When it comes to the way you dress there's a lot to consider. From what kind of clothes you like, to how you cut your hair to the jewellery that you wear, there's a lot to think about.
If you've been thinking about adding a nice watch to your wardrobe, you're not alone. It's apparent that buying luxury watches is something that many people would love to do. But when you are getting ready to buy your new watch, what do you look for?
With a variety of different choices at your fingertips from Omega, Rolex, and Breitling which option do you go for? More importantly, how do you decide which watch is right for you?
To help you make the decision easier, we've put together this article.
Let's get started.
Why You Need a Great Watch
When it comes to picking the perfect luxury watch you have a lot of factors to consider. You'll often find people perceive that luxury watches are only for the wealthy.
In fact, households with income of over £150,000 or more were only 0.1% more likely to purchase a watch ranging from £15,000-£40,000 than households with less than that. So the perception that luxury watches are only for the wealthy isn't necessarily true.
There are a lot of great reasons for owning a luxury watch. For one, many hold their value over a long-time, making them a great investment.
Many luxury watch owners also love the fact that they are fashionable, stylish and often great quality in their design. But it can sometimes be difficult to spot the difference in quality when considering a luxury watch.
The Top Things to Look for In a New Watch
To make the task of picking out a new luxury watch easier, we've broken down some easy steps so you can tell the difference in your next watch purchase.
Watch Movements
When you start to look at the different watches available, there's a common theme amongst almost all watches; movement.
The movement of a watch is everything, including the flow of the hands around the face, as well as the deep inner workings of the watch.
The movement of a watch is fundamental to how it keeps time and works. Some even call it the heart of the watch.
There are three main types of watch movements.
Mechanical
You'll find mechanical watches function using a mainspring. That's a coiled wire of metal that is manually wound when manufactured.
The watch operates by slowly unwinding which causes the second's hand to unwind in smooth slow motion. Not all of these types of watches are equal in creation.
The quality of the watch determines its accuracy and smoothness. Many people consider mechanical watches as the very best in quality.
This is due to the time and effort that goes into creating them. It's about more than telling time; it's about an appreciation for the craft.
Automatic
Automatic watches are similar to their mechanical counterparts. A mainspring powers the watch and uses gears inside to move the watches hands.
An automatic watch doesn't need to be wound like a mechanical watch though. The movement throughout the day winds up the watch for you.
Automatic essentially means self-winding. Automatic watches self-wind using a small rotor inside the watch.
It's a tiny weight that as you move winds your watch for you. They even have a slipping clutch to stop your watch over winding itself.
Quartz
The quartz is the more common of the watch types available. That's because they are not only affordable but extremely accurate.
Instead of working with a wound spring mechanism, a quartz watch uses electricity from a battery. This battery sends electricity through a tiny quartz crystal inside your watch.
This, in turn, makes the crystal vibrate. 32,768 times a second to be exact.
A circuit measures the vibrations and converts them into a pulse. This pulse is what moves the hand around the face of your watch.
The electric pulses that power the Quartz watches are what give it that distinct ticking noise that many people are so familiar with. It's not as smooth as a mechanical or automatic watch.
Picking the Right Size Watch For Your Wrist
An important consideration when buying luxury watches is also to consider the right size watch for your wrist. You don't want to spend a fortune on a new watch to find that it is too small and looks like a ladies wristwatch.
The general rule is to measure the circumference of your wrist. If your wrist measured 7-8 inches, you should pick a watch with a case width of 44-46mm wide.
If your wrist is slightly smaller, 6-7 inches, you should select 38-42mm wide. Don't forget a watch is a statement piece, so the size choice is down to you.
What Style to Pick
The final consideration for a new watch is the style you want to select.
Dress Watch
Dress or vintage watches date back to the early 20th century who decided to wear their watches on their wrists, not out of their pockets. These watches are often suited for more formal occasions.
They are typically thin, featuring either a circular, square or rectangular face. You'll often find luxury models made of silver or gold.
The faces will display simple indexes for hours like symbols or Roman numerals. You'll always find the bands to be leather, the classic choice.
Dive Watch
Dive watches are the most common you'll see. Think James Bond-inspired, and you'll get the idea.
Manufacturers design dive watches with (you guessed it) divers in mind or people who spend time near water. They're water-resistant, and you can use them at 100m depths as standard and sometimes deeper.
Manufacturers typically make them from corrosion-free materials like titanium or stainless steel.
Pilot Watch
Often branded as aviator watches, these designs can vary wildly. You'll usually find these watches to be pretty large.
You'll have a clear to read face and luminous dials. The bands are often styled in leather and will sometimes feature a chronograph and date.
What Do You Look for When Buying Luxury Watches?
Whatever your style preferences, it's clear that buying luxury watches can be as much about personal style choices as they are quality. If you need more help in picking out the perfect timepiece, get in touch today.
