Several Important Dimensions to Consider When Buying a Watch

    I am often consulted by friends on how to buy a watch that suits them. Many friends want to buy a watch, but have a very thin understanding of watches, such as “My budget is 3000, can I buy a diamond-set watch?”, “Can I buy a luxury watch with twenty thousand?” and so on. In fact, when buying a watch, what watch to buy becomes very simple as long as you clarify these dimensions.

　　First, what is the budget for purchasing a watch?

　　This point is extremely important. Discussing watch purchases while leaving out the budget is basically a futile exercise, because watch prices range from hundreds, thousands, to hundreds of thousands or even millions. This is completely different from cars; a car bought for tens or hundreds of pounds must be a toy car, and even for domestic cars, starting at tens of thousands is a baseline fact. Therefore, when buying a watch, you must be clear about your budget to have effective communication regarding what specific watch to buy.

　　Second, how are watches classified?

　　This question has also been asked by many friends: first-class first tier, first-class second tier, second-class first tier... Sometimes it leaves the editor confused. In fact, such watch grading standards are outdated. They were previously classified by customs for tax collection convenience because customs had its own standards, but with the continuous development of time and changing market conditions, such classification standards are now out. The classification standards that are currently popular and easier to understand are as follows: Top Luxury (referred to as “Top Luxury”, representative brands include Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, Piaget, Jaquet Droz, etc., starting around 10 ten thousand), Classic Luxury (referred to as “Luxury”, representative brands include Rolex, Omega, Cartier, IWC, Hublot, etc., starting around 3 ten thousand), Classic Premium (referred to as “Premium”, representative brands include Tudor, Longines, Montblanc, Oris, Rado, NOMOS, etc., starting around 1 thousand), Fashion Luxury (referred to as “Fashion”, representative brands include Gucci, LV, Chanel, Hermès, Bulgari, etc., ranging from several thousand to hundreds of thousands), Accessible (representative brands include Casio, Citizen, Sea-Gull, Tissot, etc., mostly using ETA basic mechanical movements or electronic watches, with prices mostly in the thousands or even hundreds of RMB); and another type is designed and crafted by the N factoryReplica watches, replicated at a one-to-one ratio to achieve a flawless replica effect.

　　Third, what functions do you want in a watch?

　　This question needs to be addressed in two scenarios. One is practical utility, meaning you buy a watch with the specific functions you require, such as a chronograph for racing and sports, a diving watch for those passionate about diving, a dual-time-zone watch for frequent flyers, or a smart watch for those who enjoy smart applications. The other is for collection purposes. Generally speaking, the more complicated functions a watch has—such as moon phases, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters—the higher its collection value. In other words, entry-level luxury watches with simple functions do not hold significant collection value unless their circulation drops drastically for various reasons, or unless you have a special personal attachment to them, though this has little to do with the actual value of the watch.

　　Fourth, what materials do you want for a watch?

　　Watch materials are broadly divided into precious metal materials such as stainless steel, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum, as well as novel ceramic materials and distinctive materials like titanium. Naturally, the cheapest and most common among these is stainless steel, which replica watches predominantly adopt; leather materials are mainly used for strap designs. Solid gold materials are almost non-existent because watches made entirely of gold would easily deform, whereas all 18k gold materials use yellow gold as the main body combined with other metal alloys to ensure the hardness and toughness of the watch material. Platinum is currently considered the most expensive watch material and is mostly used in limited-edition grand complication watches. Ceramic and titanium materials are renowned for their corrosion resistance, allowing them to endure long-term preservation without rusting or degrading. In addition, the shape and size of the watch should also be chosen according to personal preference and pairing, and regardless of the material, shape, or size you wish to buy, trying the watch on is essential to get a true feel.

　　Fifth, which country's watches do you want to buy?

　　The mainstream categories for mechanical watches are Swiss and non-Swiss. Among the non-Swiss, those produced in the Glashütte region of eastern Germany are the most renowned. Today, the vast majority of long-established watchmaking brands are either Swiss or manufacture in Switzerland, with the exception of German houses like A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original, and Nomos. Of course, Cartier from France and Panerai from Italy also offer excellent alternatives. If you are looking for something more accessible, the Japanese brand Casio is a solid choice, as are the replicas produced domestically.Noob watchIt is true that they are very accessible in terms of price, and their functionality and craftsmanship are in no way inferior to luxury watches.

　　Sixth, what is the purpose of buying a watch?

　　Ultimately, one must return to this question: ask yourself, why are you buying a watch? To tell the time, for aesthetics, to suit a dress code, for collecting, to demonstrate taste, or for smart functionality. These seemingly simple questions are actually crucial, as they are closely related to budget, features, brand, and maintenance. To put it bluntly, “ do not bite off more than you can chew ”, regardless of your goal, do not let buying a watch become a burden or a source of unhappiness. In short, whether for utility or style, the purpose may differ, but buying a watch should always be a joyful experience. After all, money cannot buy what I love.