The Brown Strap Gray Dial Chronograph

DKNY Brown Leather Chrono – $148.7048.7 | Hilfiger Brown Leather Subdial – $101.20

Black on Black works.  Brown on brown looks a little too much like a leather bracelet.  I’m no artist.  I can’t even remember the color wheel (is it blue, yellow and… red?).  But for whatever reason a black on black on black watch looks better than a brown on brown.  Brown on brown was 1973.  Brown is great.  Brown is rich, it’s warm, it’s the color of your shoes if you’re super stylish and wearing a gray suit.  But a brown dial with a brown leather strap watch is just too… mneh.

You need contrast.  And hardly anyone makes a black dial/brown leather strap watch.  A safer and just as eye catching choice is a gray dial with the brown leather strap.  Those are a little tough to find, but fortunately there’s two affordable options that are worthy of adding to your collection.

The details on the face of the DKNY are sharper.  The Hilfiger looks to be a little more blocky.  Each could be worn super-casually with a t-shirt and jeans, all the way up to a suit.

Still not convinced and looking for a brown on brown?  Give this one by Nautica a shot a shot.  The brown of the strap and the main brown on the dial are at least different enough that they’re not a complete match.