Types of Watches: A Complete Guide to Stührling Styles
Whether you’re a seasoned watch collector or buying your first timepiece, understanding the different types of watches can help you find the perfect match for your lifestyle, wardrobe, and taste. At Stührling, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of styles—from modern minimalist to classic mechanical masterpieces—all crafted with precision, performance, and purpose in mind.
Here’s your essential guide to the main types of watches and how each can serve a different need or occasion.
1. Dress Watches: Timeless Elegance
Best for: Formal events, professional settings, and everyday sophistication
Dress watches are known for their minimalist design and slim profiles. Typically featuring a clean dial, leather strap, and subtle case, these watches are made to complement formal attire without overpowering it. If you're wearing a suit or tuxedo, this is your go-to watch.
Stührling picks:
Symphony 651: Understated with a polished finish
Luciano 371B: Modern design with mechanical flair
2. Dive Watches: Made to Withstand Pressure
Best for: Water activities, adventurous weekends, and rugged style
Dive watches are built for durability and water resistance. Originally developed for underwater explorers, today’s dive watches feature luminous markers, unidirectional rotating bezels, and water resistance up to 200 meters or more.
Stührling picks:
Maritimer 935: 200M water resistance and bold diver style
Regatta Champion 395: Functional and fashionable
3. Skeleton Watches: Art You Can Wear
Best for: Watch enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone who loves mechanical beauty
Skeleton watches are all about showcasing the inner mechanics. With partially or fully exposed dials, you can see the intricate movement at work—perfect for those who appreciate the artistry of horology.
Stührling picks:
Luciano 371B: Fully skeletonize dial with automatic movement
Delphi 696: Classic with modern edge
4. Chronograph Watches: Style Meets Functionality
Best for: Sports fans, busy professionals, and multitaskers
Chronographs are watches with stopwatch functionality, featuring sub-dials to track elapsed time. Not only are they useful for timing activities, but they also add depth and complexity to the watch design.
Stührling picks:
Aquamaster 4050: Lightweight with full chronograph features
Stellar 44mm: Bold design with multifunction use
5. Moonphase Watches: A Touch of the Cosmos
Best for: Romantic souls, sky gazers, and lovers of detail
Moonphase watches track the lunar cycle and display the moon’s current phase on the dial. Once used by sailors and farmers, this elegant complication is now a stylish nod to vintage timekeeping.
Stührling picks:
Celestia 897: Refined design with celestial charm
Celestia 898: Moonphase with sleek case finish
6. GMT & Dual Time Zone Watches: Built for Travelers
Best for: Frequent flyers, global businesspeople, and international style
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watches display multiple time zones, making them ideal for anyone who needs to track time in different regions. These watches often include a second hour hand or a rotating bezel.
Stührling picks:
Presidia 943A: Dual time with day/night indicator
Journeyman A171B: Swiss-made precision and travel-ready design
7. Quartz Watches: Precision Made Simple
Best for: Daily reliability, low-maintenance lifestyles, and those who value accuracy without complication
Stührling’s quartz watches are powered by ultra-precise battery movements that keep perfect time with no winding required. Built for the modern wearer, they combine performance and polish at a price that makes sense.
Popular Picks:
Symphony 787 – Clean and classic.
3956 Quartz – Everyday-ready style with a minimalist look.
Monaco 933 – Sporty sophistication.
Jason 3939– Retro-inspired and classic look.
Whether you’re dressing up or keeping it casual, Stührling quartz watches deliver sharp styling, reliable timekeeping, and unbeatable value.
8. Automatic Watches: Powered by Movement
Best for: Traditionalists, collectors, and fans of mechanical engineering
Automatic watches wind themselves using the motion of your wrist. With no battery required, they’re a favorite for those who appreciate traditional craftsmanship and self-sustaining design.
Stührling picks:
Emperor’s Grand DT 3920: Dual-time automatic with flair
Atrium 4031: Affordable, eye-catching skeleton design
9. Minimalist Watches: Less Is More
Best for: Fashion-forward individuals, minimalists, and everyday wear
Minimalist watches are defined by clean lines, monochrome palettes, and modern elegance. They’re lightweight, stylish, and easy to pair with any outfit.
Stührling picks:
Modena 889: Sleek and striking
Symphony 444: A modern take on the classic dress watch
Which Watch Is Right for You?
That depends on what you're looking for. Whether it's a bold chronograph for performance, a skeleton dial for conversation, or a sleek dress watch for elegance, Stührling offers a timepiece for every wrist, every moment, and every story.
Explore our full collections here and find the watch that fits your style, your schedule, and your life.
