The following is an article written by my friend Fred Stepanov. It’s all about watches – the why, the what and the when. Enjoy!

Let’s be frank: wearing a watch is not really necessary anymore. If you want the correct time, consult your cell phone, your TV or your computer. Why spend money on it? Why even bother?

I’ll tell you why.

What you wear on your wrist is not only an object to tell the time. It is a statement, telling people (and girls!) around you a lot of things. Is this guy into sports, the rough guy, a businessman or a connoisseur?

The sportsman

The sporty fellow is wearing something like a Swatch, maybe one of the new Chrono-Plastic models with an all-plastic body and straps. Cheap, durable, no frills and with an electronic heart that will run forever…or until the next battery change. This is fine to wear at work and in bars and clubs.

Wearing one of these running watches that are connected to a pulse belt is bad style. Sure, it is sporty, but still…wearing one of these on a date indicates that you think it is all right to bring a very sweaty item, no matter what. Better leave it at home.

If you’re not a diver, don’t buy extreme divers watches. Go for Swatch, Seiko, Suunto. Chronographs are more than accepted, plastic is perfect, don’t go for anything golden. Black is OK, as is metal.

The JKTC pick: The Suunto t3c

The rough guy

The watch for guys like police officers and fire fighters. Men need something rough and dependable, something that can tell the time and occasionally help with hammering down a nail.

No frills and no woman-sized items here. Citizen, Oris, Fortis are generally good buys, and don’t go below 40 mms. Get a black rubber strap or go for all-metal.

You want your watch to be as tough as you are, so choose something that looks dependable.

The JKTC pick: The Citizen Pro-Master AJ9230.

The businessman

Only one brand gives you the right image: The all-classic Rolex.

It can be old, worn and torn, a GMT-Master or a Submariner, an Explorer or a Milgauss, the Rolex is just… a Rolex. With this watch, you never go wrong.

If you are a more artistic guy, a Dubey Schaldenbrand, a Jaeger -LeCoultre or a Franck Muller could do it, but choose a curved model. This will embrace your wrist in an elegant way, perfect with a white shirt and a grey jacket.

Gold is OK, chronographs are not. Go simple, this is not a tool watch but more jewellery. Do not mix steel and gold.

The JKTC pick: The new Rolex GMT 2. So simple, so nice. This will land you any contract.

The connoisseur

Now we’re getting somewhat nerdy. Your watch goes from being a tool to an obsession, or a conversation piece.

On a normal budget, any mechanical watch from the sixties or seventies are fine, but an Omega Seamaster or Speedmaster or Flightmaster is creme de la crème.

Maybe a Russian or American army or divers watch could do it? As long as it looks original and mechanical, people (people equaling girls) will notice that what you’re wearing was not manufactured yesterday or something that not everybody can find, afford or even like.

You might want to go Italian: Officine Panerai from Firenze makes big-sized watches that look great on a hunky wrist, or go for some obscure Swiss company making watches in very limited numbers, like Roger Dubuis or Ulysee Nardin. An IWC from the sixties or seventies is also ok.

The JKTC pick: The Omega 300 Seamaster with a broad mesh band from the mid-sixties. 100% James Bond, but still affordable and with so much style. If we had the money, a Panerai Radiomir 8 days 45 mm could also do it…

Are you a watch guy?

Do you wear a watch? If yes, which one? And when? Tell us all about it in the comments.

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Thanks to 96dpi for the image.