True or False? You can dress up a tool watch, but you can’t dress down a dress watch.
We have so many examples of a tool watch working in dressy settings. I have come across basically no examples of dress watches working the opposite way. Even suggestions on forums (like a GS quartz on a Nato) get a fairly aggressive clap back. How widely held is this opinion? Can anyone post examples of a dress watch dressing down?
53 comments
Sort by
Mike
Casio, then Seiko owner, learning about watches
Calgary, AB, Canada
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
6.30” / 16.00 cm
I think I've seen more examples of dress watches that can act as daily/everyday watches than tool watches than can dress up completely . . . tool watches can def rise to business casual, but . . . anyway . . . it's 2024 and nobody cares . . . not even Jeeves the butler haha.
I hate to be contradictory but my feeling is that a dress watch can be worn casually but a tool watch really can't be dressed up.
I hate to be contradictory but my feeling is that a dress watch can be worn casually but a tool watch really can't be dressed up.
Yes was just going to say this myself
For me it depends on the strap for a dress watch, sometimes a bracelet or a mesh bracelet or even a sailcloth strap can look great, just never a NATO. And for dressing up it depends more on the form of the tool watch, how bulky it is. And a field watches can flex both ways, in my opinion.
I think it works all ways, but it has to "work." I would gladly wear a dress watch with shorts and a T. But I would want the dial to match whatever clothing I am wearing. Steel matches pretty well anything but gold may not.
The gods of watch fashion are dead and while James Bond killed them, we all have held the bloody daggers. Now we are mere children playing in the desolute ruins, rotating our dive bezels at weddings, walking in rain storms with our tank homages. Some mourn the passing of a better managed time, but I say that we enjoy the freedom to frolic, ignorant of the old ways.
Wear what you want!
Dress watches look nice with Perlon straps imo
A dress watch goes with a tshirt and jeans infinitely better than a dive watch goes with a suit. IMO.
Option C, it depends.
Anything goes for me.
Nope, not tough enough to cope with my everyday life.
(Mainly water resistance, I'm English and ride motorcycles..)
I wear my Reverso with sweat pants and a sweat shirt.
I've worn my Vacuum quite a bit in casual clothes. I used to rock an old Seamaster Quartz dress as my daily too, back in 2022/2023.
I think that it depends, but dressing down a dress watch is generally easier to do than to make a tool watch go upwards.
I feel like the Tudor 1926 can do both.
I’ve never seen a celebrity at a promotional or red carpet event wearing a smart watch. It’s a big no-no + they often get paid by watch companies to wear their products.
Yes, nowadays mostly nobody cares about which watch you’re wearing; however, event dress-codes still exist. Also, it’s a matter of personal preference and taste: I wouldn’t wear a diver if I’m dressed in black tie because I know it just doesn’t belong there and it looks ridiculous (in my opinion).
So because you haven’t seen it, I guess it doesn’t happen. Marvelous. And because you find it ridiculous to wear a Rolex Submariner in anything other than a wetsuit, it just what? Shouldn’t happen at all in any other suit, according to your humble opinion?
I feel it's easier to dress down a dress watch than it is to dress up a tool watch.
So because you haven’t seen it, I guess it doesn’t happen. Marvelous. And because you find it ridiculous to wear a Rolex Submariner in anything other than a wetsuit, it just what? Shouldn’t happen at all in any other suit, according to your humble opinion?
No need to get defensive, I simply stated my observation and my personal preference. That’s all.
Perhaps celebrities do wear smart watches at red carpet events and just don’t allow taking pictures of them, that’s why they don’t exist.
I don’t know how you inferred from my comment that a Sub must be worn only with a wetsuit, it’s not what I said. I implied that I personally would not wear it if the dress code was black tie. That’s what I said.
People may wear what they want and how they want as long as they feel comfortable. I may have my own preferences as well. If you think that it all does not matter and you’d like to wear any watch with any outfit - go for it. I have nothing against it. I myselfwould not do it because I have a different view. Which, of course, does not automatically mean that it is imperative and everyone else is wrong.
No need to get defensive, I simply stated my observation and my personal preference. That’s all.
Perhaps celebrities do wear smart watches at red carpet events and just don’t allow taking pictures of them, that’s why they don’t exist.
I don’t know how you inferred from my comment that a Sub must be worn only with a wetsuit, it’s not what I said. I implied that I personally would not wear it if the dress code was black tie. That’s what I said.
People may wear what they want and how they want as long as they feel comfortable. I may have my own preferences as well. If you think that it all does not matter and you’d like to wear any watch with any outfit - go for it. I have nothing against it. I myselfwould not do it because I have a different view. Which, of course, does not automatically mean that it is imperative and everyone else is wrong.
Look pal, you brought it to my doorstep, I’m reacting. And in your reaction, seems like you can’t handle anything spicier than mayonnaise.
No need to get defensive, I simply stated my observation and my personal preference. That’s all.
Perhaps celebrities do wear smart watches at red carpet events and just don’t allow taking pictures of them, that’s why they don’t exist.
I don’t know how you inferred from my comment that a Sub must be worn only with a wetsuit, it’s not what I said. I implied that I personally would not wear it if the dress code was black tie. That’s what I said.
People may wear what they want and how they want as long as they feel comfortable. I may have my own preferences as well. If you think that it all does not matter and you’d like to wear any watch with any outfit - go for it. I have nothing against it. I myselfwould not do it because I have a different view. Which, of course, does not automatically mean that it is imperative and everyone else is wrong.
So you’re honestly telling me, you personally find it inappropriate and therefore ridiculous to even think about wearing a Rolex Submariner to a black tie event? You’re telling me that they’re gonna turn people away at the door for wearing a diver in a tuxedo?
Used to wear my reverso with shorts and tee shirt all the time
If you can't wear a dive watch with a suit why the hell are people so obsessed with James Bond watches then.
Black DJ on a Nato is plenty casual for anything I do.
I'd rather wear a dress watch in leathers straps with tshirt and shorts, than ever put a dress watch on a nato. But that's just me.
Imo a dress watch supplements a formal attire while in a casual setting, the watch is usually the star of the show
I’ve never seen a celebrity at a promotional or red carpet event wearing a smart watch. It’s a big no-no + they often get paid by watch companies to wear their products.
Yes, nowadays mostly nobody cares about which watch you’re wearing; however, event dress-codes still exist. Also, it’s a matter of personal preference and taste: I wouldn’t wear a diver if I’m dressed in black tie because I know it just doesn’t belong there and it looks ridiculous (in my opinion).
I have never seen a celebrity do anything that wasn't for money either and I am sorry but nobody and I mean nobody should base their decisions off what celebrities do. I mean Diddy I am sure has a decent dress watch collection 🤣😂🤣
Do whatever you want, why care?
Some people dress really badly, really really badly. Seeing them with a luxury dress watch that outright clashes with everything else just makes it worse.
You can definitely dress down a dress watch
You can definitely dress down a dress watch
Looks great!