FeatureWatch Pairing 101 – How To Match Your Shirt With Your Watches

Watches and shirts go hand in hand. Literally. A great shirt can really accentuate the visual impact of your watch. In fact, shirts have long held the power of breaking or making your look, hence it is imperative that you choose one carefully before strapping a great watch on your wrist.

Behind every great look (think: Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman) there is usually a great watch and a great-looking shirt. We at The Watch Guide have teamed up with Andamen – a company that produces some of the finest shirts that India has seen, to create a small guide about pairing shirts and watches. Andamen was founded in 2012 by Sidharth and Satvika Suri, with an aim of providing fine shirts that beat international quality yet carried an Indian flavour. We will talk about how to match your shirt with your watch, i.e., how to achieve immaculate and effortless style with the right shirt and of course, the right watch on your wrist. On this note, we would also like to thank Andamen for providing us with the wardrobe essentials along with some introspective styling ideas.

Pay attention now! What you read below might just get you on the list of the best turned out men in your circle.

Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra: A Distinguished Gentleman’s Choice

There is no denying that the Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra is a true sports watch. As the name suggests, the watch draws inspiration from the automobile legend- Carroll Shelby and his love for racing. Every single detail of the watch screams sporty, from its retro-inspired dial featuring horizontal stripes, chronograph counters that mimic the dashboard of the Cobra to the strap inspired by the colours (yellow & black) of the CSX2128, the 289 Roadster car itself. While all fingers point to the sporty persona of the watch, a closer look will reveal its inherent stylish appeal. Going by the watch’s fundamentally classy character, it is a given that any black-tie event would call for a timepiece like the Baume & Mercier Clifton Cobra.

Watch: Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra- Rs 348,000 – Shop Now 

What can you pair it with?

As mentioned earlier, this is the kind of watch that blends in perfectly at any formal gathering regardless of its sporty features. Pair it with a classic blue traditional suit with an Andamen shirt made from Egyptian Giza cotton filled with an “endless knot” print – a Buddhist symbol that represents no beginning or end. You can also add a mustard silk pocket square (as seen in the picture below) and you are good to go! This ensemble, with the watch strapped to your wrist, will definitely start a conversation (don’t be surprised though if you find people drawn more to your wrist than your shirt!).

Want to know more about the watch? Read the full review here.

Watch: Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra- Rs 348,000 – Shop Now
Shirt: Andamen Nehru Endless Knot- Rs  3,890 – Shop Now

Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer: From a travel watch to a classic timepiece in an instant

There are a set of style rules that the best-dressed men in the world follow, especially when it comes to pairing your outfit with your watch. The most basic ones – always keep in accordance with the nature of the event you’re attending, and remember leather compliments leather and metal compliments metal (belts and watches). Right before this, we were talking about bending the rules vis a vis the Shelby Cobra – pairing a sporty watch with a formal shirt. Now here we will try and follow them. Rules do exist for a reason after all!

The Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer is an elegant piece of horology that is best worn with a formal ensemble. And that’s the ‘pairing-rule’ you need to follow with this watch.

The perfect watch for the perpetual traveller who gallivants from one city to another, this classic timepiece allows the wearer to read the time in all 24 timezones, at the same time! The watch clocks in a power reserve of 42 hours making sure you never run out of juice while crossing oceans. It offers innovative technical functions at an affordable price, the combination of which is difficult to come by.

Watch: Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer – Rs 254,900 – Shop Now 

What can you pair it with?

Travelling across the globe is no easy feat and you are always in need of the right shirt – something that’ll help you slip from travel mode to boardroom mode with absolute ease. To bring out the beautiful aesthetic of the watch, all you need is a crisp white shirt from Andamen (see the picture below) paired with a blue wide tie. Have a meeting to attend once you land? The Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer transforms easily from a travel watch to a classic timepiece in an instant. The watch will always make sure you are on time, and never dressed down!

Want to know more about the watch? Read the full review here.

Watch: Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer – Rs 254,900 – Shop Now
Shirt: Andamen The Mantaray Dress Cuff- Rs  3,890 – Shop Now

Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides: The perfect accessory to match your nautical attire

A unique addition to any watch lover’s collection, the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides is one of its kind. A true tool watch, it features one of the rarest complications in the world wherein it calculates the movement of the tides. The watch is designed with Corum’s iconic dodecagonal bezel that will always make a statement once strapped on the wrist.

Suited to accompany you on all your seafaring endeavours and adventures, the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides was specially developed with the sole purpose of conquering the seas. If you are the kind of man who is familiar with the high seas and know your way around a yacht, this is the ultimate timing instrument for you. An elegant option for on-deck casual cocktails and business meetings alike, the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides blends in perfectly irrespective of where you are, land or sea. Despite its massive aesthetic appeal, it also offers an array of nautical functions that are practically useful and beautifully complex.

Watch: Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides – Rs 706,000 – Shop Now 

What can you pair it with?

Taking your nautical attire to a whole new level, the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides is your go-to watch when it comes down to any naval activities. From a sunny break on a yacht in Ibiza to cruising down the Thames, the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides is an appropriate companion for casual brunches and private cocktail parties. Need to attend a business meeting on a private boat? Try pairing your blue Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides with an Andamen sky-blue signature floral jacquard shirt made from superfine Egyptian Giza cotton. When it comes to style, it is a match made in heaven for all your nautical adventures!

Watch: Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides – Rs 706,000 – Shop Now
Shirt: Andamen Floral Jacquard- Rs  4,390 – Shop Now

Want to know more about the watch? Read the full review here.

Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio: 

There always comes a time in the life of a watch enthusiast when he has to choose between lasting style and changing fashion. While what you choose is your prerogative, if you happen to own the Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio, be rest assured that you have made the right choice. The Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio is a watch that symbolises good taste (which is always a better guide to style than a set of rules!).

Panerai, is a well-known brand that produces some ultra-cool timepieces that are technically innovative and aesthetically superior. The PAM 533 combines the classic look of a Panerai with a variety of innovative functions. The 44mm polished steel case houses an automatic movement – the P.2003 caliber, developed entirely in-house at Panerai’s new Neuchâtel manufacture. Apart from offering the usual hours, minutes, seconds and date functions, the PAM 533 also provides an additional second timezone (GMT) function and a 10- day power reserve indicator.

Watch: Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio – Rs 936,000 – Shop Now 

What can you pair it with?

One of the most complimentary timepieces of the lot, the Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio is a cool watch. Its military history ensures a robust timepiece that is ready to take on a challenge anywhere. From travelling around the globe to a quiet night out with your significant other, the Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio blends in comfortably without going unnoticed. Pair it with a checkered cotton shirt in hues of rust and warm blue by Andamen (as seen in the picture below), layered with a smart and casual monochrome (preferably in blue) shacket, and you’re all set for brunch. It is the go-to watch for any and every occasion without ever feeling dressed down or overdressed. Cool, effortless and fashionably rustic, the Paneristi in you will not be disappointed with the outcome!

Watch: Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Automatic Acciaio – Rs 936,000 – Shop Now
Shirt: Andamen The Redox Reaction – Rs  4,390 – Shop Now

(Wardrobe Courtesy: Andamen)

How would you pair the above watches? Which one is your favourite pairing? Let us know in the comments section below.