Whether he knows it or not, the modern man's dress sense is always under scrutiny. From Hat to shoes, you would be surprised what your clothes say about you and the same applies when it comes down to accesories.

Shopping for jewellery isn't something that men regularly do, however the importance of a good watch should not be underestimated and great care should be taken when investing in what can often be an expensive accessory. Choosing a stylish and functional watch can be confusing and a little intimidating to the novice buyer simply due to the fact that there are so many styles, types and manufacturers available. With this in mind, here are some things to look out for when you find that you are ready to buy yourself a fashionable timepiece.

First you need to decide what style of watch you wish to buy and on what occasion you are likely to wear it. Are you going to wear it at work? Or perhaps it will be worn when out on the town,or perhaps when you are enjoying outdoor pursuits? For example a bulkier, more rugged watch would look out of place when worn with a smartsuit.

Once you have decided on the type of watch you intend to by, it is time to decide on the kind of movement. The movement refers to the inner workings of the watch, of which there are 3 different types: mechanical, quartz and digital. As you would expect, mechanical watches rely on a precise system of springs and gears resulting in watches of very high quality but which are not very accurate. Quartz watches use a tiny vibrating crystal to dictate their timekeeping and are highly accurate. Digital watches tend to be battery or solar powered and are significantly cheaper, however these are considered to be a more casual style of watchy perhaps not suited to formal attire.

Now that you have decided upon the style and movement there are a few other decisions that you should take into consideration. A particularly important aspect of your watch is the size of the face. You would be surprised at how the face size can impact on the overall look and style. For example, a face of average size worn by a larger man could result in a style resembling a ladies watch. It is also important that you insist on a watch with quality finish and a fine finish. This is vital if you are considering purchasing a designer watch as inferior craftsmanship could be a strong indicator that the watch is a replica. A useful additional feature for any watch is that of illumination. Check that the watch you are interested in has this feature, and that it doesn't compromise the styling of the watch and cause it to look garish. Also take note of the covering of the watch face which comes in one of 3 different materials: plexiglass (cheapest and scratches easily, but is easy to shatter), mineral crystal (more expensive and more likely to shatter but with less chance of being scratched) and synthetic sapphire (by far the most expensive and scratch proof, but fairly easy to shatter).

No matter where you intend on wearing your watch, it is critical that you know the difference between a watch that is 'waterproof' and one that is 'water resistant'. Water resistant watches are not waterproof as they will be fine when splashed. You will recognise a watch that is waterproof as it will be rated by depth.