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The 5 Best Casual Watches For Men For Any Occasion
About Casual Watches
Watches have a long history. They began being used in the 1600s and became popular in the early 1900s, during World War I. In fact, watches have always been considered symbols of status as well as fashion statements. Men especially felt it was important to wear a watch and it was seen as a sign of their social status.
In this article, we’re going to focus on the best casual watch for men for any occasion: from regular wear at work to formal events such as weddings or meetings with clients or supervisors. We will review various models, including their best qualities and some potential drawbacks you may want to consider before making a purchase decision.
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AT A GLANCE – THE TOP 5 CASUAL WATCHES |
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1. TOP PICK: Citizen Men’s ‘Eco-Drive’ |
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1. TOP PICK: Citizen Men’s ‘Eco-Drive’ |
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SPECIFICATIONS
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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This is a very popular watch among men who want something they can wear practically every day, even when they go jogging, swimming, and even snorkeling. The case is made from stainless steel and the band is made from rubber. It comes in different colors, but you can choose black or white depending on what type of look you’re going for. The best thing about this watch is that it’s solar-powered and never needs to be wound or charged. That makes it very practical to wear with your everyday schedule because you won’t need to worry about recharging it or replacing the battery every few years. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Very nice watch. There is nothing to dislike about this watch. Perhaps it would be better if it had a screw down crown? UPDATE: Watch is exceptional. However citizen really dropped the ball with the design of the watch band buckle. It has a curve on it and at the base of the buckle are sharp edges that dig into your skin. This becomes very uncomfortable. Would’ve been much better if these sharp edges were rounded. I still love the watch. The band is very nice. But the buckle may become a problem overtime. Just got the watch recently and have already had a few people ask what kind of watch it is. Looks fantastic, feels fantastic. Definitely looks more expensive than what I paid. Not one single complaint about it. Don’t understand the complaints…it hurts…the numbers are too small…its a watch. Loosen up the band if it hurts and get some glasses if its too small to read. People just like to complain. I have 40/50 watches and this is the one I like the most by far. Classy and sporty all wrapped into one. Can wear this watch absolutely anywhere for any occasion. Its a citizen eco. “nuff said” |
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PROS
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CONS
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2. BUDGET-FRIENDLY CHOICE: Fossil Men’s Grant Stainless Steel |
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SPECIFICATIONS
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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Fossil watches, perhaps better known as “cool brand” among men, is a well-known manufacturer of many different kinds of watches. The best thing about them is that they’re very practical and versatile; it’s always nice to have a good watch that you can wear every day. Their Grant line is an excellent choice as a casual watch mainly because of the high-quality stainless steel case and band. Even though the band isnt stainless steel, it still has a classy feel to it. The watch looks great since it has a low-profile design but still maintains its good looks with its domed crystal and silver-tone dials. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Great watch for both casual everyday use and business events. Beautiful design and fits my husband’s wrist well. The blue gives a little bit of personality and extra style to this already wonderful design. There was no problem with the packaging and I love the cute gift box/tin it came on for Christmas. I would highly recommend this watch to anyone.” “I first saw this in the Fossil store and fell in love, but of course I had to check Amazon and it was $27 cheaper. Beautiful build quality, very stylish, and pleasant to wear. It’s the perfect size for my wrist, and the navy blue face with rose gold makes for a unique combination. The leather band is a nice soft calfskin leather. Functions smoothly and is very easy to set up. I highly recommend it!” |
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PROS
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CONS
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3. CLASSIC YET ELEGANT: Michael Kors Men’s Slim Runway |
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SPECIFICATIONS
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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The Michael Kors Men’s Slim Runway is a classic yet elegant and modern watch. It’s made of stainless steel with a silver dial. It has an automatic movement that keeps accurate time and the sapphire crystal protects the dial from damage. The case is 42 millimeters in diameter, which makes it big enough to be seen but not so big that men’s wrists are going to be dwarfed by it. Also, at 4 millimeters thick, the Runway is quite slim for its size making it a comfortable alternative to bulky watches that might look good but are too cumbersome to wear even if you’re only wearing it for an hour here or there. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“The watch is very nice and classy. The face of the watch is much nicer and of higher quality than the band. This is because the face was made in Japan and the band in China, but all in all the watch as a whole is still high quality.” “The description says that the watch is a metal gray color on both the band and face. The band and face match very well. The watch is definitely real.” “Overall, I am extremely pleased with the color and quality of the watch. The rose gold isn’t super pink, which I like. It is still definitely rose gold and I think it looks better with the gray than black would. It is a nice going out watch for formal occasions.” |
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PROS
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CONS
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4. PREMIUM CHOICE: Bulova Men’s Watch |
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SPECIFICATIONS
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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Bulova is one of the leading watchmakers in the world. They make watches for both men and women too! As a company that prides itself on creating quality timepieces, they have long been able to maintain a strong presence in the industry. This watch is made with stainless steel and silicon rubber to ensure that it remains durable and water-resistant even when worn in harsh conditions. Although it has a simple face, it can be worn with an assortment of other watches or bracelets due to its interchangeable strap system. Altogether, this watch reflects Bulova’s commitment to producing watches that are both elegant and practical at the same time. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“Very Elegant Timepiece, The roman numeral lettering gives this watch a nice accent, was looking for a watch that was fancy but yet not “loud” when you see it (if you know what I mean) this watch definitely accomplished what I was trying to do. P.s. I get tons of compliments on it!” “I bought this as a Christmas present for my husband. The reviews were all pretty positive so I crossed my fingers and waited. When the watch arrived I loved it even more in person as I did online. It looks like a MUCH more expensive watch and has so many nice details including a large face and substantial weight. The rubber watch band is thick and high quality. I was worried it would have a “fitbit” feel to it, but to the contrary, it makes this watch the perfect combination dressy/casual. My husband loved it as well and it looks great on him. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase. A great deal!” |
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PROS
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CONS
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5. SIMPLE YET SLEEK: Fossil Men’s the Minimalist |
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SPECIFICATIONS
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WHAT WE THINK: |
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The Fossil Men’s the Minimalist is another stainless steel watch that looks great and can be worn with many different types of clothes. It has a very classic design that’s both elegant and simple at the same time, which can be seen in its black dial and silver hands. The band is also stainless steel, making it a versatile choice because it looks just as great without the watch attached as it does with it on. |
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WHAT CUSTOMERS THINK: |
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“I got this watch 3 months ago and have worn it most every day since. The design is very good and minimalist. The numbers around the perimeter aren’t very big so you don’t notice them usually and it looks like a numberless face, which I prefer. The markings are very clear and the materials look very quality. The leather band feels nice and smells really good when you first get it (smell wears off after a few days). It doesn’t slip down your wrist like some other watches do. The crown feels nice but every now and then it will pop out on its own, pausing time. This usually happens when taking off a jacket. The markings sparkle on a sunny day if you move your wrist around. It’s overall a very beautiful watch that I get complimented on regularly. The markings and hands are glow in the dark, but keep in mind this is limited: it only glows dimly for a minute or so before turning off. It’s not a watch you can expect to use in the dark all the time. The face is very durable, it still doesn’t have any scratches. The chrome around the face, however, has collected many minor scratches. It still looks good, though, especially if you’re not inspecting it up close.” |
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PROS
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CONS
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44mm Case Diameter
No batteries required. Citizen’s proprietary Eco-Drive technology powers your watch using the most renewable energy: light. 
Watch band could be longer for people who have large wristsWe’ve got you covered with more of these amazing gift lists:
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Does Casual Watch Mean?
Before we can answer that question, it’s important to understand what a casual watch is. It refers to watches that are more suitable for everyday wear than most other kinds of watches. They’re usually not very expensive and don’t have very complicated features either, which keeps the price down. The best casual watches are ones that you can wear when doing any kind of activity like going to work or school, going out with your friends or even just enjoying a day at the beach.
2. What Is A Dress Watch?
A dress watch is another term for a formal watch, typically used in business and other formal settings. They’re designed with a much more cultured and fancy style compared to casual watches. Some of them are even made from high-quality metals like gold and platinum. If you’re looking to make a statement about your status in life, then you should probably consider buying a dress watch instead of a casual one.
3. What Features Should A Casual Watch Have?
Whether you’re looking for the best fashion or casual watch, you want something that looks great but isn’t overdoing it at the same time. Here are some features that you can look for:
Durability:
As mentioned before, casual watches are often used by people who run around all day doing various activities. If you spend a lot of time using your hands and doing other physical activities, then a durable watch will be perfect for you.
Multifunctional:
Look for watches that can be used in many different ways besides telling the time. Watches with multiple features like calendars or compasses is what you’re looking for here.
Water Resistant:
Since you wear a casual watch everyday, it’s important for it to be water resistant so that you don’t have to worry about getting it wet when showering or doing other activities outside. It can be a little hard to find a watch with this feature, but the Citizen Mens Eco-Drive Promaster Atomic (shown above) has an amazing water resistance of up to 660 feet, which is great if you plan on swimming with your watch on.
Shock Resistant: A lot of people get surprised by how sturdy their watches are as they’ve never seen an atomic wristwatch before. They usually think that most watches are made from some kind of cheap plastic and will easily break if you drop them.
This is simply not the case with this watch. These watches are fitted with a super durable quartz movement that will survive any kind of shock as long as it isn’t made out of solid steel. The Citizen Mens Eco-Drive Promaster Atomic above has a shock resistance of about 5,000 Gauss, so you won’t have to worry about dropping it and damaging it at all.
4. What Features Should A Dress Watch Have?
If you’re looking for a dress watch, then you want something that’s going to stand out more than casual watches do. They’re usually larger, have more intricate details, and are made out of high-quality materials.
Looks:
For many people, the most important feature in a dress watch is the looks. You’ll want something that’s going to stand out from the crowd but still look classy. Most of these watches have a combination of gold and silver or gold plating with an elaborate design on it.
Style:
Not all dress watches have complicated designs on them; some prefer simple styles. Simple styles keep things simple but still, look good at the same time.
There are some people who don’t like having large face frames because they think they make faces too wide to be seen properly by others. This is actually true if the face frame is larger than about 3mm. You will want to find a watch that’s under this size in order to get a more creative look.
Material:
If you’re looking for something that has a leather strap, then you’ll want to get one made out of real leather. This material will feel and look better than other materials such as polyurethane or canvas due to the qualities of leather. If you get this material, then you can be sure that it’s going to hold up well over time.
Wrap around style:
If you’re looking for a watch that has a wrist band that wraps all the way around, then there are some good options out there. These can be more of a fashion statement than functional, but they’ll still serve you well in terms of durability and comfort.
