Watch Buying Guide

Watch Buying Guide

With over a century’s worth of watch knowledge and experience, the experts at Precision Watches & Jewelry understand the decision-making process of purchasing a watch. Take a look at the watch buying guide.

Below are some recommended factors to consider when looking for a guide to buying the right watch:

Brand

Each watch brand has it’s own distinct look and feel. Every one has a personality of it’s own, or a theme it represents. Brands are more than just the name – they are each experiences evoking emotions and even communicating your own status, lifestyle, and personal taste to everyone around you.

What are you looking for in a watch? If you are seeking a practical watch, consider reasonably priced, high quality brands, without all the bells and whistles. Hamilton and Longines would be great for that. For the long-term investment watch, the one you want to re-sell or trade up for an even better model in the future, look to a brand that has increased in value over time. A Rolex is the example of such a brand. Are you looking for a family heirloom to be passed down for generations to come, you should look to something classic and timeless, brands known for exquisite design and craftsmanship, less of a focus on passing design fads. Excellent examples include Omega and Panerai.

Case Style

The watch case holds the movement, protecting it from the elements and normal wear and tear. This can be made of different metals, and comes in different shapes and sizes. Small, large, round, square, steel, platinum, (just to name a handful) – you have tons of choices. Our Precision Watches & Jewelry watch specialists suggest trying on as many watches as possible to determine which style looks and feels best on your wrist.

Complications

A complication is any function on a watch other than the display of the time. Complications can be simple and common additions or extremely rare works of art and craftsmanship combining numerous functions, sometimes taking years to create.

Types of complications include:

Date Complications
Chronograph Complications
Dual Time Zone (Travel Complications)
Tourbillon, Moonphase, and Other Complications

Ready to skip right to watch shopping? Be sure to check out some of our helpful blog posts, like the Chronograph Watch Buying Guide.

Movement

When deciding what kind of movement is the right one for you, there are a few important factors to consider, namely the precision and maintenance cost. There are two main types which you can choose from: Manual and Quartz.

Both manual and automatic movements are a form of mechanical movement, made up of only mechanical parts. Most collectors and horologists prefer a manual or automatic watch over a quartz watch, as they are much more difficult to build, with a proud watchmaking tradition going back centuries.

Quartz are the more accurate movement. With low maintenance costs, these watches are great for non-collectors and practical watch users. They do, however, require periodic battery changes, periodic battery changes, only needing servicing every 10-12 years.