Watching the trends of time: fashion and function in today's timepieces

When watches were first invented, they did little more than give the approximate time of day. Nowadays, with the advent of the digital watch, there are all manner of additional functions that can be built into the traditional timepiece, from calculators to calendars, yet it is the simple analogue watch that has remained the most fashionable, stylish and popular type of watch.

Watches have moved away from simply being a timekeeping tool, and are now often used to accessorise an outfit, a trend which means more people are now owning two or more watches to be worn on different occasions. Today's leading watch brands are increasingly taking their inspiration from jewellery designers, and brands such as Accurist, Burberry, Citizen, Emporio Armani and Sekio amongst others, have created watches that combine designer fashion with precision and accurate timekeeping function.

One of the ways this trend is being manifested is through the creation of interchangeable watch straps. Several prestigious watch brands, such as Christian Dior have collections that include watches with interchangeable straps, to allow the wearer to tailor the watch to the occasion, whether that’s an evening at a cocktail party or a scuba diving trip.

Men's watch trends seem to be turning back the clock, with the resurgence in popularity of the traditional mechanical watch, which is driven by a slow release of power from a mainspring via a set of small cog wheels. The spring is wound up by hand and mechanical watches are revered as works of art as much as timepieces. Manufactures such as J & T Windmills, Jean Pierre, Gucci, Maurice Lacroix and Omega watches are combining early watch making technology with classic designs, creating contemporary and stylish timepieces.

A modern twist on this is the use of solar power, perfect in this age of environmental concern, but using light to power a watch doesn't have to mean a cheap looking digital. Citizen watches use their award wining Eco-drive technology across their men's and women's ranges, to create a line of classic timepieces that will never run out of power.

So, it's an exciting time to be choosing a watch. Whether you want pure functionality, a unique fashion item or a combination of the two, there is a watch to suit your needs and style and to reflect your lifestyle, so there'll never be an excuse for being late again - unless of course, it's fashionably late!

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.