Watch And Learn

With few fashion accessories to experiment with, a gentleman’s wristwatch speaks volumes–just make sure it’s singing the right tune, says Robin Swithinbank

- Robin Swithinbank

RECENTLY, I had the pleasure of chairing a panel entitled Strength through Style for men’s mental-health initiative the Whole Man Academy, the aim being to ask whether and how we can use the way we dress to build self-esteem.

On the panel was model David Gandy, a gentle giant of a man and one of Britain’s most resilient exports over the past 15 years. He was tailored exquisitely, as he always is, but the object that said as much about him was his wristwatch: a large-model Jaeger- LeCoultre Reverso. A very fine choice, indicative of a man of mature tastes and no little stature.

Being a man of watches, I’m always more likely to categorise another man by his choice of wristwatch than by the cut of his jacket (significant as that is), but, today, I’d reckon on this making me far less peculiar than it once did.

When I first attended the Baselworld watch fair 16 years ago, I recall fussing over my choice of footwear more than my watch—it was said, at the time, you could judge a man by his shoes—an unsettling thought, given I was wearing my ‘first interview’ brogues.

In the years since, the general male population’s watch appreciation has grown exponentially, so that ‘Rolex?’ is no longer the only guess a chap might make when spotting another man’s quality timepiece.

As such, we menfolk are now almost as likely to be judged by our watches as by any other part of our attire. Of course, in watches, it’s horses for courses—as it is with cars, suits and all manner of accoutrements in which a man robes himself. What, then, does your watch say about you?

The army boy