For watch collectors, one more is never enough. It doesn’t matter if you own five watches or fifty watches, there is always another one around the bend that will catch your fancy and earn a spot in the rotation. However, for most men, even if they own some timepieces, they favour one or maybe two for everyday use.

Since we’re talking the ‘average man’, it also has to be noted that the typical gentleman doesn’t collect watches. Certainly, he wears one. But his collection – so to speak – probably consists of just one or two timepieces. Possibly a third at the most.

So for men who have the desire to own and wear just a single watch, or for collectors who have numerous and yet still favor an EDC watch, how does one begin to decide what to wear?

The answer is easier than you may think – particularly if you’ve heard of Thomas & George.

Forget all the watch ads you’ve seen in issues of Robb Report, The Rake or Forbes. Stop thinking about the watch you saw in that movie or on that celebrity. Pay no heed to popularity. James Bond might wear a Rolex Submariner and so might your boss, but unless you work as a diving instructor or plan to use its features, you’re wasting money on a timepiece that isn’t worth your attention. Should it become a part of your collection? Of course. Should it be an everyday watch? Not a chance.

An everyday watch should be reflective of your lifestyle, your career, and your personal style. If you wear suits or blazers all day, picking a watch that passes the cuff test and is simplistically elegant should be the priority. If you happen to wear a uniform and are very active in your free time, you may want something more rugged and sporty.

Ideally, we recommend that most men have at least two watches. They don’t have to be expensive, but they should be distinct styles. One should be a dress watch and the other, a casual sports watch. For most men, regardless of what they do or where they are, having both of these watches will fill their horological needs every day of the year. For that reason, we’ve broken this article up into two main categories where we’ll discuss both styles at various price points.

The Everyday Dress Watch

Pair it elegantly with a suit at the office, a tuxedo at the symphony, a blazer at the office party or a pair of chinos and a polo shirt on the weekend. The everyday dress watch is the most versatile timepiece in your wardrobe provided it’s not hitting the water or other extreme conditions.

Ideally, you want to try and select one that is made from the metal you most often wear. If you typically wear a ring, a belt or carry a money clip made of gold, consider gold. If your choice of metal is steel, pick one with steel. Of course, this can greatly impact the price, but it doesn’t have to be the deciding factor. What’s more important than the watch, is the band. Ideally, you’re going to want a leather strap over something that’s made of metal, rubber or nylon. Save those straps for the casual watch. Now you need to figure out whether to go with a black or a brown leather strap. For most of us, our wardrobe changes between black and brown shoes and belts. Ideally, your watch will change with it. If possible, select a timepiece that you can easily switch the strap on. Then you just need a second strap. However, if you can only go with one, we recommend black.

The face, or dial, of the watch, should be simple. Index markers or Roman numerals are fine, but there isn’t usually a need to have multiple complications. The simpler the dial is, the more you can wear it with. A white or cream dial is preferable over black or another colour as it goes with anything and black dialled watches are typically reserved for evening wear.

The Kingman 43 from T&G is perfect. Here are few of our recommended watches from the fantastic Thomas & George.

The Weekender

It comes with various straps and bands as well as in a number of styles. A weekend watch is one watch that can be worn casually or on the field. At a starting price of just £44.99, this preppy timepiece is perfect for starving students and those on modest budgets. Take a closer look at the Chesterfield Brown here.

The Casual Gent

If you’re more of a laid back chap, who prefers a sporty attire, a material strap is the choice for you. Its versatile, stylish and you can pair it with many an outfit of your choice.

The Chesterfield is the Thomas and George version of the world famous classic watch. With this specific design it’s extremely affordable for you without reducing the quality of the watch.

The Chesterfield comes with three straps, a blue and white nano strap and two leather straps. So, whatever the occasion, your Chesterfield can accompany you on all your adventures.

The Chesterfield Nato can be seen here.

The Thomas & George brand is for the quintessential gentleman and you’ll not only see this in their marketing, but it’s in their values – it’s who they are.

Shop the Thomas & George here.