Are dress watches still trendy?

A world without dress watches is unimaginable for watch enthusiasts. Because tool and sports watches are so ubiquitous, they often slip into the public eye. True watch fans still have a dress watch or two in their collection. There are good reasons for the recent renaissance of dress watches. We explain this trend in our article.

What are dress watches?

Before we go into detail, we would like to briefly explain what distinguishes this type of watch. Dress watches are relatively discreetly designed watches that are usually worn with elegant outfits and on formal occasions. For this reason, they are also known as suit watches in German. For dress watches, it is essential that they express a deliberate understatement. There are neither opulent designs nor complicated gimmicks. The focus of these watches is actually on the pure time display; i.e. three hands, with a second hand often located off-center on a sub-dial. Two-hand watches, or so-called tuxedo watches, also fall into this category. If there is a date display on the dial, it is a business watch that is also used for business occasions.

The color palette also pays tribute to the understated design approach: with understated dials and a traditional color scheme of black, white, and navy blue. Recently, however, the color palette has expanded. Brown and green tones can now also be found in newer designs. While these still don't feature elaborate designs, they do feature lacquered dials or subtle sunburst finishes. The reason dress watches are particularly flat is because they need to slide easily under shirt cuffs. At 34 to 40 millimeters, the diameter of the watches is also narrower than that of tool watches or sports watches. Dress watches also tend to stick to the traditional material, with precious metals like platinum and gold, or the occasional stainless steel, being common. The classic look is also created by the polished surfaces and straps made of high-quality calfskin or alligator leather. True to their original purpose, these delicate dress watches are designed for occasions where they are not exposed to the elements, shocks, or impacts.

Timeless elegance needs no trends

Lovers of dress watches needn't worry that the popularity of this style will succumb to fickle trends. Thanks to Louis Cartier and his Cartier Tank, they have secured their place on the list of essential lovers' watches. With their timeless appearance, they are immune to fads and design gimmicks. This makes them elegant evergreens that fit well in any watch collection. However, it seems as if dress watches have recently become more popular again. This impression is probably due to the fact that the watches are no longer reserved for absolute traditionalists who only wear them on the occasions for which they were originally designed. Younger watch enthusiasts in particular are increasingly wearing dress watches in everyday situations, thereby bringing them more into the public consciousness. Other factors for the rising popularity of these watches include the fact that gold watches are generally fashionable at the moment. Second, the boundaries between sports watches and dress watches are generally relatively fluid, and the popularity of sports watches has also spread to more design-oriented watch styles.