Tips on Choosing a Good Watch

"I spend a lot of time saving time. I have a filing cabinet full of clocks and watches." - Jarod Kintz

Time is the most important thing in life. Managing your time properly is equivalent to managing your life properly. And what's better than to manage both life and time with an elegant timepiece wrapped gingerly around your wrist.

A wrist watch is a piece of accessory that it is equally liked by both men and women. It reveals many facets of an individual's personality. Men think of it as something that creates a long-lasting good impression, while for women, it is almost like a piece of jewelry that completes her everyday look.

While a perfectly chosen watch represents a person's good taste, his personality, and his social standing, an unsuitable watch shows much more than that - his crudeness! That is the importance of choosing a good watch.

But trust me, selecting a suitable watch is a herculean task. With so many companies manufacturing quality watches that are not only affordable but stylish, we are simply spoiled for choice.

So before you say, "Okay, I'll take this one", check out the following points:

This one might be the toughest to answer. So, think again, and if this time your answer is yes, then go ahead. For many people, recording time is just an aspect that is often ignored. They buy a watch as a piece of adornment that compliments their outfit and bags.

Do you spend most of your time in a three-piece suit, or in jeans and t-shirt? Give it a thought. Also, do you require a watch for regular use or a special activity, such as sports? Do you want a watch to keep a track of time back at your home when you are staying abroad or you need it just because everyone has it? Depending on that, choose a watch.

Is the watch that you have been eying for a long time 'below $100' or 'below $1000'? Fix it before you step into a retail outlet. If you don't make up your mind, then on the spur of the moment, you may end up spending your entire month's budget in one go. One more reason to stay within the budget is that if you lose it, then your money goes down the drain.

This is the first thing that catches your eye before any other feature. The current fashion trend says that big dials are in, but it depends whether or not you want to follow the trend. Larger dials do not look good on thin wrists and vice versa. Normally, a medium-sized dial would be a safe bet and would never go out of fashion.

Round, oval, and square are the conventional shapes and are a good option if you are opting for a high-end watch. They look professional. Shapes other than these can be opted for when you want a watch for a casual trip or an outing.

It is better if you stick to metallic or lighter shades rather than opting for one of the rainbow colors. As far as possible, you should stick to a monochromatic dial so that when the hands of the watch move, they are clearly visible. Opting for a black dial can also be a good deal because they look professional as well as casual and sporty.

For a professional look, analog watches are a better option. Digital watches are a good bet when you are choosing one for a sports activity. There are some watches that have both the options. But if you are struggling to read the correct time with your analog watch, just keep it digital.

Choosing any other embellishments, like jewels or other shiny elements is purely your choice. Usually, they don't add any value to the watch because most of them are synthetic.

It does not rust easily and is also water-resistant. But before opting for any kind of metal, check if you are not allergic or sensitive to that metal. There is one more problem with metal bands--they sometimes pinch the hair and scratch the skin.

They look elegant if chosen properly, and go well with a dressy look than a casual one. Buying genuine alligator or crocodile straps demands extra care. Moisture is their biggest problem. You must make sure that they don't come in contact with the rain and sweat.

Also, spraying perfume on wrists should be avoided because the alcohol content of the perfume sucks out the natural oils and dries the hide.

One more thing to be kept in mind is that while taking off your watch, you should never pull the strap back. Similar care is required for leather straps. I would suggest that you should wear your leather strap watch every two days so that it gets time to dry out.

They can be a good option if you are looking out for something chunky that dons a sporty and casual look. Rubber straps look masculine, but ladies don't fret! The watch companies are listening, and they have designed some for us as well.

If you plan to wear a rubber strap to office, you need to exercise a little caution. Make sure that the strap is at least black and not very wide. Rubber straps require little maintenance. They can be cleaned easily with a mild soap and warm water.

Always choose a strap that is not too wide. A standard-sized strap is either 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, or 22 mm in width and is easily available. If you go for a very wide strap like 35 mm, then it becomes difficult to find a replacement, and if you find one, it is expensive.

Whatever be the type of strap you choose, just make sure that you don't tie it tightly around the wrist; allow at least one finger space between the wrist and strap. This makes sure that air circulates freely allowing for the moisture to evaporate.

Unless you are a serious deep-sea diver and go beyond 10 meters of depth, a watch marked '30 meters water-resistant' is enough for you. It will be competent enough to handle the everyday splashing of water, like rainwater or water used for washing utensils.

If you are a swimmer or enjoy water-related sports activities that require you to stay longer in water, a '100 meters water-resistant' watch will do the trick. These watches are usually marked for 100 meters but provide water resistance up to 200 meters.

If you are a sports enthusiast who is tired of carrying a separate stopwatch, then a chronograph is the ideal option for you. It has several dials that perform several functions and one of them works as a stopwatch.

Also, if you are a frequent traveler, you can use a chronograph and set one dial to your current location, while the other dial can be set according to your native place's time. If you are into trading or stockbroking, then a chronograph is the best bet for you, since you can keep a track of various market timings at the same time.

It is an additional feature to look out for if you are bad at handling things carefully or if you are going to dive deep to explore ship wrecks, caves, and reefs. The inner parts of a shock-resistant watch are assembled on springs, so that they can tolerate the shock jerks easily.

They are costlier than their 'non-shock-resistant' counterparts. The mark '5000 g' will be present on the watch if it is shock-resistant. It means that even if the watch drops from a height of 3 feet onto a wooden floor, it will resist the impact.

Quartz watches are more accurate than mechanical clocks, as the electronic oscillation is done by a quartz crystal to keep time. More often than not, quartz watches are battery-powered and low in maintenance, leaving aside the battery change that is required every 2 or 3 years. They are cheaper and more durable than mechanical watches.

They have very less moving parts, and that is why, many additional features, such as barometers, altimeters, thermometers, and even GPS can be incorporated in it. It can be concluded that if you are looking out for a watch that records accurate time, is cheap, functional, and can withstand the everyday life's dampness, then opt for a quartz watch.

These watches are of two types: self-winding (also known as automatic) and manual winding. These watches have more internal parts as compared to a quartz watch and are less sturdy. They require a lot of precision while assembling.

In the automatic version, as the hand of the watch wearer moves, the energy gets stored in a rotor that spins and winds the mainspring. The 'manual wind' watches that required winding of the mainspring by turning the crown by hands have now become obsolete.

It is seen that mechanical watches last longer than quartz watches. The replacement parts are also easily available. If proper care is taken, mechanical watches can last so long that they can be passed down through several generations as an heirloom.

Two types of eco-friendly watches are available. The first one has a lithium-iodine (LID) battery that is charged by a solar cell. This solar cell is charged by sunlight. Even indoor lighting is sufficient to charge such watches. These watches last really long and do not require battery change because light is omnipresent.

The second type of watch traps the temperature difference between the wearer's wrist and the surrounding environment and uses it as a power source.

Unless you are an expert, connoisseur, or you are purchasing a watch to start a watch collection, it doesn't matter as to where it is made. Watches manufactured at both the places show pretty much the same time. It is usually considered that Swiss watches are handmade, but the reality is that there are a few watches that are under $20,000 and are handcrafted. So, the notion that 'it's better if it's handmade' or 'Swiss-made' is archaic.

While choosing a wrist watch, you might want to go in for one of the popular watch brands. If so, it is very important that you look for the authorized dealer of that specific brand. If you are really planning to spend a fortune on a watch, then you rather not go to a general retail outlet.

If you get a feeling that the watch store staff are telling you half facts and are ignorant about the information, then it will be advisable to leave the place.

Choosing a brand depends largely on your budget range. Even if you have the money to splurge, always check the brand's history.

A reputed brand may have gained its popularity in the past and may be currently depending on it for sales. Always check if the watch that was manufactured by a specific brand 3 years ago has any resale value or not.

Therefore, it is very essential to do a little homework before investing your money, otherwise you'll end up getting something that only looks like what you wanted.

These were some of the tips on choosing a good watch. I'm sure you would now have more confidence while selecting one that not only suits your style but also fits your budget perfectly.