How To Choose A Woman’s Watch

With so many designs available on the market, watches are far from obsolete. Not only is it quicker and more convenient to check time on your wristwatch rather than the phone, these accessories are also invaluable when pulling together a balanced thought-out look. Depending on the watch style you choose, you can finish off you look as strict office wear, luxurious and glamorous, or minimal chic.

So what exactly should you look at when choosing a watch? Here are some things you should consider before you make the purchase.

What Strap Material To Choose For A Woman’s Watch

When it comes to the material of the watch band, the most common options are stainless steel, leather, canvas, ceramics, and rubber or silicone. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material.

Metal Strap Watches For Women

First of all, metal band watches somehow look more luxurious and high-end even if they are not really expensive.

Secondly, metal straps are very durable and are unlikely to break. The link strap won’t stretch noticeably.

Stainless steel straps are also easy to keep clean as you don’t have to worry about getting them wet or sweaty.

While there are not a lot of color options when it comes to metal watch bands, there are still plenty of bracelet designs to choose from - from Milanese or Shark mesh to classic Oyster or Jubilee strap to more contemporary and intricate designs.

Among the downsides to the metal strap watches are the fact that they are simply not as comfortable to the skin as they leather strap, for instance. The link bracelet can scratch your wrist and if your arms are not completely hairless, once in a while the hair will get caught between the metal links and you can imagine that it won’t feel great.

Another thing to remember when choosing the metal strap watch is that most probably you’ll need to adjust the bracelet length to fit your wrist. This is done by removing metal links from the bracelet. If you’re buying the watch offline, you can usually do it right in the store, but if you’re buying online, you’ll need to take your timepiece to the watch shop or a local jewellery store.

If we’re taking the watch weight into consideration, metal bracelet timepieces are also heavier than watch bands from other materials.

Leather Strap Watches For Women

Leather or vegan leather strap watches come in a variety of styles and colors. The color options are definitely bigger than those with the metal timepieces.

The biggest advantage of a leather band watch though is that it feels very comfortable to your skin and as it ages it feels even softer. Compared to a metal band watch, the leather strap wristwatch is also more lightweight.

Style-wise, a quality leather strap timepiece is hands-down the best dress watch to complement a business look. Moreover, a leather band watch has a timeless look that lends itself well to practically any style, from business smart to city casual.

As for the disadvantages of leather straps, they are certainly less durable and will wear out faster than those made of stainless steel or ceramics. The first to go are usually the small leather strap holders.

On hot summer days or during workouts, a leather strap against your skin can cause extra sweating and get sticky on the wrist. Besides, leather absorbs the sweat and traps odors, so after a while it may get smelly and the strap will need to be replaced. However, there are leather performance watch straps with rubber lining and groove structure, such as Hirsch Performance James or Tiger watch straps. The rubber or silicon back lining means the watch is easy to clean and won’t absorb sweat or smells, while the groove structure ensures ventilation.

Fabric Strap Watches For Women

Unlike leather straps, canvas or nylon watch bands are perfect for summer looks. They don’t cause your wrist to sweat and you can wash them with soap if they get dirty.

Canvas straps come in variety of colors and patterns and are less expensive, so you can stock up and change your watch style every other day.

One limitation of a fabric watch band is that you can’t wear them with more formal attire. They are great for casual wear and perhaps for some smart casual looks, but for anything more formal you should look elsewhere.

Rubber or Silicone Strap Watches For Women

The biggest advantage to a rubber or silicone watch band is that water doesn’t bother it and dries quickly. So if you’re a water person, a rubber watch is the way to go.

They also come in a variety of colors and you can choose an uncommon color to go with a particular outfit and make it stand out.

The downside of rubber watches would be that they not as versatile as leather or metal timepieces. Slim silicone smart watches can be upgraded to business casual looks, but rugged rubber link bracelets go mostly with urban, sports casual, outdoor or technical looks.

Distinguishing between rubber and silicone straps, the second are softer to skin and more comfortable to wear.

Ceramic Strap Watches For Women

Unlike stainless steel, a ceramic watch band is practically scratch proof and several times harder. As you can imagine, a ceramic watch will serve you well for years and possibly decades to come.

Despite its hardness, ceramic is lightweight. A ceramic band watch feels lighter on the wrist than that made of stainless steel.

Another ceramic quality that should be mentioned is the fact that it’s considered hypoallergenic since it doesn’t contain metals.

On top of that, a ceramic watch has an appealing look and comes in a variety of colors. White and black versions are especially popular and pair well with many looks.

Although a ceramic watch looks a lot like a stainless steel one, it’s not as versatile and not the best option for more formal ensembles.

What Case Shape To Choose For A Woman’s Watch

The choice of the case shape depends purely on your taste. Any shape model can work with any look depending on other factors (the watch material, dial design, decorations).

Round Watches For Women

Round case watches are a fail-safe timeless choice and probably the most popular design.

Square and Rectangular (Tank) Watches For Women

Square and rectangular case watches are also available and include some of the most iconic timepieces, such as the Cartier Tank Watch.

A stainless steel rectangular watch, especially if the band is the same width as the case, looks a lot like a jewellery bracelet and thus adds subtle elegance to your look.

Cushion Watches For Women

A cushion-cased watch has a squarish shape but with rounded edges and bowed-out sides.

Tonneau Watches For Women

A tonneau watch has the shape similar to the cushion-cased watch but is longer and taller. In fact, the word ’tonneau’ is French for ‘barrel’ and that’s exactly what these watch cases resemble.

Art Deco Watches For Women

Along with the aforementioned round, square, rectangular, cushion and tonneau watch shapes, there are also less common case shapes and designs. Such watches offer more than just functionality, they are small pieces of art designed to attract attention. For instance, Hamilton Ventura watches have a unique triangle case. And how cute is this Tory Burch Turtle Watch?

What Dial Design To Choose For A Woman’s Watch

Next on the checklist is the color of your watch.

Gold Or Silver Watches For Women

If we’re talking stainless steel watches, the only color options available are basically gold, silver and the combination of those two.

If you’re not sure what tone finishing to choose - gold or silver, consider the tone of your other jewellery and the metal fittings on your belts, bags and shoes. The golden rule is (pun intended), when in doubt, go for a metal strap timepiece in gold tone finishing. It’s never out of style and goes with almost any look.

Black Watches For Women

A black leather watch has a timeless appeal. It is neutral and versatile enough to work with almost all kinds of looks, which makes it a good investment.

To sum up, black, gold, and silver are the most common choices for a wristwatch. They’ll go with any wardrobe and will become a hard-working accessory in your arsenal.

Other Color Watches For Women

Some other color options that are almost just as versatile are white, beige and grey.

A white watch (in leather, ceramics or rubber) paired with white sneakers will make your casual outfit look complete, incredibly chic and well thought-out.

A watch with a beige, tan or grey leather strap is a neutral accessory that will pair well with any outfit and work in any setting.

Other colors, like bright pink, red or blue, are available but are less versatile and work mostly in pair with an item of a corresponding color.

What Dial Design Watch To Choose For A Woman

There is no shortage of unique and beautiful designs out there on the watch market.

First of all, you should decide what you’re looking for in a watch - just the appearance or function as well. Hence the questions: Do you need numerals on your watch? If you do, should they be Arabic or Roman? Do you need a chronograph (i.e. a stopwatch) on your watch, for instance to time races and events?

After that, what’s the aesthetic you are going for? Sleek and minimalistic? Unique and eye-catching? Embellished and dazzling? The answer will depend on your own taste, of course, but also on your work setting, your wardrobe and personal style. If you work at an office with a strict dress code, an encrusted crystal watch will not be appropriate.

Do you like the featured outfits? These are some of the most stylish and popular combinations out there. But you can also filter out the outfits you see to match your own clothes.

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