Finding a dress watch that works for you is a very important. There are many dress watches out there but they are not a ‘one size fits all’ type of deal.

A dress watch is characterized by its slimmer profile that makes it very comfortable to wear for formal events. A common test to see if it fits well is if it fits under ones shirt cuff. They are also often minimal in design with few complications. The average dress watches case size is often considered small to aid with the understated nature of formal events. Think black tie. You want a watch that fits with that aesthetic. Often times they are in precious metals, but there are some great stainless steel dress watches out there! They are also often on a leather strap, but of course, do not have to be.

If you are looking for entry level dress watches, The Junghans Max Bill Automatic can be had for around $650. It is a 38mm stainless steel automatic watch and comes from a great German manufacture. Another suggestion would be the Timex Marlin Snoopy Edition that is sold for $250. This watch has a bit more fun with the snoopy at 6 o’clock but still has many of the classic dress watch features. If you are a vintage watch person, check out vintage Longines. There are some truly amazing quality vintage Longines time only dress watches out there for great prices.

If you are looking to spend a bit more money, the Nomos Orion white can be found for around $2000. The reference 331 has a stainless steel case and white dial and measures 35mm in diameter. With a black strap and an incredibly finished manual wind movement, it really stands out at this price point. For a bit more money, Grand Seiko is a great stop. The SBGW231 that sells for $4,300 is a great example. The 37mm steel case with cream dial is a great dress watch if you want to have some interesting conversations with collectors. Grand Seiko has received great press as of late and people will be very impressed. Within this price point, vintage Piaget is also a great place to look. Piaget is known for the contributions to dress watches and you can find an ultra thin vintage Piaget for around this price point.

Lastly, if price is really not an object for you, Patek Philippe’s Calatrava line is always a great place to check out. They make some beautiful time only dress watches. Our pick would be the reference 5196P, but there are so many out there for you to choose from. A. Lange & Söhne is another great manufacture to look at, namely their Saxonia which comes in at 35mm in diameter. Manual wind, white gold case with sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock, you will be getting incredible quality for the money you spend. And if vintage is your game, a vintage Cartier Tank Cintrée is a great place to look. They are rare, but oh so beautiful.

Enjoy!