ambitious Ivy League gentleman, or leather-clad rider. Here are some selections, from trusted silhouettes to new classics.

Cartier Tank

Nothing is as ubiquitous in classic menswear as the Cartier Tank.

What started out as a military-inspired timepiece has grown to become the definitive casual and dress piece for men. From Muhammad Ali to Andy Warhol, the Cartier Tank transcends boundaries through space and time. It is its own autonomous timepiece—a watch for anything and everything.

Coming in different iterations and dial colors, there is a Cartier Tank for just about anyone. A great introduction to the line is the Tank Must, which comes in green, red, and black.

Blending in with various outfits and occasions, the Cartier Tank is never the wrong choice for the menswear enthusiast.

Ming

Watchmaking’s history has long been Eurocentric, with modern horology focusing on Western markets until the entry of Seiko in the early 1900s. Southeast Asian watchmaking was never heard of and thought to be impossible—until recently.

Horologer Ming is an independent Kuala Lumpur-based watch brand bringing out timepieces that feature community collaboration.

Ming has developed a knack for creating timepieces that include the input of their customers and fans. Known for clean lines and open shapes that bleed elegance, Ming does not mess around with the audience they cater to.

The brand made headways in the world of horology when they won the Horological Revelation Prize at the 2019 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. To wear a Ming is to carry handsome Southeast Asian pride.

The Original Grand Seiko

The first Grand Seiko is a product of years of research and development to create the quintessential watch that encapsulates Seiko’s exacting standards.

With the brand’s currently enormous lineup of watches and special editions, the first Grand Seiko presents itself as the modest of them all, but that does not discount its deep history.

For the elegant man, the first Grand Seiko is class and design presented in one package. The diminutive dial and applied gold hour markers give this watch an understated presence. The handwind movement gives the wearer a tactile and physical connection to the watch, something that automatic movements miss.

As they say, you never forget your first.

Kuoe Kyoto

Price isn’t always the bearer of quality: this goes for both menswear and watches alike. For those getting into the game early, one wouldn’t want to spend large amounts of money on something they’d rarely wear.

Kuoe Kyoto is the brand for those getting into their watch game while keeping their wallets intact.

Hailing from Kyoto, Japan, Kuoe presents itself as the watchmaker bringing classic designs at an affordable price—at least, relative within the world of watch collecting. The designs of Kuoe pay respect to military designs borne out of the Second World War.

Legible markers and large Arabic numerals adorn the bright dials of their original watches. The sterile dials play well with styles that are more avant-garde, with the watch playing a more supportive role in the grand scheme of the outfit.

Omega Constellation

We all want to be special, to stand out from the crowd. This means being different, acting different, speaking different, wearing different. For watches, that entails attaining those that are deemed “under the radar” or underrated.

An Omega Constellation is the way to go as a marker for those “in the know.” The line’s goal of perfect accuracy is no longer important in this day and age of quartz perfection, but that’s not why one buys into the Constellation.

The Constellation is one of a kind. It differs itself from the crowd. The pie pan dial is designed to jump out of the watch case, pulling the viewer and wearer in.

Pair this with the beautiful applied hour markers and subtle sword hands, the Constellation presents itself as the perfect wrist pairing. It avoids the limelight, it is not the life of the party. Standing by the side with an XO cognac in hand, the watch oozes confidence. It knows its worth.

Hamilton Ventura

Kick it down. Shut ‘em out. Throw it out the window. Now is not the time for standards and rules, especially for watch design.

Under the cuff, the Hamilton Ventura is a statement piece. We’ve spoken about how watches are more supplementary pieces to an overall outfit, but not here. The Ventura boasts a boundary-pushing triangle case design, guiding the eyes of any passerby to the wrist.

Choosing it shows that you like a bold statement: to care not for blending with the crowd, but to shout with an independent confidence, but still retain an elegant touch.

Frederique Constant Moneta Moonphase

Elegance is present in the most minute of details. The short welt on a pair of leather shoes, irregular hand stitching on lapels, the simplistic steel hands on a classic watch.

The Frederique Constant Moneta Moonphase is elegance in a neat package. The Moneta does away with the current trend of gaudy and oversized watches by coming in a more meager case size.

Pair that with a clean dial guiding the eyes to the main act of this play: the moonphase. Most moonphases do not come in this price range, with the Moneta punching above its weight in terms of design and overall price package.

The moonphase acts as a visual weight in an outfit, pulling the eyes towards the rest of the ensemble. Overall, the Moneta acts as a supporting act in the grand scheme of an attire.

Photos Cartier, MING, Grand Seiko, Kuoe Kyoto, Omega, Hamilton, and Frederique Constant via respective websites