A watch is an important part of your wardrobe. It can say a lot about you,what you do for a living or what you do in your free time. When buying a watch there are a few basic things you will want to consider. Deciding on a band, a watch face style and what kind of extra features you want it a great way to narrow down search. Picking the perfect watch can be as easy as following these simple tips.

It's all About Your Style

The first thing to do when choosing any watch is take a quick survey of your life. Are you an action packed outdoors kind of man who is athletic and always on the go? Or are you a businessman who's day is filled with meetings, luncheons, conferences and dinners. Your watch should resemble the lifestyle you lead for fashion and functional purposes. If you find your self outside or engaged in physical activities and labor, you may want to purchase a sportier watch that can hold it's own and offers helpful functions like a compass or a stop clock. Likewise if you often dress in a suit and tie or have an affinity for the classy and sophisticated, you watch should reflect that. Instead of the tech savvy watches you may want a watch that fits with a certain appearance. Do a quick survey of your personality and style these there

• Band: The watch band is the strap that holds the time piece onto your wrist. There are several types of bands including leather, metal, and material. If you are a sports minded or outdoors kinda man then your best bet would be one of the material bands that offer a little more versatility and protection from the elements or from sweat induced by physical activity. However, for a watch that can be worn for everyday life as well as for special occasions you may want to look for one with a leather or metal band.

If you choose a metal or leather band your options include silver, gold, or stainless steel as well as various leathers. Take a quick look at your wardrobe and accessories. You should choose a watch band that will compliment or match the majority of clothing you own. If you find you fill your closet with a lot of neutral colors then you may benefit from a watch with a leather band in black, tan, or brown. Men who spend a lot of time in suits would look best in a silver or stainless steel band. Gold bands are rarely easy to pull off and can come off as rather pompous so unless you're really in love with gold or your know it's absolutely your color steer clear of this band.

• The Face: The face of your watch is the centerpiece. There are plenty of watch faces to choose from and your final choice will come down to a very personal decision. When looking for a watch face, you may want to consider a few things. The first is the size of your wrist. Watch faces come in several sizes and can look different on each individual. If you have a small to medium size wrist then you would want to choose a corresponding watch face. Men with larger wrists and hand will want larger watch faces. Watch faces that are too big or small for your stature may look ridiculous.

The next thing you want to consider when choosing a watch face is the time display. There are a few basic displays. Decide if you prefer an analogue or digital display. The first appears classier but for many the easy reading digital is just as sufficient. If you just can't decide what kind to get some offer the best of both worlds with a digital display inside a analogue watch face. While those are the general difference in watch faces there are several displays making choosing a watch face the hardest part. Look for ones that suit your personality.

• The Extras: In the world of watches it's the extras that will help you make your final decision. These are the fine details that make your watch perfect for you. Look for things like waterproofing, watch face details like dual clocks for separate time zones, alarms, and date features. You can go from the ornate with embellished faces, images, hands, and numbers or you can go for classic an simple; the decision is all yours.