When it comes to accessories to dress up or dress down an outfit, men tend to get the short end of the stick. Unlike women who can get away with bracelets, necklaces, earrings and more at just about any occasion imaginable, men are limited generally to a single piece of jewelry and perhaps a watch to add some style to their ensemble. The watch, however, shouldn't be overlooked as a fashion statement. And when it comes to men's watches the choices are many as are the functions they can serve.



Watches today are for more than telling time in a lot of cases. These can even be mini portable computers a guy can wear on his wrist. The options are simply phenomenal. They include:

* Classic timepieces. These are gold, silver, platinum and so on in appearance with simple faces that may or may not include gemstones. Basic, yet elegant, classic timepieces serve their purpose and tend not to stray from it. They add a look of sophistication to a man's outfit and many can even transition quite well to a casual setting while still being ideal for a black-tie affair.

* Sports watches. These tend to be bigger, bolder and not as reliant on metals for their looks. They typically have a number of functions beyond basic timekeeping, too. These can include a stop watch, heart rate recorder, pulse information and more. Sports watches are designed to take a beating by an active wearer and inasmuch often are waterproof or at least water resistant. They might not look fantastic with a tuxedo, but they're great for everyday use.

* Scientific watches. Similar in appearance, generally, to the sports watches, these timepieces come with a few extra surprises. They might include a calculator, phone book and more. Plus, they often are programmed to tell the time in numerous parts of the world.

* Gadget watches. There are watches out there that do almost anything from telling time to offering a tiny screen TV. Gadget watches can also serve serious purposes, such as helping a diabetic keep tabs on blood sugar levels and so on.

* Vintage watches. Either actual antiques or replicas of them, these watches are similar to classics, but they don't look as modern - generally. Antique watches can have a real appeal for collectors because their workmanship tends to be fantastic. These can include both wrist watches and pocket watches.

Men's watches can really help a man complete the look of an outfit while serving many functional purposes as well. While not all watches are ideal for every circumstance, a combination of different watches can serve a guy just like a necklace collection does a woman. There's no reason to stick with plain and boring in appearance when great accessories like watches can really make a difference.

Whether you're shopping for yourself or a friend, remember a watch also needs to be very functional to be considered a good one. Price doesn't necessarily matter here, but quality does.

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