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Watches Buying Guide

Sick of telling people that the time is half-past a freckle? Get a watch!  You can get a classic wristwatch,  put one in your pocket,  or even hang one around your neck.  You can cloak yourself in diamonds,  plate your wrist in gold,  wear your hipness  on your sleeve, or be the ultimate in functionality.  Women's  watches are generally demure and sleek while men's  are usually bigger. Unless you're a particularly dainty man or robust woman, these labels will apply.

Now, what is your watch for? Hopefully it'll tell time reliably. Will it be many things? A stopwatch?  A calculator?  A fashion statement?  A piece of history?  An aid for the blind?   Read on to find exactly what you are looking for!

What to Consider

  • Price:  Your watch purchase can run from $10 to more than $10,000.
  • Quality:  The reliability of its time-keeping and its durability determine how well it can perform its primary function. Does it correctly tell you what time it is? Read on to learn about the difference between battery-powered quartz watches and mechanical watches.
  • Fashion:  Does it go with your personal style? Consult our Clothing and Accessories pages for additional help in looking your best.
  • Function:  If you want to swim with it, make sure it goes under water. If you want to run with it, make sure it can time your laps.

Watch Types

  • Battery Powered Quartz :  A battery-powered quartz watch is very common these days. It offers the convenience of a battery-operated system, meaning no winding, plus accuracy and stability. Unlike a mechanical watch that can lose up to several minutes a month, a battery-powered quartz watch will only lose a few seconds. Do remember, though, that you will need to change the battery  every few years.
  • Mechanical Watches :  Mechanical watches are the most traditional style and require winding. Because the main spring needs to be wound to move the gears, and because it is slower than a quartz watch, it can cause you to "lose" time over a month or so. Plus, if you are a little forgetful sometimes, or if you don't wear the watch everyday, you will not only have to wind it, but you will also have to reset it often.
    • Automatic Mechanical Watch : An automatic mechanical watch, also known as self-winding watch, is perfect for anyone who wears a watch every day. Your movements will help keep the watch going, so you won't have to think about winding it. Some even feature a transparent face plate that allows you to see the gears underneath.
    • Manual Mechanical Watch : The manual mechanical watches need winding every day. These are perfect for when you only want to wear the watch once in awhile.
  • Binary Watches :  Binary watches are a relatively new style and are becoming increasingly popular. They use LED lights to display the time in binary form. Some of the "older" watches have 10 LED lights, but many of the newer watches have 72+ LED lights! In the simpler models, the lights are used to represent the numbers of the binary sequence (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32). There is usually a row or column for hours and a row or column for minutes (although some of the more complex binary watches may even have a row or column for seconds). To find out what hour it is, one would add up the values of the lights illuminated. The minutes would be calculated in the same fashion; add up all the numerical values of the illuminated lights according to the binary sequence.

Watch Types

Analog 

  • An analog watch is traditional in style with an hour hand and a minute hand and numbers or numerals around the face.

Digital 

  • A digital watch can offer more as far as features go, especially for use in sports, navigation, and aviation. They show numbers on an LCD screen, and can usually store fun things such as phone numbers and calendars.

Anadigi 

  • An anadigi watch is a hybrid that combines both a digital display and the traditional hands and numbers of an analog watch.

Chronograph 

  • While chronograph watches don't really have their own category, they stand out because they offer a very precise measure of time... down to the millisecond.

Watch Styles

Dress /Fashion 

A fashion watch makes the perfect everyday accessory or gift.  No matter what the metal may be, there is certainly an occasion for every kind.

Our Picks: 

Men: 

Women: 

Tech 

Tech watches can do just about anything that you want them to.  Whether it be a stopwatch or one that will survive in all terrains, there is surely one here for you.

Our Picks:

Men:

Women:

Sport /Dive 

There really is nothing better than a waterproof watch.  Perfect to take on that beach vacation or for a spontaneous swim, look for a style that suits your taste.

Our Picks:

Men:

Women:

Pocket 

Looking for a little bit of class with a lot of style?  Look no further, as the pocket watch surely provides the sophistication that you are going for. 

Our Picks:

Men:

The Wristband

The next important step is determining what type of material you want for the watch band. While this consideration has a lot to do with style and personal taste, it also contributes to the durability of the watch. Remember that most bands are interchangeable, so if you buy a watch with a band you don't like, you can always swap it out for another one. Check out these major styles.

Metal

  • Precious metal:  Gold,  stainless steel,  and platinum  are typical precious metals used for watch bands. Consider what type of other jewelry you wear so that you can match metals. Also decide if you want any diamond accents to add a touch of luxury.
  • Titanium:  Titanium  is extremely strong. It is immune to corrosion, but scratches easily. To avoid surface scratches, make sure to get a protective coating.

Natural Materials

  • Leather: Leather  is a common type of material used for casual watches and some dress styles. It is comfortable to wear, lightweight, and it comes in a variety of shades and textures. Leather is a fairly inexpensive band option. 

Synthetic

  • Carbon fiber:  Carbon fiber  is strong and also has a unique dark gray or black color.
  • Plastic/rubber:  Good for sports because they are lightweight, and fun for fashion because they can be very versatile. Swatch  makes a nice selection of watches with plastic and rubber bands. Nike  and Adidas  also make good sports watches with this material.

The Casing

Scratch Resistance

Water Resistance

  • Any watch that claims to be water resistant  up to 30 meters means that it is really only weather-resistant.  It should not be worn in the shower or pool, and definitely not for diving.
  • Water-tested watches  offer a bit more waterproofing technology. Something measured up to 50 meters is fine to get wet in the shower, but it shouldn't be used for extended periods of time in the water. Up to 100 meters can be used for snorkeling and swimming. Water-tested up to 200 meters is the highest rating.
  • Diver's watches  either up to 150 or 200 meters are fine for Scuba diving at any depth.

Search by Price and Make

There are many watches available in all price ranges by a large number of manufacturers. Below you will find some of the major brands as well as some predefined price searches. Remember, some typically big name watches that you would expect to be very pricey sometimes come in less expensive models. Likewise, typically less expensive brands also come in dressier, more expensive versions as well

Less Than $300

$300-$1,000

$1,000 - $5,000

$5,000+

Search By Price Range

Related Guides

Take a look at some of our other buying guides for even more inspiration.

External Links

  • About.com: Many helpful watch articles and top picks.
  • Chronocentric.com: A beginner's guide to top watch brands.
  • GQ.com: Style Guy has a note on what kind of band to wear for men.
  • Outside.com: Buyer's guides for sports watches.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
FR: Montres et Horlogerie
DE: Uhren

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