If you are considering buying a new watch, you will find that the choices are so wide that it becomes difficult to choose the right one. In the end, many people become overwhelmed and end up buying any watch that strikes their fancy rather than the best one for their lifestyle. To help you choose the right watch, here are some things that you should keep in mind:
Why do you need a watch? Are you looking for something simple, for everyday use or do you need a dressy watch that can be worn with suits? Will you wear your watch when exercising or playing sports? Gold watches are the most common choice to go with dressy outfits, while sport watches are made to be durable and can sometimes include rubber parts or luminous hands. On the same line, dressy watches are usually smaller, while sport watches tend to be at least 36 mm in diameter.
Once you have decided the purpose of your watch, your next consideration should be materials. The best, most expensive watches now in the market are made with high-tech materials such as scratch-resistant ceramics. Gold, titanium, and platinum are the other materials that can be found in expensive watches. Aluminum and plastic are the preferred material of choice in cheaper watches.
Size and weight are a matter of personal preference, as some people do not like to "feel" their watch, while others do not mind the added load. When it comes to functions and features, the truth is that most people never use anything in their watches except for the calendar function. A stop watch or chronograph can be useful if you are an avid runner, but other than that, most functions will just add to the price of the watch. Luminous dials are common nowadays, at least in sport and informal watches.
Price is always a major consideration when choosing a watch. If you are looking for a famous brand, with top of the line features, you should be ready to spend upwards of $600 US Dollars. Some brands, such as Rado or Rolex, start in the thousands for the simplest models. As a general rule, mechanical watches are more expensive than quartz models.