A man's three watches

 　　To a man, a watch is like an old companion of many years, contributing silently without a single complaint. Throughout a man's life, he will own multiple watches, and theseWatchwill accompany us through the passage of time and record touching moments. Some might ask, how many watches must a man own in his lifetime? This question was once posed to the master horologist Mr. Zhong Yonglin, whose response was: “A man must own these three watches—a casual watch, a sports watch, and a luxury timepiece—each suited for different occasions. Those with greater means can multiply each category by three based on this foundation, and that will be all the watches a man needs in a lifetime.”

　　From casual watches to sports watches and luxury timepieces, they also witness a person's growth trajectory and reflect a man's three states of living.

　　Casual Watch, which are watches worn during our daily leisure time, casual watches can also be called versatile watches, suitable for all kinds of occasions. Of course, not just any watch can be chosen as a casual watch; an understated model with a case diameter between 38 mm and 42 mm and a thickness of around 10 mm is ideal. Bear in mind that ultra-thin watches sacrifice movement integrity for thinness, while overly thick ones are difficult to pull off and give a burdensome feel. Naturally, precious metals are best avoided.

　　Sports watches are designed for daily exercise, running, swimming, and similar activities. Such sports watches typically feature drop resistance, shock resistance, and water resistance, alongside multi-functional features like chronographs and pulse measurement. These watches inevitably feature bulky case diameters because their shock-resistant structures require movement components to be exceptionally robust, making the watch more complex with numerous parts and a thicker case, putting focus on practical functionality. Bulky sports watches create a very rugged impression, with the most memorable examples being the Panerai worn by the tough guys in The Expendables, or typical sports models like the Rolex Submariner and Omega Seamaster.

　　Dress watches are suitable for various formal occasions. These models emphasise elegance and modesty, giving people an approachable feel. They lack overly complex functions, nor do they require complicated features that might appear overly flashy, as that would signify immaturity. The case diameter must not be too thick, otherwise it will catch on your shirt cuffs and feel uncomfortable to wear. Selecting a dress watch involves careful consideration: it must not only suit your personal style but also adhere to various etiquette standards. The design must remain simple and unostentatious.Longines Masterand the Piaget Altiplano series are both excellent choices.

　　A man's watches do not need to be numerous, but rather refined. Matching your personal style and choosing watches according to the occasion is entirely sufficient.