Men don't have a lot of options when it comes to accessories. If you're not an earring, necklace, or bracelet man, there aren't many things to add to the uniform. Unfortunately, even within watches our options have been historically thin. Metal band, leather band, dohickies on the face, minimalist. There's been a trend of ceramic watches that provide a new outlet for colors, but I suspect the brightness they bring to a man's wrist won't last long.
Certainly, there are plenty of beautiful watches out there, but they're a little familiar. If you follow me on twitter (which you should @primermag) then you may have caught my tweet about my longing of another recent surge: the wooden watch.
At face value, it seems somewhat like a silly idea. A watch made of wood. “Does that go down 100 meters?” I hear you chortle. But I make no apologies: There is something unique, classy, and masculine about wearing a timepiece made of fallen timber.
I opted for the Tense square watch in sandalwood. The rich brown color offers a unique addition to getups ranging from casual to smart casual. It would look perfect with The Getups like Up and At ‘Em, A Full Saturday, or The Casual Office. This watch, beyond its looks is astonishingly light. If you're a guy who hates the recent trend of wearing bulky barbells as watches, you'll love this watch.
A square-faced watch is always a smart addition to your arsenal, the Tense being sharp even if it were made of traditional materials. With its wood construction it really takes it to the next level. Like swapping out your shoelaces or upgrading your socks, a wooden watch subtly adds a lot of personality.
Think about it: Do you think women AREN'T going to notice this on your wrist?
The best part of a wooden watch is that it becomes better with age and wear, developing a patina similar to a beautiful briefcase.
Tense has the history to back up their wares. Founded in 1971, they design and manufacture their watches in Canada. The bands are adjustable just like a metal strap, and it comes with a 2 year warranty. (Oh, and they are splash resistant.)
Buy the watch on Amazon for $161 or check out Tense's Website.
They also have a light faced version, and a dark faced version.