One of the essentials I never think about but is always with me is a classic watch, so when Welly Merck watches reached out to share their story I didn’t hesitate to explore further.

This post is in collaboration with Welly Merck Watches. Therefore this post contain affiliate links. If you choose to shop from Welly Merck you may take 15% off with my discount code which is WMKairee15. This code is good 6 months from the date of today’s post.

As a woman who has her fair share of bags and shoes, you may be surprised to learn that I’ve worn the same watch for almost 20 years. Shortly after I met my husband, he encouraged me to invest in a timepiece. Keep in mind that back in the day the salary of a construction manager was nothing like today. So I had serious reservations about investing in anything like a watch.

Nevertheless I agreed to go for an $800 TAG Heuer. Since then I never looked back. This watch, a women’s Aquaracer has been on my wrist almost every day since 2001. Today the same watch costs significantly higher than what I paid. However, the cost of owning a luxury watch doesn’t necessarily stop at the initial purchase. To keep a watch running for a lifetime (or more if you want to pass it down to your children) it must be maintained. So, I send mine  back every few years for a thorough cleaning and servicing.

As a general rule, all TAG Heuer watches require an annual check of their water-resistance. Additionally the actual service includes complete case dismantling (bezel, crystal, pushers,  case and bracelet cleaning in ultrasonic vibration for one hour and all gaskets replaced. As you can imagine this isn’t cheap.

In comes Welly Merck Watches. For that same cost of maintenance you can own any number of the beautiful and unique Welly Merck watches.

Before agreeing to do the collaboration I must’ve spent hours browsing the Welly Merck site. A watch is a very personal statement. And, like back in 2000, I felt this was a big investment in the future regardless of it being a brand collaboration  with benefits. I wanted to make sure that whatever I chose was going to go with EVERYTHING in my closet and not go out of style; to be timeless!

I’ve always been curious about the trendy fashion watches worn by brand ambassadors. And it’s true that my TAG with its sporty diver design doesn’t mesh with all my outfits. With that in mind I decided to select two types of watches  from the Welly Merck line. One that I consider a “fashion” watch and one that best fits my minimal and often menswear inspired aesthetic.

Watch #1 – Classic Roma R | 36 mm women’s watch.

What makes this watch extra special is that the crown (part that you set the time with) is installed at the 4-o-clock position. Whereas most watches are set at the 3-o-clock. The idea behind this is that the crown won’t dig into your skin when the wrist is cocked in an upward position.

The Classic Roma comes in a white as well as a black dial. I chose black since I felt it would go just as well with a button down workwear shirt as a special occasion dress. The 36mm is a medium to large dial size which takes up ample space on your wrist. So keep this in mind if you prefer a daintier look. There are plenty of smaller Welly Merck watches to choose from. If you like the Classic Roma, shop it here

What’s great about Welly Merck watches are the endless customization options. From dial design and color, engraving, band material the choice is yours.

Watch #2 –  Aurora Roma S | 41 mm men’s watch.

I’ve always admired women wearing a strong watch for as long as I can remember. And with my seriously long fingers I can easily balance the width of the 41 millimeters. What I love about the Aurora Roma is that it shows not only the time, but the day of the week and date. Plus it includes a Chrono (or stopwatch) function. All of these features, which I consider to be “analog” makes this watch an instant classic. Lastly because I like to mix metals, the stainless steel finish will look great with my silver toned accessories. If there is a downside to the watch, it’s only to say that wearing a heavier men’s watch takes time to get used to. But so far, me and the Aurora Roma have been inseparable. Shop the Aurora Roma here

Let me know if you have any questions about either of these two watches and enjoy the discount. Do let me know what watch you’re interested in.

take 15% off with my discount code WMKairee15