I did my best to describe the different basic style of timepieces, but styles change daily/ monthly/ yearly so it is very hard to keep up. Usually when a new style timepiece is introduced, it will fall in to one of these categories.
Wrist - worn on one of your wrists.
Pocket - placed inside your pockets or jacket pocket usually attached by chain to your belt loop.
Jewelry - can be any shape or size. Usually worn as a charm, worn as a pin and even cufflinks.
Dress and Cocktail:
A dress watch has a certain look and feel that makes it easy and comfortable to wear. Clean styling, elegant lines combined with precision timekeeping. With a wide choice of elegant bracelets and fine animal skin straps, a classic watch is ideal for day and evening wear. Gentlemen - do not grab your attention unless you specifically look in that direction and the diameter is midsize to large;
Ladies - may grab your attention because of the gemstones and run extra small to small.
Basic Characteristics:
- Gold (or platinum) and two-tone (stainless and gold).
- Gemstone or No gemstone bezel (no markings).
- Clean and single colored dial and simple hands (no luminosity).
- Clean roman, numerical or stick numbers.
- Two-toned or solid bracelet. No gemstones.
- Animal skin strap with inconspicuous stitching.
- Plain Buckle or folding buckle with a plain buckle look.
- Thin case.
- Usually quartz or manual-wind powered.
- Plain (screw held or snap) case back.
- Mineral or sapphire crystals.
- Worn on Wrist or inside pockets.
Dress and Cocktail >> Antique:
- Gold (or platinum).
- Gemstone or No gemstone bezel (no markings).
- Clean and single colored dial and simple hands (no luminosity).
- Clean stick numbers.
- Gemstone bracelets.
- Thin case styled after the early 1900's.
- Usually quartz or manual-wind powered.
- Plain (screw held or snap) case back.
- Mineral or sapphire crystals.
- Worn on Wrist, inside pockets or styled-jewelry watch.
Sports:
A sports watch is for the sportsman or woman who demands a watch that is tough and has specific functionality without compromising on style. Whether you're a diver or an athlete, whether you need a chronograph or a high level of water resistance, there’s a sports watch that’s right for you.
Basic Characteristics:
- Stainless Steel, Gold, Platinum and Titanium. Two-toned also.
- Heavy rotating/non-rotating bezel with markings.
- Bold or complex markings on face.
- Thick luminous hands.
- Analog, digital or hybrid faces.
- Thick, padded strap (rubber, animal skin, gel) or heavy bracelet.
- Thick, heavy case.
- Water resistant to at least 50 meters.
- Quartz or Automatic.
- Plain (screw held or snap), see-through (sports back held by screws), screw-on.
- Various Complications.
- Mineral or sapphire crystals with/ without anti-reflective coatings.
- Worn on Wrist or pocket watch.
Sports >> Dive:
- Water resistance with minimum of 100 meters.
- Unidirectional rotating bezel marked 0 to 60.
- Easily-readable dial in light or dark.
- Analog, digital or hybrid faces.
- Luminous hands and markings (dots to mark number location).
- Bracelet or gel, rubber strap.
- Various movements. Automatics or quartz.
- Sapphire crystals with/without anti-reflective coatings.
- Worn on Wrist only.
Sports >> Military:
- Rubber, PVD coated rotating (or non-rotating) bezel with division-specific markings.
- Stainless Steel, titanium, coated metals case and bracelet.
- Analog, digital or hybrid faces.
- Easily-readable dark dial, with numbers at most positions.
- Powerful-long lasting luminous hands.
- Anti-magnetic.
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
- Bracelets are coated, flat or polished, stainless steel or titanium depending on division.
- Bracelets also can contain division specific items. (compass, analog time, etc. etc.).
- Straps are thick padded animal skin, heavy gel, heavy rubber depending on division.
- Worn on Wrist only.
** all Military Watches could have precious metals mixed in but usually seen in "commander" rankings.
Designer (Fashion Watches):
A designer watch is for the average person with limited ties to easy activities. This watch calls for style first then function. The style can be as bold and tough looking sports styled watch while adding the elegance of a dress watch. Many designers mix all basic styles to create one unique timepiece.
Basic Characteristics:
- Designer distinctive case shape or style (Gucci has "G" style case).
- Bracelet or strap but is part of overall design and function.
- Mixed metals, metal/gel or metal/rubber combinations.
- All metals, wood, fabrics, fancy-colored or clear gels, colored or plain rubber and colored animal skins.
- Stitching on straps are plain-colored or fancy-colored. Straps could be embossed.
- Picture of watch or timepiece appears in the media.
- Spin-off styles of all sports watches but not built for rugged-use. Usually solid metals or gemstone accented.
- Mainstream watches built for the everyday use.
- Styles vary from wrist, pocket, charm, ring, pinned, animal shapes, etc. etc.
Computer Watches:
These watches were first created as "calculator" watches but then they transformed in to even more powerful watches for extreme sports like rock climbing, diving, sailing skydiving etc. etc. but now they are being created as music players and even email receivers. This category changes yearly when new technologies become available. What will be next? A watch that contains your wallet and all the passcodes you will need to get through your life... or maybe not. We'll see.
Basic Characteristics:
- Full digital output.
- Case and bracelet usually made out of plastics, titanium and gels. (Stainless very rare due to weight)
- Usually very thick and cheap looking.
- Average width ranges from 38mm to 42mm.
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