The day of your wedding is worth investing in, and so are the people you share it with. Your groomsmen are likely some of your closest friends, even family members, and this makes it especially important to let them know how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you.
Giving a great gift to your groomsmen is a perfect means of going above and beyond for the most important men in your life on one of the most important days of your life.
Getting Ready For Your Wedding, But Not Sure What To Give Your Groomsmen?
So, what makes an ideal gift for your groomsmen? To start off, something that has an inherent air of masculinity is always a great option. However, masculinity does not need to be manifested in the form of cheap, macho-esque gifts. You certainly do not have to buy into the traditional standards of groomsman machismo.
Some “masculine” gifts end up coming off as tacky – think of kitschy cowboy boot-shaped pint glasses, cheap engraved knives, and the like. These gifts are generic at best and come off as insincere and phoned-in at worst.
When you want to make sure that your groomsmen feel special and are reminded that they are some of the most important people to you, you can’t settle for giving them mediocre gifts. This is why at Jack Mason, we believe the best groomsmen gifts you can give are great watches.
Why A Watch Makes The Perfect Groomsmen Gift
A great watch is an ideal groomsmen gift because of its timeless appeal, functionality, value, and artful craftsmanship. A well-crafted watch will never go out of style, lasting each groomsman in your bridal party decades. When wearing his watch, a groomsman at your wedding will remember you fondly and always feel grateful for your meaningful contribution to his life.
The longevity of a gift says a great deal about a friendship – it is indicative of the fact that you take your relationships seriously and care deeply about the men in your life.
In addition, giving a high-quality watch gives each groomsman something that will serve a purpose in his life. A watch has constant utility and offers a man an upgrade in both convenience and style.
Wearing a well-made wristwatch is a surefire means of improving your daily looks, boosting your confidence, and making you feel ready to take on the world. Easy access to the time of day is an obvious perk of wearing a watch, but, as many timepiece aficionados will tell you, there is far more to it than that.
Watches also come in many different styles, meaning you can find one that is perfect for each groomsman’s personality and lifestyle. The general practice is to give groomsmen identical gifts. However, this can come off as impersonal and a bit of an afterthought.
Giving a unique watch to each groomsman in your bridal party is a great move. It shows that you appreciate each person as an individual. Each of your groomsmen should feel special and honored by you on your wedding day, and giving each one of them a unique watch that is distinct from those given to the others makes a meaningful statement.
Choosing A Watch For Your Groomsmen
The ideal watch for each man depends on his personality, lifestyle, fashion and style preferences, and daily demands of his career and other responsibilities. There is a suitable watch for every man, and finding it can be accomplished by considering these factors.
When you are looking for the perfect watch for your groomsmen, a great starting point is possessing basic knowledge of the primary types of watches. Below is a brief explanation of some of the best types of watches to look for for your groomsmen.
Dive Watches
Dive watches are designed to function under the intense pressure of ocean depths. However, the dive watch design has become a mainstay in modern style, both for casual and formal wear. The transition from specialized watches worn exclusively by divers to ubiquitous timepieces happened in the mid-20th century and cemented the dive watch in the annals of modern style.
The dive watch has minimal complications (extra features apart from the main clock interface), making it look great in many different contexts as a sleek, minimal accessory. It’s a design that has long been associated with luxury thanks to on-screen appearances on the wrist of none other than James Bond himself. Multiple actors playing 007 have sported dive watches when they starred as the British superspy.
Field Watches
Field watches were first worn by soldiers in WWI, and their rugged builds make them perfect for outdoorsmen and adventurers. The field watch design has stood the test of time, enduring into the 21st century as an extremely stylish timepiece ideal for casual wear.
For anyone who spends the majority of their life outside, favors casual outfits, and loves gadgets and accessories that can take a major beating and still look great, the field watch is a perfect choice. Field watches are typically worn with canvas straps, adding to their rugged appearance.
Aviation Watches
Designed for pilots but fit to be worn by any man who loves to travel and embraces the wild side of life, aviation watches are stylish, functional, and steeped in history.
Popularized in the 1950s as pilots began regularly making flights that would pass through multiple time zones, many pilot’s watches are designed to easily be calibrated for use while changing locations via plane. The design is sure to appeal to anyone who appreciates aviation, as well as frequent fliers who are always on the go.
Nautical Watches
Another specialized type of watch, the nautical watch was originally intended for use on the water. Often featuring chronometers that give the watch a distinctly intricate look, the nautical design is unique and ideal for any man who enjoys taking things both fast and slow.
Understanding Watch Movement
When looking for the best watches for your groomsmen, it is crucial to understand watch movement. A watch’s movement is the mechanism that keeps it ticking and telling the time accurately.
The primary forms of watch movement are mechanical, automatic, and quartz. Quartz watches tend to be the most inexpensive of the three, but this does not mean they are lower in quality. Below is a brief explanation of each type of watch movement.
- Mechanical watch movement is the oldest type of mechanism used to make a watch tick. Mechanical watches are manually wound and contain a wide array of interconnected cogs and gears, moving at a precise rhythm that is calibrated to keep the watch ticking in time.
Mechanical watches are less common now that automatic and quartz movements have made for a much lower-maintenance wearing experience. Nevertheless, the craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking has rightly earned its revered status as an art form.
- Automatic watch movement relies on a weighted rotor mechanism to store up energy in the mainspring of the timepiece.
This energy allows the watch to keep ticking accurately without being manually wound by the wearer, as long as he wears the watch consistently. This is because the motions of the watch wearer’s wrist cause the weighted rotor to spin, and when the watch is left unworn, it will need to be wound manually.
- Quartz watch movement is the most recent and lowest-maintenance (and cost) form of watch movement. Quartz watches are powered by batteries, eliminating the need for manual winding.
Quartz watches have become more and more common over the last several decades, well-loved for their ease of use, lightweight feel, and affordability.
Knowing Which Strap To Get
When purchasing watches for groomsmen, it’s essential to know the main materials used for watch straps – leather, metal, canvas, and rubber. Each of these materials has its place, but not all of them are equally fitting for every watch.
When in doubt, a leather watch band is a great option. However, field watches look great with canvas straps, and many other types of watches can be worn with metal bands. Some watches, especially dive watches, pair well with rubber bands, especially black ones.
Ultimately, there is no superior or inferior material for watch bands. However, leather is arguably the most versatile material for a strap, fitting well with nearly every type of watch. Leather can also be coordinated with other accessories like belts and shoes to give any outfit a cohesive look.
Sources:
https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/how-wear-watch/
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/tom-ford-rules-for-watches-2019
