In this age of “free style”, are there any more rules? Should there be rules?

“Some rules have indeed been bent in the fashion world, and while things are based on personal interpretations and preferences these days, there still needs to be a basic rule—or perhaps a better word would be ‘guideline’. I still stand by the saying, ‘less is more’. Not everyone can carry off a trend. Trends come and go, but looking effortlessly classy never goes out of style.”

Does size matter?

“It only matters if the fit isn’t right or if the comfort level isn’t there. A small watch worn by a man with a large wrist would no doubt look and even feel odd for the wearer. Similarly for a woman with dainty wrists wearing a huge, oversized watch.

Just remember that whatever style of the watch, it is a singular expression of your personality and should be worn with confidence. Like any garment or accessory, your watch should fit snugly. The size of the dial should be proportional to your wrist i.e. covering 2/3 of the width of your wrist.”

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Please give a brief guide on how to wear...

A classic vs a square/rectangular watch: “Square and rectangular watches are mostly worn as dress watches, and they are best suited for a business/formal/black tie or semi-formal event.  They look great on men when paired with a smart suit and a crisp shirt. On women, they give the illusion of long, slender wrists.”

Watches with avant-garde designs: “Novelty watches and collectibles will already be drawing attention, so keep your outfit muted. Pair with a good crisp white shirt or top, jeans or khakis, and finished with a pair of snazzy leather sports shoes.”

Yellow gold and rose gold watches: “If your skin tone is yellow, avoid yellow gold at all costs; you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for having a nasty case of jaundice. Yellow can also wash out paler skin tones. Yellow gold is far more suitable for tanned or darker skin tones. However, rose gold complements just about every skin tone.”

Give us your style tips for different occasions.

Work/business: “A good handshake should be firm, but not overly so. The same applies to watches when making a strong first impression. The watch should not be too flashy nor should it be too casual. There needs to be a balance and the best thing to do is to keep it simple with a classic timepiece.”

Formal/black tie: “It’s the best time for the bling to come out to play, for both men and women. It’s the best time to showcase your prized pieces as a centrepiece. This is, however, not the time to be wearing sporty watches with rubber straps.”

Casual weekend: “Bring out the sporty and fun-looking watches. All rules go out the window because it’s the weekend and you can wear whatever you choose. Just have a little bit of common sense and don’t go wearing your prized pieces that are not meant to be worn while engaging in athletic activities.”

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