The watch has long been a fashion accessory for men, a symbol of status and elegance. While the perception remains that the expensive watch is equated with success, the watches themselves have changed through the years.

Watches, like other aspects of fashion, follow trends and right now, bigger and bolder seems to be better when it comes to men’s timepieces. It’s not surprising today to see men’s watches come in sizes that range from 44 to 50 millimeters and in some cases, beyond that, eschewing the subtle elegant look of smaller watches from years gone by.

“I don’t see it changing anytime soon,” said Scott Zwain, 52, the watch store manager at LaViano Jewelers in Westwood. “The mere fact is that a large majority of watchmakers are making large watches. The commitment is there and obviously they have a certain investment in it, so I think we’ll see it for a while.”

One particular line that has done well at LaViano Jewelers is Bell & Ross, the same company that produces flight instruments for airplanes. The Bell & Ross watches have a similar look and feel to the flight instrument panel—square with a raised glass inset. It’s a very unique look for a watch.

“Bell & Ross is a good seller for us,” Zwain said. “They have a nice carbon finish case and one that is ceramic, which doesn’t scratch.”

Other watch companies that continue to do well and remain big trendy sellers are TAG Heuer, Breitling, Breguet, Swiss Army, Mont Blanc and Tissot.

Anthony Coccaro of Corbo Jewelers in Rutherford concurs. He said sales of larger watches, particularly those with sporty chronographs and dials within the dial, are up by as much as 40 percent over last year.

“The larger pieces just seem to be more trendy,” Coccaro said. “Since most men don’t wear much more than a watch and a wedding band, it becomes very much of a status thing.”

Most of these watches run the gamut in terms of material used, from stainless steel, to silver, gold and platinum. They range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars. There may even be a trend there as well.

Even in this economy, the higher priced watches continue to sell, according to Zwain. “The person who could afford to spend $10,000 on a watch will spend it today,” he added.

Here’s a sampling of some fine jewelers in Bergen County that can meet your needs for new men’s watches:

Corbo Jewelers, Rutherford and other NJ Locations
www.corbojewelers.com; 201-438-4454.

D’Amore Jewelers, Cliffside Park
www.damorejewelers.com; 201-945-0530

LaViano Jewelers, Westwood and Englewood
www.lavianojewelers.com; 201-569-4556 (Westwood), 201-664-0616 (Englewood)

Nieman Marcus, Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
www.niemanmarcus.com; 201-291-1920 or 1-877-868-3169

Pandora, Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
www.pandoragardenstate.com; 201-845-5663

The Timepiece Collection, Engelwood
www.collectionltd.com; 201-894-1825 or 1-877-678-8463