Roman Numeral Dress Watches for guys on a budget
When I was six years old I was at a friend’s house playing Nintendo and was late getting home by about 30 minutes. We didn’t have a Nintendo so the siren song of Mario and Lugi prevented me from my usually dependable punctual return. My Mother wasn’t pleased. Under duress I blurted out that I didn’t know what time it was because the clock in my friend’s TV room was one of those “with letters instead of numbers.” She graciously overestimated my denseness, bought the fib, and I got off scot free.
Aside from being a nifty excuse for tardiness when you’re in first grade, Roman numerals also look extra formal. Maybe it’s the way the angles of the Xs, Is, and Vs all play off each other, but a watch with Roman Numerals always appears more intricate and sharp. Here’s VI under CC dollars.
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#1 – ESQ Movado Filmore Black Croc Band – $195.00
The Movado made ESQ brand usually costs a lot more than this. Even the rectangular shaped Filmore costs more than its round sibling. All of the details are perfect. Textured dial but just at the center, black roman numerals that offer plenty of contrast, and bright blue hands that are reminiscent of Cartier.
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#2 – BOSS Black Square Face Stainless – $195.00
Rectangle and square case watches are usually either waif thin or massively bulky. This one hits the midpoint between those two extremes. Could be the best looking affordable right-angle case watch out there. Also available with a black dial.
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#3 – Emporio Armani Curved Case Croc Embossed – $195 for brown or black
Bigger & bolder in person. So much so that if you’re under 5’10” or say, under 170lbs, your wrist runs the risk of getting swallowed up by these. Thick enough that you have to wonder if they’ll fit nicely under a dress shirt cuff.
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#4 – Ted Baker TE1038 Automatic – $112.00
(reg. $160)
Carfeul now, Ted Baker watches run a little thick, and they’re often a little funky. This one’s an automatic, seems to have a pretty simple looking dial, and even the skeleton window blends in decently enough.
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#5 – Invicta Reserve Collection Slim Blue Leather Watch – $66.99
A Blue leather band? That’s got to go. But after you swap out the band for a black one, it has some potential. Not everyone will be crazy about the coin edge case, but it’s ultra slim, and if you dig around online, you can find other angles of this model of watch (albeit in a cheesy gold). Under $70? Might be worth the risk.
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#6 – Timex Classic Black Leather Strap Watch – $32.00
So the case is a little small, yet the walls look a little too thick. It’s stainless steel, has a leather band, and that’s kinda what it has going for it. Oh! And the price. Yes. $32.
Which one would you wear? And… got any other suggestions? It all goes in the comments section below.