I need (perhaps want is better) a new watch to go with a new suit that I have to buy for a new job I've acquired. Given I've been wearing a matt black, negative display G Shock for 5 years & I'm 34 tomorrow, I think it may be time to grow up a little when wearing the suit (The G will remain for heavy outdoor/underwater/casual usage).

As I'm on a stringent budget, for a change, I'm looking at Seiko. It would appear that leather straps are the done thing for a gentleman in a suit & the only man who can pull off a stainless bracelet in a dinner jacket is James Bond. Plus, I'm not a diver, or pilot, so I'm thinking along the lines of a strap.

I'm also thinking that said strap might well be changeable to incorporate some different colours for different outfits/to convey different images. After all, the clothes maketh the man. Thoughts?

How much are you willing to spend? I've got a couple of Armani watches, but here's some strap-types

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/l ... 7Cleather/

If I had the cash, I'd be getting into this because it appeals to me: http://www.wired.com/2014/09/seiko-model-5-hacking/

I picked up a Seiko 5 from the 60s on eBay for about £20. And it's lovely, people have commented on it being a bit unusual.

What a delightful link Prof.

I've been looking at a Seiko Prospex, but saw many 5's along the way. Didn't realise the potential. This is what I'm considering:

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-prospex-299/seiko-prospex-solar-military-alarm-chronograph-ssc293p1-ssc293p-mens-watch-6346.html

There's also a black nylon variant, and a slightly different model using the same caliber with brown leather:

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-chronograph-watches-63/seiko-solar-alarm-chronograph-ssc081p1-ssc081p-ssc081-4470.html

I'm right in saying that leather would be the way to go for "dress" though, yeah?

Should I go brown and have brown shoes, or is that massively gay?

Then do I go nylon strap in the first place for versatility & order a generic leather strap in a different colour from somewhere else? Or just get the brown one?

I should totally be focussed on more productive things....!

I have a Casio metal cased GForce watch with real hands and inverse display and I have a Seiko for formal occassions. It is the Titanium version, so titanium and gold housing and strap, I always wore that with my business suits. It is now about 18 years old and still going strong - Kinetic mechanism.

Interestingly, the Casio is also 12 or 13 years old and the original battery is still doing its job - makes the "might make it through a day" of the current smartwatches seem rather naff.

Not a watch geek.

What's your budget?

I'd argue for either a black leather strap or a black metal bracelet. Nice wide clear face (ie no chronographs unless you really need it). Date and day function is up to you. Go for style. It will go with all your suits, no matter what colour.

Brown shoes - I'd only ever wear them with brown/beige coloured trousers. Although a lot of men will wear them with blue suits, to me it just looks odd. My own style is to wear black shoes, black belt and black socks. Suits may be blue, grey or black (or variations in shades). Your own style will be different.

I had a look at the Seiko watches in your link. These are the ones I'd go for if I were limited to that site:

http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -6418.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -7437.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -6362.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -4697.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -4494.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -5303.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -2075.html
http://www.creationwatches.com/products ... -4503.html

In the end, the watch these days is more akin to jewellery and therefore needs to suit your style.

I own a fair few watches, I just pick up stuff I like, but by far my favourite brand is Fossil. I own a couple and I think they're reasonably priced and nicely designed plus the straps are all interchangeable so you can change the design without purchasing a whole new watch.

When I wear a watch (I've got a wrist problem - ahem...), I'm currently wearing this as it's small-ish and rather understated.

As for shoes, the rules on colour are very simple:

Brown: Going to the pub or taking a walk i.e. leisure time.
Black: Everything but especially anything formal e.g. Work, Weddings etc.

Oh strap TYPES

Now I missed out 'bracelet' there, but what were you thinking?

i bought a citizen ecodrive, titanium with elastomer strap in 2011. two months ago the gasket on the adjustment mechanism broke and i only found out in the pool when it got condensation inside. i took it to the local dealer and had to pay 100 cayman dollars just to have it sent to the factory in the states. the entire unit was replaced except for the straps. not bad for a model they discontinued in 2011. apparently this model is in demand now.

i also found an old g-shock of mine whilst rummaging around stuff i have stored in my parents house a few months ago. i swear i can't have worn it since i was a teenager, some 20 plus years ago. it's still running.

I have a couple of Seiko watches, both with bracelets, but you can easily affix straps to them.
My main, everyday watch, is a Seiko Black Monster, here's a pic of one with a strap ...


Mark

Thanks guys. All very helpful

CW: I currently use a chronograph all the time on my G Shock, so would like to retain that feature set. But I see where you're coming from.

Going suit shopping with an old friend today. I'll keep you all apprised.

I don't get the big lumpy chronograph watches. To me they seem ugly. The biggest watch I have is a Fossil watch - bought for me by my wife because it has an eccentric face. Most of the rest are Swatches or that kind of size. My posh watch is a gold Rotary which has an engraving on the back celebrating my grandad's 25 years at his workplace. For a man's watch, it's very small in comparison with today's.

Much of it is personal style, I think. Big watches are pointless if they don't have any additional features. But more space helps to make more complex faces easier to read in a variety of circumstances.

I've spent far too much money on a suit today, so perhaps when I'm in the mood to put it all on, I'll show you guys a picture. At the moment, I'm leaning towards a brown leather band, much like the one Mark showed.