Watch Buying Guide – How To Buy A Watch for Men & Women

When choosing a watch, there are many factors to consider. In addition to the style and design of the watch, you will also want to pay attention to its materials, movement type, and water resistance rating. To help guide your decision-making process, this watch buying guide will provide an introduction to some of the key considerations that all buyers should keep in mind.

Whether you are looking for a casual timepiece or something more upscale, this buying guide for watch is here to help you find the perfect one for your needs. And with so many options available, no matter what kind of watch you are looking for, there is sure to be something that fits your style perfectly. So read on and start shopping today.

Things to consider when choosing a watch

In this watch buying guide, we will walk you through some of the most important considerations for choosing a new timepiece. Whether you’re looking for a classic Swiss watch or want to explore more affordable options from Chinese manufacturers, this guide will help you navigate the world of watches with confidence. So without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Analog or digital

One of the biggest advantages of analog watches is certainly elegance. With a fantastic well-made analog wristwatch, you will certainly make a good impression.

On the other hand, a digital display will facilitate the reading of the time, especially when you are in a place with low lighting. Thanks to the digital display you can watch the time without any problems, especially if your watch has a luminous dial. In addition, with a digital watch you can see the exact time, including the seconds, a feature that is very useful especially for sportsmen.

Making the right choice is up to you. Try to follow your tastes and your style: if you are a sporty person, buy a digital model while if you like to dress elegant and often participate in events and ceremonies, an analog model will certainly be more suitable for your clothing.

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2. Watch styles

There is no doubt that the choice of a watch is personal and varies according to a person’s tastes. If you are undecided about the model to buy, in the next lines you will discover the main types of watch to understand which one to choose, based on your tastes and your needs.

• Sports Watches: Sports watches are very robust, and are designed to operate at high levels of stress and tension. Usually, these watches are waterproof and can also reach great depths, while their particular design allows good resistance against impacts. They may also have extra functions such as a stopwatch to measure lap times, or other special functions such as a pedometer or a heart rate monitor to keep heart beats under control.
• Luxury watches: A luxury watch is considered a real investment that maintains its value over time. The higher price depends on the materials used (silver, gold or platinum, perhaps with diamond details) and many times also on the complexity of the watch movement.
• Dress watches: Dress watches are elegant and refined models. Most models have an analog dial, a polished steel case with some decorations or a gold plating. Usually they are characterized by a window showing the date or a chronograph with the stopwatch function. Dress watches are not intended for sports use, but offer a classic look, perfect for important events and ceremonies.

3. The movement of the clocks

The term movement describes the internal mechanism of the clock that marks time. The main function of a watch movement is to accurately mark the time, but it may also have other functions, such as showing the date, the day of the week, running a stopwatch, monitoring the phases of the moon or setting an alarm. There are four types of movement in watches:

• Quartz / Battery: This movement uses a quartz crystal and a battery to keep time accurate as long as the battery remains charged. Even a low-end watch keeps time with extreme precision, losing only a few seconds in a year. Obviously, when the battery is low, you will have to replace it to make the clock work.
• Mechanic with manual winding: Instead of a battery to power the watch, special gears are used in the mechanical movement with manual winding. The movement is regulated by the spring, and therefore, once the spring has been unrolled, the clock stops. As you can guess, mechanical watches do not keep time as accurately as battery-powered watches, and must be recharged regularly for them to work.
• Mechanic with automatic winding: Even the mechanical movement with automatic winding does not require the battery, and the internal mechanisms of the movement are largely the same as those with manual winding watches. The difference is in how the spring rewinds. Instead of rewinding by hand, the watch contains a weight attached to the main spring, which turns every time the watch moves. Provided that you wear the watch every day, the hands will continue to move. The disadvantage is quite obvious: if you don’t wear the watch for a couple of days, it will stop.
• Solar powered movement: Using a photo-voltaic cell positioned on the dial, solar-powered watches convert light into electricity, which they store in a battery. They work the same way as all other battery-powered watches. The advantage is that as long as the watch receives sunlight, you will never need to replace the battery.

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4. Watch strap

The main function of the strap is certainly to differentiate the style of the watch. The materials used for the production of straps are mainly four and are: leather, fabric, metal and rubber.

• Leather strap: These straps can be in calfskin with a printed effect (like lizard or crocodile), in exotic leather like real crocodile and ostrich or, in rare cases, we can find horse leather straps. Some straps are made of synthetic leather to lower the price of the watch. Different types of leather will have different levels of softness, more or less resistant, with a different structure, which will wear out differently over time. Usually the closure of the leather strap takes place with a buckle adjustable in length.
• Fabric strap: The fabric strap adds a comfortable and informal touch, perfect for everyday life and casual wear. Even in fabric straps, the closure is done with a buckle as for leather straps.
• Metal strap: These types of bracelets are made of metal links, and are usually found on dress watches. The metal bracelet has a heavier weight than the leather ones, and for some it remains a little more uncomfortable to wear. The length of the bracelet can be adjusted by removing the links, but this cannot be done instantly and many times requires special tools. Usually, the metal strap closes with a buckle on the inside of the bracelet, which is hidden when the strap is closed.
• Rubber or silicone strap: This material has great resistance to water and is very comfortable. In addition, it is used for most sports watches because they are more comfortable when we need to carry out intense sessions and workouts.

5. The dial: the face of the clock

The dial is a very important part of the watch and there are some elements that can vary from model to model. The main ones are:

• Shape: Round dials are more traditional, but there are oval or rectangular models that have always been popular niche choices. Keep in mind that you can find watches with a round dial in a square case.
• The numbers: The hours are usually indicated by Arabic (1-12) or Roman (I – XII) numbers. In many models the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 are shown to save space and improve its aesthetic appearance. Roman numerals offer a more classic style, and are widely used on dress watches.
• Decorations: Some dials are embellished with decorations in different colors and materials (such as gold or silver) to give a touch of class and extra sophistication.

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6. Water Resistance

In most cases, analog watches are more resistant than digital ones because the mechanical heart is more resistant than electronic circuits.

• 30m / 3ATM: splash and rain resistant. It can be exposed to water, but it should not be submerged. Remember to take it off when swimming, bathing or washing dishes.
• 50m / 5ATM: it can be completely immersed in water and can be worn when swimming, but it is not completely waterproof when diving in the pool.
• 100m / 10ATM: can be worn for all swimming pools and for shallow dives.
• 200m / 20ATM: Suitable for swimming pools and most casual dives, but not for deep water dives (e.g. with cylinders)

Conclusion

When it comes to buying a watch, there are many different factors that need to be taken into consideration. Of course, the style and design of the watch are important considerations, but they are not the only factors. In addition, you will want to consider things like the quality and accuracy of the movement, as well as its durability and water resistance.

Given all these factors, it can be challenging for even experienced buyers to select a watch that meets their needs and expectations. However, with a bit of research and some careful consideration of your priorities, you can find the perfect watch that fits your needs and your budget.

So whether you’re in search of a high-end luxury timepiece or something more casual and affordable, you now have everything you need to make an informed decision about your next watch purchase. Good luck!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)