The Sharp Guide to Building a Watch Collection
HUDSON’S BAY & SHARP
From gold-toned dress watches made to be worn with a finely tailored suit, to steel-cased chronographs designed to stand up to your toughest adventures, there truly is a watch for every man and every occasion. Finding the one — or two, or three — that’s right for you is the fun part.
Whether you’re purchasing a watch for yourself, or as a gift for someone special, we’ve taken decades of watch knowledge and condensed them into this indispensable guide for finding the right piece of wrist wear at Hudson’s Bay.
Becoming a Watch Collector
Whether you’re suiting up for the office or hitting the gym, the right watch can elevate your look while adding useful functionality. Start your watch collection with these pieces for every occasion.
Dress
Top to bottom:
Daniel Wellington $299, Boss $525
Casual
Top to bottom:
Tommy $155, Calvin Klein $529
Active
Top to bottom:
Fitbit $250, Samsung $460
Weekend
Top to bottom:
Frye $450, Ferrari $240, G-Shock $930
Skeleton Watches
Among the most fascinating aspects of a watch are the gears, springs, and rotors that make it tick. While most watches keep these things hidden from view, a “skeleton dial” puts its intricate internal components on display through cutouts in the dial. Like a glass hood over the engine of an exotic car, a skeleton dial watch allows you to admire all of the ingenuity and beauty of its inner workings at a glance.
TOP TO BOTTOM:
KENNETH COLE NY $180, RAYMOND WEIL $3,050, HAMILTON $1,050, RADO $2,550.
Blue Watches
A black or white dial on a watch is classic, but a blue dial provides a surprisingly versatile way to stand out from the crowd. Whether on a sporty chronograph or a more formal variety, a pop of blue adds just the right amount of contemporary flair to your wrist.
1. Bulova
The Precisionist chronograph offers the accuracy of Bulova’s quartz movement with a rugged, industrial look. $950
2. MVMT
An opalescent deep blue face contrasted by a white “small seconds” dial draws your eye to this smart minimalist watch. $220
3. Ted Baker
With its navy-blue face, bold yellow hands and woven “Milanese” bracelet, this timepiece is the best combination of classic and modern. $215
How Does a Quartz Watch Work?
Unlike mechanical watches, which are powered by a spring and a balance wheel, inside most quartz watches are a battery, a microchip, a quartz crystal and a small electric motor. The battery sends its current through the quartz crystal, causing it to oscillate precisely 37,768 times per second. A microchip then translates these oscillations into one-second electronic pulses, which it sends to the electric motor that drives a set of gears. These in turn move the watch’s hands to display the time.
The Dive Watch
Once an essential tool for undersea exploration, this watch’s rugged construction and classic design have kept its popularity afloat well into the digital era. Among its defining features are a steel case built to withstand the pressure of the depths, a face that can be easily read under water, and a rotating bezel used to track a diver’s oxygen consumption. Since salt water corrodes leather, these timepieces usually come equipped with a metal bracelet or rubber strap.
TOP TO BOTTOM:
CITIZEN $495, TISSOT $950.
Classics
When it comes to choosing a timepiece for yourself or as a gift, the sheer variety of available models can be overwhelming. Some watch designs, however, have stood the test of time despite the changing whims of fashion. Whether a reproduction of a classic model, or a modern watch with vintage-inspired design, choices like these are sure to keep their looks for many years to come.
1. Nixon
This modernized take on a 1970s gold dress watch carries all the swagger of that bygone era. $120
2. Casio
Inspired by the very first G-Shock digital watch, this Casio sports a retro design in a modern steel case. $650
3. Movado
This mid-century-inspired watch, with a gold-toned case and black leather strap, is a classic embodiment of “less-is-more.” $725
4. Timex
The Marlin is a reproduction of a Timex from the 1960s, right down to its vintage typeface and hand-winding movement. $289
5. Shinola
This made-in-Detroit watch may be new, but its clean, functional aesthetics are reminiscent of that city’s golden era of manufacturing. $850
Read the rest of the Sharp Guide to Getting the Right Watch Now.
AVAILABLE AT HUDSON’ S BAY AND THEBAY.COM.
