Watches
Men’s Gold Watches: Everything the Modern Gent Needs to Know.
Okay so you’re probably thinking to yourself – “Man, I’m getting tired of my old, regular watches”. You know, the standard ones most of us have always used: the plastic ones, the ceramic ones, the metal ones. The ones which annoyed you because they didn’t fit properly, or which were a pain to put on, or which were plain generic. The ones which you felt like you wasted too much money on. Then there’s the beautiful ones you never wore; the ones which you were given and forgot about. The good ones, the bad ones, the rejects. Whether those watches—leather, metal, plastic, or anything else in between—satisfied you or didn’t, the reality is that, by now, you’ve had enough of watches like that. Well-made they might be, but original? Not exactly.
No. By this point, you’ve probably had enough of that, haven’t you? By this point, you’re looking for a great watch—and not just a great watch, but one you know that you can wear for years and years. We already know that if you wear an amazing watch, you’re obviously going to be spending a decent chunk of change on it—and why spend a lot of money on it if you’re just going to give it away five years from now?
No: by now, you should get something better—you should get something better, and you certainly deserve to. Why settle for anything less than the best?
Admittedly, I’ve been going on for a while now, so I’ll just jump right into the meat of it: your next watch should be a gold watch. Yup, you heard me: a watch which is (all or partially) made of gold, rather than lesser metals like silver or bronze or (knock on wood) haematite. No, it’s time that you finally get yourself the watch you’ve always been waiting for: a classic men’s gold watch.
You must be wondering, of course, why it’s time for a gold watch in your life. “Aren’t those things expensive?”, you might be thinking. What if it doesn’t fit right? And you do have some excellent, valid points there—points which will, it must be said, addressed later on. Before we go to that—and before we get onto those other reasons why you should specifically buy a gold watch (and not another watch)—we’re going to talk about why gold watches are so popular in the first place. Ready? Let’s go.
Why men’s gold watches are so popular.
The first reason, of course, is that gold men’s watches just look so classy. After all, it’s not everyone who can just walk into a given environment and look amazing without even having to do anything. With a gold watch, you could be eating a piece of cheesecake and still look great. You don’t even need to show others that you have it; they’ll notice of their own accord—and compliment you for it.
Another reason gold watches are so popular is that they have a reputation of being of great make. How could they not be? Gold watches are built by quality manufacturers like TAG Heuer, Rolex, Timex, Patek Philippe, Chopard, and countless other luxury brands. Is it really any wonder that they have such a great reputation?
Third, men’s gold watches are popular because they’re of very high quality. So, while it’s true that they have the reputation of being premium goods, and people purchase them based on that reputation (just think of bags by Prada or scarves by Burberry), people also purchase them because of that quality. When was the last time you saw a gold watch that randomly stopped working (not talking about a cheap knock-off here by the way)? Never, probably: quality gold watches have great battery life, and the battery can easily be changed when the time comes. You can’t just break them by dropping them on the floor. It doesn’t hurt that gold is known as a luxury material, either—one that’s tougher than regular steel and lesser metals.
Why the fascination with gold watches?
Of course, this whole discussion brings on a related point: why is everyone so fascinated by men’s gold watches? Naturally, part of this is because of their makers: as we said earlier, the brands include well-known luxury watchmakers like Rolex and Patek Philippe. But what are some other reasons?
Well, one reason for people’s fascination with men’s gold watches is because of the material itself. There’s something intrinsically lovely and compelling about gold. Not only is this bright yellow material one of the few that isn’t a shade of gray or black, but it also has a historic reputation. For centuries and centuries, gold has been associated with riches, with wealth. The international value of money used to be tied to the value of gold (the gold standard), and, even today, investing in gold is common practice. Many economists might even tell you that investing in gold is generally a safe bet, regardless of external market conditions. It follows, then, that—if gold is a good investment, generally speaking—well selected men’s gold watches reflect this trend.
Another reason for the fascination with the humble men’s gold watch builds off the prior paragraph. More specifically, the fact that gold has historically been a safe area to invest in means that you can purchase gold jewellery as a means of investment, and not just as a piece of glamour to adorn your outfit. Of course, a men’s gold watch might, naturally, be an exceptionally glamorous form of investment—but it might be an investment nevertheless. By purchasing a swanky Rolex, you could effectively be improving your portfolio. Obviously this all depends on various factors – the model, years, etc but gist of the matter is that some gold watches do hold their value – an can sometimes even appreciate in value.
The third reason for the fascination with gold men’s watches is they’re worn by the elite, such as celebrities, top financiers, and business people. Nothing can improve an item’s prestige quite like the fact that it’s sported by a celebrity. After all, celebrity endorsements of products (whether Coca-Cola, luxury cars, or anything in between) have historically been very successful. It’s much the same with gold men’s watches; celebrities of all stripes wear them to fancy galas, events, film premieres, and other occasions.
Gold watch trends over the years.
Wrist watches have been an important part of menswear since the postwar era, although they’ve been worn since the 19th century. Come the late 1910s, the Tank design—which features a long rectangular face and a simple strap—was becoming famous, since Cartier released one such watch. This design was so popular that it has been replicated countless times throughout the decades, including with gold watches, and is still well-loved today.
In the 1950s, sports watches started to become popular; naturally, gold watches reflected this trend (although they weren’t supposed to be worn during exercises). Sports watches—which have simple designs and faces, and which are often highly polyvalent—have remained popular to this day.
In 1969, the first quartz watch was released, and after that, watches were both mechanical and quartz. (For the record, quartz watches run on battery, whereas mechanical watches run on what’s essentially clockwork). Quartz gold men’s watches were less expensive to make, so more variety in terms of prices was added to the industry. Because quartz watches were now an option, Asian manufacturers began to make more well-known fashion watches as well.
In the 1980s, brightly coloured watches started gaining in popularity. This trend applied to gold watches as well; it influenced two-toned watches, and watches that had both gold plating and other, bright colours.
In the 2010s, tech manufacturers started making smart watches—which have Internet connectivity and GPS functions—out of gold.
Gold watches for men: The different styles and shades available.
Tommy Hilfiger Sports Watch
One style of gold men’s watches is the sports watch. These watches are simple in style, and tend to have thicker bracelets. Their dials are round or square, and they often have a thick frame.
Another style of men’s gold watches is the two-tone watch, in which there are sections of two colours. These watches are typically made of gold and silver, although they can be made with any material. (Gold and silver look classier, natch.)
Third, another style of watch is the pocket watch. These go around your neck or in your pocket, and they’re often worn on chains. We’ve done a whole write-up on Dapperfied about pocket watches here if you are interested in checking it out.
Daniel Wellington Gold-Look Brown Strap Watch
Fourth up is the minimalist watch. These timepieces have simpler, sleeker designs, and they’re more modern-looking than the other types. On account of this more casual style, they’re also good for when you’re seeing friends or going to work.
Michael Kors Yellow Gold Watch
Gold watches come in several shades. In addition to yellow gold, there’s also white gold, which is an alloy of gold and white-toned metals like silver and nickel. As for rose gold, it’s golden with a pinkish tone, thanks to the copper tones. The more copper there is, the more pronounced the pink becomes.
12 tips on how best to wear men’s gold watches.
1- Pair them with the right kind of outfit.
It’s true that gold watches will look good with most things, but they’ll really shine if you wear them with formal wear or more dressy clothes. If you wear them with a more casual outfit, it might not be apparent that you’re wearing such a great watch.
2- Make sure they can be seen.
If your sleeves are too long, your watch won’t show. Prevent this problem by wearing a jacket whose sleeves don’t cover up your timepiece.
3- Do the colours work well together?
Most gold watches are golden, silver, or pinkish gold in colour, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding on your outfit.
4- Make sure it goes well with your other jewellery.
A fancy gold watch often doesn’t go well with costume necklaces and could end up looking quite tacky. Your other jewellery pieces should be of high quality.
5- Match your watch and your shoes.
For example, if your gold-plated watch has brown tints, wear it with brown shoes. Ditto for watches with silver tints. If the watch is just gold, however, consider wearing it with sand-coloured shoes.
6- Wear gold watches with metallic accessories.
A gold watch will look good with accents that are made of metal, whether that’s metal cuff-links, silver belt buckles, or haematite tie clips.
7- Avoid getting too colourful with your outfit.
Gold watches already have gold tones in them, so—if you wear too many bright colours in the rest of your outfit—this could detract from your watch. To counter this, keep bright colours to a choice accessory (such as a necktie), rather than a top or a shirt.
8- If this is your first one, avoid getting a watch that’s too funky.
You’ll only end up regretting it later, as a watch that’s too funky will not match all your outfits – keyword here being all. It’s fine to purchase one after you’ve built up a collection of a few good quality pieces that you can wear with your everyday outfits.
9- Where on your body will you wear the watch?
Most people wear a watch on the wrist opposite their dominant hand, but you can wear it on the same one if you like. As for pocket watches, you can wear these around your neck or inside your pocket.
10- Be careful if you’re wearing it with short sleeves.
This is because gold watches (which tend to be more formal) don’t always match less formal short sleeves.
11- Don’t wear it with too much jewellery.
Keep it simple: in addition to the watch, you can wear cufflinks, a tie clip, your wedding ring, and maybe a necklace. For a classy look, avoid other necklaces and, especially, bracelets. The watch is enough on its own. When in a more casual environment, fashion bracelets can actually complement your watch but be sure to pay special attention the colours of the bracelets you use and that they actually match your entire look.
12- Will you wear the watch inside or outside the cuff?
Although you can wear your watch either way, be warned that wearing it outside—i.e., by putting it on after you’ve buttoned up your shirtsleeve—will make you appear needlessly showy.
12 tips on choosing the right men’s gold watch for you.
1- Decide if you like the style.
If you don’t like the style, there’s no point in getting the watch. After all, you’re going to be owning (and wearing) this watch for several years.
2- Is it comfortable?
Some things to watch out for: how does it feel on your wrist? Is it too tight, or too loose? Can you adjust the fit in case your wrist swells from the heat?
3- How flashy is it?
Some people like flashy watches; others, not so much. In either case, don’t purchase a watch that’s so flashy others will want to steal it. 🙂
4- How much does it cost?
Price ranges differ for gold men’s watches, depending on whether your watch is totally gold or just gold-plated. Don’t pay more than you are able, but at the same time be aware that you’re going to be wearing this watch for several years.
5- Is it flexible or rigid?
A flexible watch can be stored more easily, but a rigid watch might be more durable. Alternately, you could go for a watch that falls in between the two.
6- Where will you wear the watch?
At work? When out with friends? During weddings, funerals and other formal occasions? Be sure that you’ll wear it enough to justify its expensive purchase, and never bring it to the beach.
7- Will it be safe and secure?
Will it fall off if you’re not paying attention? Are you likely to drop it? Can you take it off easily and store it away properly? Make sure it fits!
8- Do you prefer quartz or mechanical?
Quartz watches tend to be less expensive, but mechanical watches are of higher quality. Mechanical watches also have that cool clockwork aesthetic.
9- Will the style stay timeless?
Trendy watches are neat, but sometimes they can also make you appear dated. When in doubt, go for a classic style that will suit many occasions.
10- What protections and guarantees are offered?
These are necessary to watch out for whenever you purchase a watch, and doubly so when you want a luxury watch. Keep an eye out for insurance, guarantees, and buyback offers if the watch is defective upon purchase.
11- How big is it?
Bigger watches might be more stylish, but they’re also flashier—and thus might draw you some unwanted attention. In contrast, smaller watches are fancy, but they might not necessarily be unique enough to match your taste.
12- Do you want a wristwatch or pocket watch?
A wristwatch is good for having on hand to check the time, or if you’re in a work environment. Pocket watches are good if you want to class your look up a notch (or add a steampunk touch to an outfit).
12 tips on how to care for gold men’s watches
It’s not always easy to care for regular watches, let alone gold watches for men. Nevertheless, while it’s not necessarily “easy” to take care of them, it’s usually pretty straightforward. Here are 12 tips on how to care for them.
1- Read the manual once you’ve first purchased the watch.
The user guide and manual will tell you everything you need to know regarding proper maintenance of your gold watches for men. Become familiar with it; read all the sections, and take note of things you might forget. You don’t want to mess up because you forgot something vital.
2- Regularly check how accurate your watch is.
You must do this even if you don’t wear your watch often (and you should be wearing it relatively often; more on that later). To compare the accuracy, simply consult the time and compare it to the time on your cell phone or on a watch that you know has the correct time.
3- Pay attention when you’re wearing it.
Gold watches for men tend to more durable than their counterparts are, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely immune. Thus, to deal with this problem, you need to be careful when you’re using it. Watch where your wrist goes when you’re wearing it; don’t smack into anything. Be especially careful about taking it on and off; you don’t want to drop it. If you do drop it, the glass in the face could shatter. Don’t wear it when you’re out exercising, or if you’re going to the beach.
4- That being said, wear it when you go out.
Just because you have to watch out where you wear it, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear it. As a matter of fact, it’s actually quite important that you wear your watch for a certain amount of time so that it doesn’t get degraded or suffer in quality. If you let your watch sit for too long, the lubricants inside it can solidify and harden, with the result that friction (more on that later) can cause damage when the watch is moving again.
5- Store your watch when you’re not using it.
When you’re not wearing your watch, put it inside a soft cloth or in a watch box. You can use the box it came in, or you can buy another one. In either case, don’t simply leave it out in the open. If you do so, it’s not safe from the elements (or, for that matter, from potential thieves).
6- Don’t store your watch in a cluster with other pieces of jewellery; leave it on its own.
Watch Box for Multiple Watches
7- Make sure you get it serviced often.
“Often” in this case is defined every few years—every 2 to 4 years, to be specific. Ensure that you have a skilled watchmaker or horologist do it; your usual jeweller might not be well-equipped to take care of luxury watches. Get it serviced regardless of whether it’s running properly or not; the friction inside watches tends to wear down as time goes on, and—if you wait too long—the result might be that you’ll need watch parts completely replaced, rather than merely touched up. The professional will tune the mechanics and change the batteries.
8- Clean it with water.
To clean your watch, first make sure that the winding crown is screwed onto the case tightly enough so that water can’t slip inside the watch. Then, after you’ve prepared some lukewarm water, rinse the watch off carefully; this should remove loose particles. The following step is to use a mild soap—soap which has no ammonia—to wash the outside of the watch.
9- After using water, scrub out the dirt.
You need to use a toothbrush or other thin tool to scrub the dirt out of the cracks and crevices of the watch. Once you have finished this step, you must place the watch into water; it can’t be under the water for long periods of time, however, so lift it out often. Use a cloth to dry the watch when you’re done.
10- Take care to prevent scratches…
As depressing as it sounds, you can do everything right when it comes to your gold watches for men—wear it the optimal amount of times, wind it as needed, take it to be serviced every few years—and it will still get scratched. This isn’t an opportunity for panic; on the contrary, it’s pretty much par for the course when you have a fancy watch. However, you can definitely ward against this problem: by being gentle with it and not making sudden movements, by not taking it with you to go play golf or anything which requires too much movement, and by not taking it out in the rain.
11 ..but deal with scratches by using scratch removal liquid.
Of course, those are preventive solutions; if you want the curative solution—i.e., to actually get rid of the scratches—then you’ll have to do different things. First, you need to polish the bracelet every few months. When it comes to actually removing the scratches, make sure you’ve purchased a premium polishing cloth which is meant for gold and stainless steel. When you’re polishing, follow the lines of the watch. It’s true that Mr. Miyagi told Daniel to use circular strokes to wax—but that doesn’t necessarily apply to your watch. Instead, follow the cloth along the lines your watch already has. Also, don’t use chemical cleaners on your watch; they can damage it.
11- Be careful when you’re winding it.
Winding watches is certainly an art; doing so requires skill and finesse. To wind your watch, make sure you’re working with a clean surface, first of all, and preferably one that’s flat. Take your watch off, and unscrew the crown (use a screwdriver if you have to) into the second position. Then, wind the watch many times; 30 or 40 times is a good indicator. Once you’re done, screw the crown back into its former position.
12- If you wear cologne, wait for it to settle and dry off before you put the watch on.
Cologne
Doing so will ensure that the watch doesn’t get damaged from absorbing the stuff. This tip is often overlooked, but it’s pretty important.
Your men’s gold watch: 6 tips on keeping gold plating from tarnishing.
1- Use no-tarnish strips.
Place these strips in the same area where your watch is stored; they will prevent (as you can tell the name) tarnish from building up.
2- Silver tarnish cloth will serve the same purpose.
This cloth can be used to wrap your watch or cover the box or compartment you’ve placed it in, and it will also fight against tarnishing.
3- Chalk is another option to prevent tarnishing.
Gold watches for men are well-served by chalk, which is inventoried along with the watch to prevent tarnishing.
4- Clean your watch after every time you’ve used it.
By doing this, you’ll be helping to erasing the dirt and other particles which have accumulated while you were wearing it. Rub it gently with a soft jewellery cloth to clean it; this will also help restore the shine.
5- Be aware that substances on your skin—chlorine, cologne, lotion, etc.—can react with your plated jewellery.
To avoid the consequences of this, wait a bit after you’ve put the substance on before you start wearing your watch. Also, make sure that you don’t go exercising with your watch on, as the sweat can damage it.
6- On the same note, wear your cologne on your neck.
Doing so will keep it away from your wrists, where it can interact with the watch and cause tarnishing.
Price ranges you can expect when looking to buy a men’s gold watch.
If the watch has gold accents or plating, the price will vary; you can get a less expensive one for less than a hundred dollars. If, on the other hand, it’s made completely out of gold, expect the price to range in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Expect to pay at least 250 dollars for such a watch. The value also depends on the karat; remember that 24-karat is 100% gold, and that 18k is 75% gold.
All in all, be prepared to pay at least 500$ for a gold watch with a high karat, and at least 100$ for a watch plated with real gold. The most expensive luxury watches even cost 30,000+ dollars. Here’s a good place to start when looking for a quality watch. Often, you can find some great deals and discounts on well known brands there. Just be sure to read through the reviews on the site before making a purchase. 🙂
Brands that are well known for their gold watches
1- Fossil
Fossil, which is known for its bracelets and other jewellery, also sells inexpensive gold watches. These can be purchased for less than 100$, but they are high-quality enough that they still fit the Fossil name.
2- Timex
Timex is a well-known brand, and that’s for good reason: these high-quality, reasonably priced watches are a great choice for most men. Its gold watches are no exception.
3- Seiko
Although known for its sports and quartz watches, this Japan-based company makes decent-quality gold watches as well.
4- Nixon
You might not have heard of this company, but you should look into them if you’re considering getting a gold watch: they offer options for less than a hundred dollars.
5 -Michael Kors
This fashion design house makes premium gold watches with affordable prices. Have a look at their stuff today; they carry their wares all over the place, so there’s bound to be one in your area.
6- Emporio Armani
Emporio Armani makes high-quality gold watches that are moderately expensive—and they’ve got that Armani name. What more could you want?
7- JBW
JBW’s watches are both classy and elegant. Their prices range the lower and middle ends of the gamut, making their timepieces a great choice for people who want to buy an excellent watch and then wear it for many years.
8- Zenith
Zenith makes premium gold watches that cost a few thousand dollars. Their price is worth it: buying a Zenith watch is a guarantee that you’re buying quality.
9- Frédérique Constant
This company makes luxury watches, it’s true, but many of them can be purchased for a few thousand dollars at most. Although you might not have heard a lot about them, they’re a worthy contender in the gold-watch field. Absolutely love some of the models they produce.
10- Cyrus
Cyrus’s watches cost several thousand dollars, which means that they’re in the middle of the range (the more expensive luxury watches costing anything from 20,000$ to 50,000$). This company was named after the man who founded the Persian empire, and they are an independent company.
11- Breitling
Although Breitling is known for sports watches and more casual watches, their dressy offerings are of premium quality. They even make sports watches with gold and gold plating.
12- Audemars Piguet
This internationally famous watchmaker is known in part because of the Royal Oak, a watch they released in the early seventies, which was one of the first stainless steel sports watches. Now, in addition to other gold watches, they make a gold version of this game-changing watch.
13- Rolex
Rolex’s gold watches are iconic and amazing. Although they’re incredibly expensive, they’re worth every penny. Movie stars even wear them!
14- Bulova
Bulova is based in New York, but its watches are so amazing, they might as well be based in Switzerland. They’re known all over the world for the incredible quality of their timepieces.
15- Omega
Omega’s watches are expensive (ranging in the thousands of dollars), but these premium watches are definitely worth the price. Their watches feature many complications (i.e., functions, like a chronometer, for example).
Gold men’s watches: A good choice for you?
At the end of the day, whether or not you purchase a quality gold watch depends on your tastes and your wallet. However, if you do purchase one, we guarantee that you won’t regret it. You can wear a gold watch for years and years, and it will never let you down. Now, if you’d like to make a great decision in your life, consider buying one. We know that, if you do get one, you’ll only have one question to answer: do you adore it…or do you 100%, absolutely, hand-on-your-heart LOVE it?
Have we missed something? Is there something else you feel needs to be included here? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll address your suggestions right away!
