Wis wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 11:01 am Would you consider this elegant? I certainly would, even if it lacks simplicity.

I think this example illustrates perfectly how hard it can be to define elegance. At first glance, I’d say no, it’s not elegant - too much going on with that dial.

However, if I saw it on the wrist of an impeccably dressed individual getting out of, let’s say, a classic roadster or something, then I’d probably say it exudes elegance!

The watch is gorgeous, by the way!

This has been a fantastic thread to read. Thanks for starting it @Amor Vincit Omnia!

Wis wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 12:32 pm @jkbarnes Maybe it is a case of ‘if you master the rules you can break them’?

That’s a fantastic way to put it!

There is definitely an intangible element to the notion of elegance. It reminds me a bit of the notion of being “cool.” I read a great definition of it once: You don’t become cooler with age, but you do care progressively less about being cool, which is the only true way to actually be cool.

Someone or something trying to be elegant might never come off as elegant. Your Reverso exudes elegance by the bucket, but I don’t doubt for a second the possibility of someone completely “reversing” (pun intended!) that elegance with how they wear a it. If Flava Flav was wearing a Reverso, I don’t know that elegant would spring to mind.

Elegance is not something I normally consider and my first thought was that I might not own an elegant watch. Then I looked at what I was wearing today. Another was a possibility so I opened up the watch box. I tend to split my watches into formal and informal. So the former are better suited to office wear and the latter casual but there are numerous crossovers and caveats e.g smart casual.
Firstly I’m ambivalent about strap or bracelet with the caveat that the type of bracelet probably makes a difference. On straps for me it has to be dark, probably black but navy could work. Brown is too much of an all-rounder working both informally and for formal enough wear such as the office. Purely my perspective so expecting disagreement! An illustrated guide is best so here we go with the first four potentially being elegant and the final two being misses:

Junghans Chronograph-possibly the most elegant in my collection based on the simplicity of the design even with the chronograph complication. On a mesh bracelet. Possibility a black leather strap would be more elegant. (And today’s wear which got me thinking!)
Kurono Reiwa 5th Anniversary-Simple and photos don’t really do that black and teal dial justice. Soft leather strap though and think it needs a more substantial leather strap to elevate it to full on elegant.
CW Worldglow-On the wrist it sits low and discreet despite the size. Is it too complicated a dial? And is the red too much? Black leather strap is in the elegant plus column.
C5 Malvern-Simple and effective. Here on a brown strap which as noted is not elegant for me but a black similar to the Worldglow would I think lift it to elegant.
C63 Sealander GMT-As a great GADA with the fussiness of the GMT bezel I don’t think it can do elegant but it works well as a formal watch. The silver sunburst could be elegant on its own and the consort bracelet gives it a more formal feel. But yesterday, mostly being lazy, I kept it on the consort for a pretty casual day and it didn’t feel out of place.
C9 AM GT-This for me illustrates a point. The dial is quite elegant and simple but it is a chunky watch so even on black leather it would not elegant.