Luxury Watch Buying Guide

Luxury Watch Buying Guide

Want to splurge on a luxury watch but confused about the choices available in the market? Fret not. MensXpert brings you its ultimate luxury watch buying guide.

One of the most prominently displayed status symbols that a man can wear is the branded luxury watch. Displayed on the wrist proudly, it depicts a lot of the wearer’s attitude. Whether it is the classic dial of a Cartier or the complicated Omega, branded luxury watches are popular not only with the jetsetters. The common man can also aspire to acquire one, and in most cases, he can buy a low-end branded model.

One can choose from the various brands available. It could be from the classic Swiss brands like Revue Thommen, Paul Picot or the best, Patek Philippe. Other fashion brands include Gucci, Cartier or Geneve. The navy and dive watches like Chase-Durer, Fortis and Luminox have a niche of their own. Then there are the sports watches for sports lover like Tag Heuer, Dunhill, Longines. Other brands like Fossil and the Suunto are also very popular.

However certain things must be kept in mind while buying luxury watches. These would mainly include the size, colour, style and of course, the price. The watch you select will say a lot about the kind of person you are. So make your choice wisely! Consider the following factors carefully while shopping for a luxury watch:

Style

If you are the kind who is always caught in important board meetings, a sport watch on your wrist will look like a fish out of water. Similarly if you are the outdoor types, who loves to take out the yacht for a spin on the weekends, the Cartier on your hand will probably die! Each brand has its own distinctive identity. A Rolex on your wrist will give denote that you are a conservative and wealthy man who sticks to the established conventions. A Gucci or a Boss on your wrist will show that you’re an upstart who likes to experiment. A Tag Heur or an Omega can denote that you’re an outdoor person and you have more facets to you than just a business tycoon. A watch is more than a status symbol. It will directly reflect your taste and your preferences. So buy a watch that gels with your personality.

Size & Color

The size of the watch is also important. Most guys tend to be on the conservative side and avoid big showy dials. The colour of the watch goes a long way in showing your taste. Keep the brightly colored dials for your ultra casual clothes and wear the blacks and browns with your formal wear. The bracelet watches which come in gold, steel and chrome usually go with formal as well informal wear. The style usually depends on the individual. The other major consideration is the water resistant quality. Many watches are printed with the 100 meters water resistant mark. This means that the watch has been tested to withstand pressure found at 100 meters of water depth. That does not mean that you can go diving with it.

Quality

Another most important thing to remember as you buy a watch is the quality. Quality here means the quality of material used. It also means the accuracy of your watch. It is important to find out how much time it loses in a day. That is the constancy of your watch. The Geneva seal is one such level of certification which certifies the watch constancy of losing or gaining time. The other certification is the COSC. It is the chronometer certification given to watches which means that it has passed all the vigorous tests demanded by the Switzerland’s official rating bureau. Even if the watch that you have bought is of a premium quality and brand, it still requires certain maintenance on your part to keep it ‘healthy’.

Price

Before you go out shopping for a luxury watch, you have to determine how much you’re willing to spend on it. If the money is no issue, then you can go for a Corum, a Patek Phillipe or even a Rolex. Do the proper research and visit two or three places that stock luxury watches before you settle on one.

Caring For Your Watch

There are many other things to consider while caring for your watch once it is out of the shelf and on your wrist.

· Always remember to keep your watch wrapped in soft cloth when storing it away.

· Clean your watch regularly by following the instructions provided in the instruction leaflet.

· Be careful not to handle it roughly. The watch might be tough but that does not mean you should handle it roughly. Your watch has the water resistance tag, but that doesn’t mean that you shower with it on.

· Try not to expose your watch to extreme temperatures. Extreme heat can shorten the battery life of your quartz watch, while extreme cold will literally freeze your watch.

· Try to keep it away from sudden shocks. Make sure you check how much shock your watch can withstand before buying it.

· Keep your watch away from chemicals. Chemicals could cause discoloration and corrosion of sensitive parts.

· Though household electronic and mechanical appliances do not affect your watch, try keeping it away from strong electric currents.

A good branded luxury watch can add miles to your style meter. So go ahead and splurge on one!