Most of us may think, given the fact that our phones will tell you what time it is, that wearing a watch is quite unnecessary… But for those who know, a wristwatch is the best and most acceptable piece of jewelry a man can wear, and in some sense, it defines the personality of the wearer.
Take these four, for example:
1. The Dalai Lama. When he was a young boy of 8, the spiritual leader of the Buddhist community received a gift from then US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, delivered by two CIA agents who had been sent to seek his permission to build a road through Tibet. The REF Patek Phillipe pocketwatch is still functioning perfectly (it only needed to be sent to Switzerland once, for repairs) and accompanies the 88-year-old as he traverses the globe on his peace missions.
2. Prince William. The second-in-line to the British throne comes from a royal pedigree of watch connoisseurs. His father Charles has a fondness for his yellow-gold Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph, while his flamboyant brother Harry likes to alternate between a Rolex Explorer II and a Breitling Aerospace. His grandmother Queen Elizabeth II fancies her Patek Phillipe, complete with a pearl bracelet. William’s choice is consistent, simple and sentimental — an Omega Seamaster given to him as a gift by his mother the late Princess Diana.
3. Francois Hollande. The current French president’s style is a stark contrast to the flashy, ostentatious one of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy – who owns a collection that includes expensive Breitling, Rolex and Patek Phillipe timepieces. For the practical Monsieur Hollande, a Swatch Quarterman does the chronological job perfectly well.
4. Justin Trudeau. His father introduced the phrase ‘Just Watch Me’ in his political campaign, but it’s the younger Trudeau the world can’t keep its eyes off. The ultimately stylish PM, who can carry off anything from a tattoo to a three-piece suit sports an IWC Portugieser Regulateur. In his case though, it doesn’t matter, whatever the man wears is sure to become the fashion de jour.