by Sylvia Mcelherron

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 18, 2009

The Delicately crafted, discreetly styled men's dress watch has not quite disappeared, but the trend for bold chunky sporty timekeepers means that a whole range of innovative sports watches with an incredible array of features are now available. This collection of watches is not only functional but highly fashionable too with imaginative use of colored dials and straps and use of modern materials for durability and superb visual effect, so finding the best men's sports watch need not be difficult.

Choice of a sports watch will be dictated by two factors, your budget and what you need the watch to do. A quartz watch movement is extremely accurate is cost friendly and other than battery replacement will need no maintenance. Highly suited to sports activities if contained in a water resistant case, a quartz watch can last for many years and most are suitable for high impact sports. With an increase in appreciation for the craftsmanship involved, mechanical sports watches are more popular now than ever. The "micro-engineering" used to create a mechanical watch movement has appeal for the gadget conscious and the traditionalist alike and the mechanical sports watches on sale now are tough enough for even the most extreme sports, yet if looked after can quite literally last a lifetime and beyond.

Next consider what you want your watch to do. If you are a diver you will need a dedicated diver's watch built to withstand extreme pressures, with the safety features needed to time your dive along with high visibility. Water resistance is a very important feature with all sports watches as it offers protection from accidental water contact, humidity and even perspiration so make it a priority. Chronograph watches contain time measurement functions other than the time of day using independent hands which can be started and stopped as required, an essential feature for many sports.

Construction material of a sports watch not only influences the price you pay but also has become a fashion factor. Stainless steel has been widely used in sports watch manufacture since the release of the highly successful Audemars Piguet Royal Oak sports watch and has the perfect combination of durability and sporting chic. Modern materials such as highly polished ceramic and also titanium are on-trend if you require a more contemporary design. Some sports watch collections take direct influences from the sports which have inspired their creation and share construction materials, for example the use of carbon fibre in motor-sports themed watches.

A watch with a leather strap will not be well suited to most sports so choose either a stainless steel bracelet watch which will not rust and can be cleaned easily or a tactile but tough rubber strap which will look as good as new for years to come. The latest Blancpain 500 Fathoms Divers watch comes fitted with a rubber-lined sail canvas strap and also has a spare rubber strap and the tools required to fit it supplied - a highly resourceful solution!

The watch industry is an extremely innovative one, constantly challenging the limits of design in relation to the conditions and extremes which even the most complicated pieces can withstand. If you are a diver, sailor, runner or maybe just want to leave the golf course in time for dinner, the best sports watch for you is out there and with careful research, choosing it should be a pleasure.

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