A watch is one of the few accessories that men wear. For this reason, it is important that you choose the right piece to reflect your personality and style. The following guide will help you to choose a watch that fits your lifestyle:
Types of Watch Movements
Quartz – with this watch, no winding is required. A small battery powers a quartz watch, making it affordable and accurate.
Automatic – this watch combines a quartz crystal with a self-winding mechanism. Automatic watches offer the advantages of quartz while eliminating the need for batteries, which have a negative impact on the environment.
Mechanical – this watch needs manual winding.
What to Look for When Choosing Watches
Price
You should consider your budget to avoid overspending. You can find cheap watches below $250, which are ideal for a first-time buyer. The next bracket is for watches that cost between $250 and $1,000. Timepieces in this price range are costlier but not the best in the market.
Watches between $1,000 and $10,000 contain many luxury watches. In this price bracket, you will find the common brands that you know, including Rolex and Seiko watches. Ultra-luxury watches, which cost more than $10,000, cannot be found in normal watch shops. For this insane amount of money, you should expect these watches to have precious stones like diamonds.
Style
The different watch styles for men include:
Designer watch – they are usually designed by somebody with a worldwide reputation. In some cases, you will find designer watches with a unique look.
Sports watch – they are usually large and water resistant to a certain extent. The hands tend to be large and luminous to make them easier to read at night.
Dress watch – most dress watches have a plain design, which makes them ideal for formal wear. The watch strap is usually made of leather.
Where to Buy
You can visit the internet if you want an extensive catalog of watches from which you can choose. Many websites have men’s watches for sale and you can find great deals online. Before you buy anything from an online retailer, you should read reviews about the dealer and look for social media pages.
When looking for a prestigious watch brand, you should consider visiting an authorized retailer. That way, you will be sure that you are buying an original watch instead of a knockoff.
Brand
You need to learn more about the watchmaker’s reputation. Instead of relying only on salespersons who might not know anything, you should also talk to people who already own the brands. You can also post a question on watch forums, which are full of watch enthusiasts.
Water Resistance
A water-resistant watch is a good choice for people who spend most of their time near water. If you do not partake in any water sports, you should consider buying a watch that is semi-water-resistant. This way, you will not damage your watch during a rainstorm.
Size
If you are a large person with a big wrist, you should opt for watches with a large face. However, if your wrist is tiny, a large-faced watch will look ridiculous on you. You should opt for watches with medium or small faces.
Life Expectancy
Mechanical watches have a long life, which makes them the perfect choice if you are shopping for a family heirloom. On the other hand, quartz watches cannot be repaired; you would have to replace the parts. This means that the life of a quartz watch will be determined by the availability of its parts.
Watchband
A leather band is beautiful but does not last as long as a stainless steel one. However, a leather band is more versatile because you can wear it with a formal and casual outfit.
Maintenance
A quartz watch should be serviced during battery replacement, which is every 2 to 5 years depending on the type of watch that you have. A mechanical watch should be serviced every three years depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Lithium-iodine batteries have a life of ten years.
What is Unimportant When Choosing Watches?
Details of watch movement – unless you are buying an ultra-luxury watch or one with unique functions, you should not worry too much about the movement details.
Jewels inside – jewels do not add any value to a watch because they are extremely cheap. In fact, they are used as friction pivots for some parts of the watch’s mechanism, which means that they do not serve any aesthetic purposes.
Conclusion
The above tips for choosing a watch will help you find the right one for your needs. Just make sure that you research the specific watches that you are considering before spending your money. This is especially important if you are planning to buy a luxury watch and do not want to be ripped off.
