4 Things to Consider Before Investing in a New Watch

By cathy habas | October 22, 2017

When it comes to watches, there is no shortage of high quality, beautiful timepieces to choose from. Yet because of this diversity, buying a new watch can be challenging.

Should you go with a high end name brand?
What features should you look for?
Is the price really worth it?

These are just some of the things likely to cross your mind as you peer inside the brightly lit glass cabinet stacked full of timeless watches – all of which are calling out to you.

That’s why today we are going to look at the most important things you should consider when it comes to choosing amongst the best men’s luxury watches. After all, this accessory has the potential to be in the hands of many future generations.

1. Movement

One of the first things you should consider when buying a luxury watch is how the watch ticks. Also referred to as the movement of a watch, this functionality is important to understand.

The engine inside a watch is what powers the watch to keep time. There are two types of movements to concern yourself with:

• Quartz. These watches uses an oscillator to keep time, which is powered by a battery and regulated by a piece of quartz. They are cheap to make and the times are extremely accurate. Brands like Seiko and Citizen utilize these movements.
• Automatic. This type of watch uses the movement of your wrist while you wear it to power it to keep time. Brands like Rolex and Omega produce watches with these in-house movements.

 

2. Design

Your watch’s size is something to consider before finalizing a purchase. For instance, most watches come with a case size ranging between 34-44mm. Depending on the size of your wrist, you may want to opt for a smaller case size if you have slimmer wrists and a bigger case if you have thicker wrists.

In addition, the type of strap design you choose will make your watch stand out in very different ways. Metal bracelets are typically branded as more masculine and appear on larger, chunkier pieces. On the other hand, a slim, leather strap typically appears on more traditional, classic styled watches. Think about when you will be wearing your watch most and determine which design elements best meet your needs.

 

3. Additional Features

Watches that perform any other functions, besides simply tell time, can cause problems when it comes to price. For example, many watches have a built-in chronograph (aka a stopwatch), though it is suggested that chronographs are one of the most underutilized watch features there is.

You want to ensure that you will make use of all included functions and that the increased price is worth it.

 

4. Price

Price is always going to play a role when it comes to which watch you ultimately decide to purchase. The price of a watch is going to depend on the brand, materials used, and manufacturing time.

For instance, watches with automatic movements are going to be more expensive since they are more advanced and require additional testing during manufacturing. That said, an automatic watch is also going to come with sturdier, higher quality materials meant to outlast any quartz watch.

Weigh the pros and cons between inexpensive model watches and the more costly, luxurious ones. You may find that accuracy is more important to you and go with a cheaper quartz watch, or that brand name is what seals the deal for you, despite the higher price tag.

In the end, choosing the perfect luxury watch is a challenge. However, it is doable if you know what to look for. Having an idea of why you want a watch, when you will wear it, and how much you want to pay for one will instantly guide you towards the right watch design.

This guest post was written by Lindsay Liedke

Image Source (in order) Pixabay, Rolex.com & Macys.com