Watches Buying Guide
Sick of telling people that the time is halfwatches'>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
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 timepowered 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 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.
** '''
'''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 Styles
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.
The Casing
'''Scratch Resistance'''
*
Acrylic gives little resistance.
*
Mineral crystal has average protection.
*
Sapphire crystal will protect your watch better than any other casing.
'''Water Resistance'''
* Any watch that claims to be
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
Related Guides
Take a look at some of our other buying guides for even more inspiration.
*
Cleaning Your Jewelry
*
Gift Guides for All Occasions
*
How to Buy Jewelry Online
*
Men's Jewelry
*
Women's Jewelry
International Resources
For this resource in your home country, please see:
!
FR: Montres et Horlogerie
DE: Uhren
UK: Watches
AU: Watches
ES: Relojes de pulsera
Popular Watches 3
