We spend a lot of time puzzling over what our watch choices say about us. For example, for gear heads, the idea of wearing a quartz-driven watch might make some purists clutch their metaphorical pearls in horror. For others, it’s the design of the watch that rules the day.
Which brings us to Glee star Matthew Morrison’s TW Steel TW406 Pilot Chronograph. Founded by the father-son team of Ton and Jordy Cobelens, TW Steel is a ten-year-old Dutch company that specializes in producing big watches. As Morrison demonstrates here at the New York premier of the film Learning to Drive, the watch is a real eye-catcher because of its 45mm case size.
While big watches have big presence, size can sometimes project overcompensation. But in the case of Morrison’s casual red carpet look, the timepiece’s straightforward details—the top-stitched and riveted blue leather strap, the blue sunray dial and the no-nonsense lumed numerals signify that its wearer is not too hung up on himself.
TW Steel TW406 Pilot Chronograph timepiece
At the same time, the classic aviator-inspired styling and PVD rose gold plated steel case also lend the watch substance. It pairs up nicely with Morrison’s turn of the 20th century look (he’s currently on Broadway playing Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland and it appears that the Edwardian look becomes him).
The TW Steel Pilot Chronograph is powered by Japanese Quartz movement, which means that stylistic charms of this watch will not sway hardcore horologists. On the other hand, if you had Morrison’s triple-threat talents, you probably wouldn’t spend a lot of time wondering what watch snobs think. Which projects confidence. Ultimately, sometimes a watch needs to do its job. And if it looks good doing it, well, that’s just icing on the cake.
