Watch buying can be a chore. Unlike clothes, we usually have to spend a bit more to secure a high quality piece that’ll last – and that’s where the conundrum lies.

Choice, though often seen as a benefit, can sometimes be a bad thing; chronographs, date apertures, sub-dials, extended lugs, stopwatch and GMT displays are just a few things that can confuse and convolute the average watch customer. So, how do we cure such an ill? Easy: go minimal.

Keeping your timepiece simple and stripped-back allows for maximum versatility and thankfully, there’s a wealth of brands on the current market – from affordable to luxury – that specialize in no-frills, stylish timepieces that will quickly become your daily go-to.

Skagen

Although most famous for watches, Skagen operates an umbrella company dedicated to a menagerie of discreet products and – surprise, surprise – they’re from Denmark, where practical minimalism reigns supreme.

Now based in the US under the Fossil Group, the brand’s founding ideals are still ever present in every design produced.

The ‘Ancher’ line is indicative of Skagen’s subtle approach and offers very little in way of detail. The appeal lies in a style so clean that it’s almost clinical – index markers, no numerals and a single brand detail to the dial.

Skagen’s Ancher line is available at The Watch Hut.

Shore Projects

Inspired by the grey but glorious locale of the British seaside, Shore Projects is a home-grown success story. A partnership with the Marine Conservation Society gives a little back to the same environment Shore Projects idolizes, while the timepieces are kept simple and classic.

The brand’s new Project 2 collection incorporates new Milanese mesh strap designs that perfectly complement the original leather styles the company launched with back in 2014.

Minimalism is ensured through a clear dial and subtle branding, while index markers give a pop of contrast to the magpie metals, making for a good daytime or evening watch.