The purpose of the watch has clearly changed over time seeing as there are clocks on basically every electronic device imaginable, but that doesn’t mean the demand for them has gone away. Watches aren’t just for keeping time anymore, and they’re not even the most accurate compared to things like your phone. Watches are the one piece of jewelry that all men can get behind because they say a lot about who you are as a person, and they tie together any outfit–if done right. It’s always good to have a collection of timepieces handy for any season or occasion, and you’ll want to be sure to have a set that are timeless and classic while still having some that are new and modern. It’s an intricate process, but here are a few tips and styles to help you start out.

1. Digital

The digital watch is the everyday watch. It’s usually a more durable watch and one that just adds a little something extra to whatever you’re wearing, but is mostly for functionality and not as much flare. This is the type of timepiece that you just throw on in the morning or for when you go running or working out.

2. Leather band

The leather band watch is one to be worn sparingly, due to its fragility and classic look. Fossil is known for their leather products, so that would be a good place to look for one of these that range in style. Leather band watches are perfect for fall attire, sweaters and especially denim. Brown leather watches are less formal than the black leather ones with steel frames. If you have a black leather band watch, it would be good to pair it with a suit or tuxedo. Think of your leather strap like your belt: you’ll be safe matching it with your shoe color.

3. Stainless steel

The stainless steel is another example of an everyday watch, but up a couple of notches. Stainless steel watches can be used in semi-casual to even formal attire, and is pretty durable. Stainless steel watches are an ideal watch to purchase first, since it’s so versatile and can match any outfit. As you get into more formal watches like this, you’ll also want to keep in mind switching out the numbers on the face for something cleaner like bars or roman numerals. There are also differences between classier stainless steel designs and sporty ones. If you’re not a sports guy or a scuba diver, avoid the busy sport watches, there’s almost no need for complications like other cities’ times and water depth.

4. High-end watch

The high-end watch is the one that makes a statement about you. This is the timepiece that does half of your first impression for you; it speaks about your style and attention to detail. These can be intricate skeleton watches, simple and clean black and silver Movado faces, elegant Rolex faces and many more. Some high-end watches are flashier than others with their thick, bulky design, while others are subtler and silently elegant like Skagen’s Steel Mesh watch. You don’t always need to break the bank buying a nice, formal watch; you just need to find one that isn’t childish or unnecessarily busy. Keep in mind also that your high-end watch is almost always going to be one that is fitted to your wrist size, not with a buckle. The last thing to know before buying a formal watch is that white faces are more formal than any other due to it’s simplicity and neutrality, and black and silver are more formal than brown.