Beginner: use colour to your advantage

 

Intermediate: mix a slick timepiece with a textured cuff
If you’re the type to dress up, you may want to look into minimalist styles like this 351-Series watch from Uniform Wares. To keep things from getting too Ad Reinhardt (seriously, look into “Abstract Painting No. 5”), rough up the sleek, monochrome look with a bit of texture. A tonal cuff like this intrecciato leather and sterling silver cuff from Bottega Veneta does just that with its braided cord.

 

Baller: go big or go home
Size is relative. With most timepieces, you’ll want to match a medium watch with a slim (or simply slimmer) piece of jewellery. However, if you’re rocking something like this Nixon The Tangent whose massive 47mm case puts most forearms to shame, stick to your guns and go bold with an accompanying wrist piece whose form factor stacks up. This Saint Laurent studded leather bracelet completes the chunky look with some heavy metal swagger.

 

Expert: mess with success
Dress down Rolex’s new, pricey Deepsea D-Blue with something that hails from a completely different income bracket. Look into jewellery preferably made of leather or nylon, like this Miansai rope bracelet. The military-grade nylon’s hints of blue echo the dotted indices of the watch, while the orange sets the metallic blue face off—the material choice, on the other hand, keeps your metaphorical feet planted on terra firma.