Men's Watches Stand the Test of Time

Men\'s watches have been around since the 1500\'s and were accepted by the masses in the 1800\'s when jewelers started making jewel encrusted time pieces made to be worn on the man\'s wrist. Since that time men\'s watches have become far elegant and far more functional. There are watches that are waterproof down to more than 350 meters, they can serve as a compass, they can tell you the barometric pressure and temperature, they can tell you your heart rate, they can count laps and elapsed time, they can serve as a stop watch that counts in thousands of a second, they can store phone numbers and addresses or play MP3\'s and they can even help track fuel consumption.

There has been no shortage of features for many years. With the onset of the feature rich mens watch came the decline of the classic and classy look of the mens time piece. Today, many of the mainstream watch manufacturers like Rolex, Patek Phillippe and Pierre Cardin have started bringing function and style together again. Many believe that Rolex is the gold standard for men\'s wristwatches and if you examine their current collection you will find that form and function have been brought together. Rolex makes one of the best known and elegant men\'s watches lines. They offer the extreme in precision and elegance and it comes at a hefty price. Rolex maintains their own manufacturing facility to control quality and ensure they continue to provide the highest possible quality. They employ approximately 4,000 watchmakers world wide and produce about 800,000 watches per year. An interesting fact about Rolex is that while they are a privately held company they donate the majority of their profits to charity and has since the passing of the Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf in 1960.

While Rolex is a well known name it is not by any means the only name in high-end mens wristwatches. Some would even argue that it is not the finest of the wristwatches. While Rolex watches tend to hold their value and in many cases increase in value as time marches on, there are numerous other high-end brands that are worth looking at. Patek Phillippe is another brand worth considering if price is not an important factor. When considering a Phillippe watch you are looking at a men\'s watch that will likely exceed $30,000.

For those of us that can not afford such a fine piece of men\'s fashion, the Tudor line made by Rolex and is considered exemplify fine craftsmanship at an affordable price . The Tudor line includes many watches in the range of several hundred dollars. Unfortunately, the Tudor line does not seem to increase in value as time goes on like a fine Rolex or Phillippe does but the Tudor line will certainly be an excellent addition to your wardrobe. Remember that selecting a watch is a fashion statement and should be a reflection of the man wearing the watch so make your selection carefully, make it count.