There's Never Been a Better Time to Be a Watch Guy

Quality affordable men's timepieces at Hodinkee

What Watch Guys Need

The best gear, books and affordable watches to buy right now

There's Never Been a Better Time to Be a Watch Guy

The best gear, books and affordable watches to buy right now

We know that no man needs a watch these days. We all have a phone in our pocket, that always promises accurate timekeeping. But let's be honest, phones don't keep us punctual. You won't fish your phone out of your pocket every time you want to check the time, will you? Or when you're in a situation when pulling out your phone would be considered rude.

Of course, telling the time is merely one function of a watch. A proper timepiece, like a well-tailored suit, has the power to make a man feel more put-together and confident because it instantly communicates an image he's trying to project. After all, you can tell a lot about a man from the watch on his wrist. The list of acceptable jewelry for a man is short—your watch conveys your taste and your appreciation for tradition and craftsmanship.

And despite the ubiquity of cell phones, there's never been a better time to be interested in watches. There are countless resources, a booming vintage market and interesting indie watchmakers, along with plenty of gear to keep you entertained. There are less respectable things to be into, that's for sure.

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The Gear

What's the point of collecting timepieces if you're not going to tinker with them and swap out their bands and bracelets? And any self-respecting watch guy needs a place to store his grails, from a leather-lined oak box and compact automatic winder to a waxed twill canvas roll inspired by vintage luggage.

Shinola Collector's Box

Collector's box,
$295 by Shinola

Hodinkee Chestnut Brown Leather Strap

Chestnut brown
leather strap,
$165 by
Hodinkee

Chestnut brown leather strap,
$165 by Hodinkee

Crown & Buckle Nylon Chevron Strap

Nylon chevron strap,
$32 by Crown & Buckle

Barton Spring Bar Tool

Spring bar tool,
$11 by Barton

Worn & Wound Watch Roll

Watch roll,
$150 by Worn & Wound

Wolf Automatic Watch Winder

Automatic watch winder,
$239 / $177 by Wolf

Impressive, yet affordable watches

Look, we appreciate a classic investment timepiece just as much as any man of discerning taste, but sometimes you're looking to keep some extra scratch in your pockets. We get it. The good news is that there are plenty of well-made watches on offer from various respected brands for less than $500. Here are four of our current favorites.

Armogan Regalia Two-Register Chronograph

Regalia two-register chronograph,
$220 by Armogan

Todd Snyder x Timex Beekman with Curlicue Tachymeter

Beekman with curlicue tachymeter,
$158 by Todd Snyder x Timex

Seiko Presage Automatic

Presage automatic,
$450 / $315.84 by Seiko

For Your Reference

In the esoteric world of horology, there's much to learn about the watchmaking process and the art of collecting timepieces. Which is why there's a veritable library of well-researched reference books on the market today. Here are three of the newest that would easily be at home on any watch collector's bookshelf or coffee table.

The Watch Book Rolex: New, Extended Edition by Gilbert Brunner

The Watch Book Rolex: New, Extended Edition, $85 by Gilbert Brunner

Sea Time: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting and Diving by Aaron Sigmond

Sea Time: Watches Inspired by Sailing, Yachting and Diving, $60 by Aaron Sigmond

The Watch: A Twentieth Century Style History by Alexander Barter

The Watch:
A Twentieth Century
Style History
,
$38.84 by Alexander Barter

The Watch: A Twentieth Century Style History, $38.84 by Alexander Barter

Hollywood's
Go-To Watch Stylist

GQ's Cam Wolf introduces us to celebrity stylist, Jeanne Yang, who's become a celebrity watch whisperer of sorts, putting unorthodox timepieces in not-so-obvious places.

Want More Style?

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