Go out shopping or browse through an online store, and you will come across watches that show you time, and you will come across some watches that are much more. A luxury watch is made with tradition and craftsmanship, crafted with precious metals, offering much more value than an object showing you time.
Watch brands put in a lot of time, effort, and money to curate their luxury timepieces which can add elegance and class to any man’s appearance. Unlike affordable watches, luxury watches are built with fine materials after multiple years of development and research for their design, movement, and other features.
If you are thinking of buying a watch with luxury in your mind, there are various brands like Audemars Piguet, Tag Heuer, Rolex, etc., that you can consider. However, for someone new, the watch world is quite daunting with hundreds of brands, countless options, complex features, etc.
We are here to help you out with our luxury watch buying guide. Consider and keep in mind the following things before making your purchase.
Contents
Brand and your Budget
Every brand has its distinct feel, personality, theme, and design. Your choice of the brand shows your personal taste, lifestyle, and emotions. A Rolex or Patek Philippe is certainly worn by classy men. Meanwhile, Jaeger Lecoultre shows your preference for luxury and vintage.
Do remember your budget because some luxury watches are really expensive and can cost a fortune. You can consider a high-quality brand with reasonably-priced watches, or you can spend big if you want a luxury watch with a big brand name and high resale value.
Movement
Movement makes a watch tick, and you can choose between mechanical movement or quartz movement. Both automatic movements and manual movements fall under mechanical watches and use springs and gears. Most luxury watch collectors prefer automatic watches as they showcase expertise and refinement.
A quartz watch is battery-powered, and this movement is quite accurate. They are easy to maintain, and you just have to change their battery after a certain time to keep them working properly.
Materials used in the Watch
Luxury watches come with various materials, each having unique characteristics and a different price range. One of the most popular choices is stainless steel, which is lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant. Another scratch-resistant and durable choice of material for your watch are ceramic.
If you really want to make a style statement and stand out, then going with gold or titanium is the best luxurious choice. You need to take care of these watches because they can get scratches, reducing the luxury feel.
Watch Size
The size of your watch’s strap and case must align with the size of your wrist for a nice look. Straps are usually adjustable, and you have to consider the size of its long section and its shorter end section. Different watch styles feature different case sizes. A field or a dress watch has smaller cases, but recently people are opting for bigger cases.
Watches with a wide diameter feature a thicker case, just like watches with complex movements. Also, with more complications and features, the case size also increases.
Watch Crystal
The watch crystal is fitted over the face of your watch and protects the interior parts. Based on the price, the crystal type varies, and luxury watches have high-end crystals. Acrylic crystal is inexpensive and found on basic or sports watches. They can easily get scratched, and this spoils your watch’s look.
For a luxury watch, make sure it features a sapphire crystal, a compound that has all the chemical and physical properties of natural sapphire. It is a great crystal because it is highly resistant to scratching but requires care as it can easily shatter.
Complications or Functions
A pure watch just tells the time to anyone who wears it, and any other feature it has is called a complication. Most complications are practical and functional, like a chronograph or dual time zone, while some, like a moon phase or tourbillon, are meant for aesthetic purposes.
For travelers, the date and perpetual calendar complications are very helpful. Certain luxury sports watches feature the chronometer, alarm, stopwatch, minute repeater, and other complications. Most luxury watches have complications that perform as a status symbol.
Investment Potential or Resale Value
Most people purchase luxury watches out of love and personal use, while some buy them for collection purposes or resale potential. Top-tier luxury brands like Rolex, Hublot, etc., make watches whose value can increase over time if they are in a nice condition.
You can get great money for your watch if it is an original piece and becomes a wanted vintage item after a few years. Make sure you buy from a genuine retailer and keep the original receipt and bill if you plan on reselling your luxury watch after some years.
Bracelet vs. Strap
The watch’s strap is the ideal complement to the mechanics that go into the dial and movement. It adds to the durability and comfort and enhances the style and beauty of a luxury watch. Also, based on the occasion, you can swap the strap of your watch.
A metal bracelet for a watch is usually made of stainless steel, titanium, or gold. And a metal clasp holds the bracelet in position. Offering an elegant, sleek look, metal bracelets are easy to clean, and top luxury watch brands offer multiple types of metal bracelets.
Water Resistance
You will see the term ATM which stands for atmospheres, used for your watch’s water resistance measurement. Water-resistant watches have Teflon, nylon, or rubber gaskets and feature a sealant lining. Most of these watches contain titanium or steel and have a screw-in crown to stop water from entering their case.
Always remember that watches are not totally waterproof because, after a certain pressure level, water will penetrate the watch. The water resistance ratings are based on static water testing. Also, hot water can cause materials to expand, and water can enter the watch because of gaps.
Ticking noise
One thing people tend to overlook mostly while purchasing a luxury watch is the noise made by the watch while it’s ticking. Most of the time, you will check out a watch in a shopping mall or crowded store where it is hard to hear the noise made by the movement.
You will be really disappointed when you wear your expensive luxury watch to work and are constantly disturbed by its loud ticking noise. Before buying, take the watch to a quiet place and ensure it does not make a lot of noise.
Conclusion
Humans are using watches to know the time since ever, and the quality, craftsmanship, and style statement offered by the time have gone drastically up. You can get a basic watch in every corner of the world. But if you are looking for something special, nothing works better than a luxury watch by a renowned brand.
As we read in this watch buying guide – price, brand, materials used, complications, water resistance, etc., are some important things to consider before buying a luxury watch. You can visit any luxury brand store or purchase luxury watches online these days. For the best watch collection at reasonable prices, you can visit the Alternative Watches online store.
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