As you build out your watch collection, make sure you have these three essential watch style categories covered so that you always have the perfect watch to suit every occasion.

The Day-in-Day Out Watch

Start your watch wardrobe off with a solid “go-to” watch. Select a style that can slip in easily with what’s already hanging in your closet and round out any outfit. Look for a clean and classic style with a metal bracelet, preferably made of durable stainless steel.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend turning to your jewelry collection or handbag’s hardware to see if you gravitate more towards gold or silver and match your watch accordingly. If it’s an even split, cover both bases with a two-tone watch.

And, because this watch will be on regular rotation and inevitably scratched or dinged as you go about your day, keep your budget fairly low. There are lots of watches by Michele, Michael Kors and Gucci that look far more expensive than their ticket price.

The 9-to-5 Watch

The next watch you need is a work-friendly watch that means business. Watches are a smart-looking accessory that punctuate your office attire with professional polish.

Opt for a classic, metal style with a modestly sized dial. Skip anything too trendy, flashy or over-sized.

Also, double-check that your watch fits properly. (For more on how your watch should fit, visit our post here.) It can be distracting to have your watch slide up and down your wrist, jangling about as you give a presentation or type at your computer. Have your watch’s bracelet links added or removed so that your watch doesn’t slide more than an inch up or down your wrist.

The After-Hours Watch

The third watch to add to your collection should be a fancier watch that you can wear for formal occasions—and we’re not talking about a super luxe watches for the rare black tie event and the opera. Rather, this timepiece should essentially be a piece of jewelry that you break out for date night, your friend’s wedding, your birthday party, holiday cocktail hours and any other night out on the town.

Splurge a little extra on a timepiece with an ornamental flourish like a diamond bezel, mother-or-pearl dial or hour markers with precious stones. Then wear it as you would any statement cuff or bracelet and let it be a focal point of your outfit.

Still need more watch recommendations? Read our post “5 Best Rolex Watches for Women” for the perfect model to match your style.

From low-key smartwatches to minimalist styles to refashioned Rolexes, we pick our fifteen favorite watch styles for modern collectors looking for something radically new.

Frederique Constant’s Smart Looking Smart Technology
The Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch looks like a classic wristwatch and includes cutting-edge smartwatch technology. Pair this handsome watch with your phone to track your daily steps, calories burned and total distance. Enjoy the perks of a modern smartwatch without compromising your style.

Les Artisans de Genève’s Reimagined Classics
Independent watchmaker Les Artisans de Genève puts a unique stamp on time-honored Rolex models with custom dials, refashioned bezels and updated bracelets. These artfully reimagined models are a cool conversation piece for any collector and Rolex fans will revel in testing their Rolex knowledge, spotting the subtle updates to these reimagined Submariners and Daytonas.

HYT’s Ancient Cutting-Edge Technology
HYT’s watches are veritable engineering marvels and will mesmerize new and veteran watch collectors. Loosely based upon the ancient water clock (or clepysdra), one of the earliest recorded timekeeping methods, HYT’s wristwatches use a proprietary mechanical movement that compresses a bellow and pushes a tinted liquid through a glass capillary to indicate the time. HYT’s novel approach to indicating time is like a progress bar for the hours passed in a day, perfectly suited for today’s tech-minded society.

Traser’s Watches for Adventure-Seekers
If you’re a collector who likes to wear your watches day-in, day-out, check out Traser’s collection of incredibly durable watches. Traser is the brand-of-choice emergency and rescue teams, police forces, and adventurous hikers and outdoor thrill-seekers who rely on Traser’s break-through illumination technology. Traser’s Trigalight technology allows the watch dial to remain illuminated without the aid of batteries or an external light source. These robust watches are best suited for modern watch collectors and wearers who need a watch that can keep up with them.

Modern Minimalist Styles
Contemporary tastes are gravitating towards sleeker and minimalist watch styles: classic dials, thin bezels and leather bands. Thanks to their premier craftsmanship, these beautifully pared down styles are built to last and perfectly on-trend without being too trendy.