A luxury watch is so much more than just a means of telling the time. Knowing what to look for when buying one can seem a bit overwhelming at first. The way the watch looks is certainly important, but it’s not the only thing to consider. After all, in the words of James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming:
“A gentleman’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Savile Row suit”
The Mechanics
Many people are familiar with a quartz watch that runs on batteries, but most luxury watches are actually mechanically operated. Inside they have an intricate series of cogs and springs that can require fine tuning and adjustments to make sure that they are running true. They can be powered either by regular winding, or simply by the synergy of your wrist movements.
Mechanical watches are usually made by hand and that is one of the reasons that they command such a high price. Like many examples of something made by skilled craftsmen, if looked after properly they can last for decades, or possibly even centuries.
Materials
What your watch is made of isn’t just a matter of style or taste. There are practical elements to take into consideration too.
Stainless steel is commonly used in watches and offers good value for money whilst also being hard wearing. Titanium has similar properties, and is more lightweight, but is also hypoallergenic which is useful for anyone who has sensitive skin.
Gold is a classic material – either in white, yellow or rose depending on your tastes.
Whatever material the watch itself is, there is then the question of the strap. Most watches allow you to change the strap and you may want to go for something that is a complete contrast to the watch itself, or choose a material that complements it. If going for a metal strap also consider whether you want a simple single locking one, or if you would prefer the additional security of a double or triple locking clasp.
Brand
For some people this is the most important factor. An online store like Chapelle allows customers to search for a watch by brand. It might be that you want to go for a well known brand. Or maybe you want people to see something a bit more unique on your wrist by heading for a lesser known one.
Features
It goes without saying that you want your watch to tell the time accurately, but what else do you want it to do for you?
If you are someone who travels regularly, you could be looking for a watch that can display multiple time zones. A chronograph is a watch which combines a stop-watch with a regular watch and these are popular with people who run, race or scuba dive. In some roles, especially if you work with sensitive technology, an anti-magnetic design may be preferable.
Of course, if you’re in the same line of work as Mr Bond, a high end watch with an integrated distress beacon may be of interest. Or perhaps you’d prefer to see what other special features Q branch could add in to meet your requirements!
Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash.
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