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How to Choose the Right Watch for Your Everyday Style: A Simple Guide

A watch is one of the few genuinely useful and personal accessories. It tells the time, it finishes off your outfit and it says something about you. With so many watches available these days, from the most basic minimalist through to the smartest, sportiest and most dressy, it's easy to get a bit lost as to what the best watch for you actually is. If you've ever found yourself asking "what's the best watch for me?" then this guide is for you.

Below we walk through exactly how to choose the right watch step by step so you can find one that you'll actually end up loving to wear every day.

Why Choosing the Right Watch Matters

You can wear your watch for eight, ten or indeed fourteen hours a day. It goes with you to work, to dinner, to the gym, to the weekend. If it's too heavy, too big or too delicate for your life then it'll end up in a drawer very rapidly. The one you pick will be your daily companion in the same way that a pair of well worn jeans or a good pair of trainers would be.

Choosing a watch is not about being trendy. It's about your lifestyle, your comfort and your personal taste. Let's have a look at that.

Step 1: Understand Your Daily Lifestyle

Before you look at a single design, think about what your day actually looks like. Ask yourself:

• Do I work in the office, from home or on my feet?
• Do I travel much or do I spend a lot of time out and about?
• Do I need a watch that's waterproof, sweatproof and knock resistant?
• Do I go for something subtle or a statement piece?

If your days are varied and busy then the best watch for day to day wear is one that is light, rugged and versatile enough to go from the morning meeting to the evening plans without any need for a change.

Step 2: Find the Watch Look That Feels Like You

Watches generally fall into a few broad style categories and knowing which one you're after makes shopping a lot easier.

Minimalist watches have clean dials, slim cases and simple markers. They're pretty much suitable with any outfit and are a great option if you're looking for one watch to do it all.

Classic and dressy watches bring a polished look with slim cases, shiny metals and graceful straps. They shine at weddings, interviews and boardroom meetings.

Casual watches are the relaxed, colourful and easy to wear type. If you're after a women's casual watch, this is the category for you, as they go with jeans, kurtas, dresses, and all sorts of clothing.

Sport watches are built for the move, with tough cases, water resistance and comfortable straps.

Smartwatches track steps, heart rate and notifications so are ideal if you're after some tech on your wrist.

Step 3: Get the Size and Fit Right

Size is one of the most frequently overlooked factors when you're choosing a watch. A watch that's absolutely gorgeous in design but doesn't suit your wrist is going to feel completely wrong.

• Small wrists (up to 15cm): look for case sizes in the range 26mm to 32mm.
• Medium wrists (15 to 17cm): case sizes between 30mm and 36mm will generally look about right.
• Larger wrists (above 17cm): the 36mm to 40mm case sizes are fine.

Also remember the thickness. A slim case will slide right under a sleeve, a thicker case is much more sporty and assertive. A lot of women these days do prefer their watches to be a little bit bigger so go with what you feel is right.

A simple tip really: measure your wrist with a soft tape when you're buying and check the strap length so that it's snug but not pinching.

Step 4: Understand What Powers Your Watch

Every watch has a mechanism inside that keeps time, and it comes in three varieties.

Quartz: battery-powered, accurate, and low maintenance. This is by far the most popular choice for everyday watches as it's affordable and reliable.

Automatic (mechanical): Powered by the motion of your wrist. These are very much liked for their build quality, though they tend to be more expensive and will require servicing at some point.

Smart: Rechargeable, feature packed and connected to your phone. Ideal for fitness fans and the busy professional.

For the vast majority of people looking for something simple to wear every day, a quartz is the way to go.

Step 5: Think About the Strap or Bracelet

The strap completely changes the character of a watch and has a greater effect on comfort than anything else.

• Leather straps look very classic and very refined, but they'll wear through with sweat and water.
• Metal bracelets (stainless steel, gold tone or rose gold) are durable and quite elegant, ideal for work and for parties.
• Silicone or rubber straps are light, waterproof, and perfect for active days.
• Mesh straps are slim, adjustable and modern.
• Fabric or nylon straps are breathable and very casual.

A nice trick is to choose a watch with an easily interchangeable strap so you can create several different looks from a single watch.

Step 6: Select the Right Dial and Color

The dial is the face of the watch and it has to be easy to read at a glance.

• White or cream dials are clean looking and very versatile.
• Black dials are bold and modern.
• Blue, green or pastel dials add a touch of soft colour.
• Rose gold and gold finishes add a touch of warmth and luxury.

If you're building a very basic wardrobe then stick with the neutral tones. If you're the sort of person who wants to go a bit more adventurous then a coloured dial can certainly be your thing. Whatever you do, just make sure the numbers/markers are clear and the hands are easy to see.

Step 7: Set a Realistic Budget

A great watch doesn't have to be expensive. Work out how much you're prepared to spend and go for value rather than price. Look at the quality of the materials, the water resistance, the warranty and the reputation of the brand or the seller.

A good rule of thumb is to put a bit more into the watch that you're going to wear the most. The cost per wear is vastly lower for a watch that you wear every day than it is for one that you only wear occasionally.

Quick Guide: Best Everyday Watch for Ladies by Lifestyle

Still not sure which everyday watch is the best for a lady? Use this quick reference.

Five Watch Shopping Slip-Ups to Skip

1. Buy it purely for the looks. Comfort and fit are just as important as the design.
2. Ignore wrist size. A watch that's too big or too small is going to look wrong.
3. Skip the water resistance. A daily splash can damage a watch that's not water resistant.
4. Just follow the trends. Pick the one that suits your style, not the one that's currently going viral.
5. Not checking the warranty. A good warranty is worth having in the first instance.

How to Make Your Watch Last Longer

Once you have found your perfect match, a little care goes a long way:

• Wipe the case and strap regularly with a soft dry cloth.
• Keep it away from perfumes, strong chemicals and extreme heat.
• Remove it before you swim or shower (unless it's water rated).
• Replace the battery when required and service the mechanical watches annually.
• Keep it wrapped in a soft cloth or padded case when you're not wearing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best watch for day to day use? A light quartz with a plain dial, a comfortable strap and some basic water resistance.

How do I know which watch is the best watch for me? Start with your lifestyle, then match your wrist size, your preferred style and your budget. The watch you pick should be one that is comfortable to wear and one that suits you.

What are the best watches for a casual look for women? Slim minimalist watches, mesh strap watches and watches with pastel or neutral dials are all great for a casual look.

Can I wear one watch for every occasion? Yes. A very simple watch with a neutral dial and either a metal or an interchangeable strap will be absolutely perfect for the office, for parties and for the weekend.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to pick the right watch comes down to a few simple questions really: how you live, what you love, what will actually fit on your wrist and what your budget is. Once you've answered those questions then browsing watches for women is a lot easier and a lot more fun.

Whether you're after nice watches for me, stylish ladies' watches for everyday wear or a solid piece that you can wear to work and on the weekends, take your time, try out the various styles and pick the one that makes you feel confident every time you look at your wrist. The right watch is more than just an accessory. It's a little daily reminder of your own style.