Watches are timeless pieces of accessories and have remained a great fashion item for both men and women. Not only does it serve as a valuable time keeping device, it also accentuates the beauty of the one who wears it. Watches have also adapted to the modern ways of living of young watch users. Automatic watches have features that can keep up with the active and adventurous lifestyle of millennials. With so many automatic watches available in the market, you’ll need to arrive at the best deal when you pan to purchase an automatic watch.
Check the Movement
By movement, we mean how the whole watch operates. It is dependent on the mechanism of the watch that keeps it ticking and how the other functions of the watch are powered (e.g. chronograph, calendar, etc.)
In a quartz movement, the battery that provides electric power triggers the piezoelectric quartz crystal to oscillate at a frequency of 32,768 times per second.
In automatic movement or self-winding watch, its primary mechanism is that the mainspring is automatically wound as a result of the natural motion of the wearer’s arm. The arm movement provides energy to run the watch, making manual winding unnecessary. Another great thing about automatic watches is that it does not require batteries to work and generate their own power through the kinetic energy generated by the arm movement.
Ask for Manufacturer Details
The indication of which country a watch is made is sometimes not reliable. There are still counterfeit and imitation watches that make it to the markets these days, and designations of where these watches are made in can be intentionally changed to look like they are made from reputable countries and can be misleading. Thus, to make sure that you are buying an authentic automatic watch, you need to do your own research online at the watch manufacturer’s website and when you are at the store, ask for the manufacturer details of the particular watch you are choosing and crosscheck it with the information you have gathered from your research. Japanese, Swiss and German movement makers are the most reputable when it comes to quality and innovations. Once you ensure that the watch you are considering to buy is authentic and comes from any of these manufacturing countries, you are guaranteed that you’re getting the best out of your purchase.
High Price Doesn’t Always Equate to High Quality
There are several factors that can affect the price of an automatic watch. For one, the actual cost to make the watch can influence its selling price. Hand-made or custom made and limited edition watches can command a high price. While most watches are made in automated assembly factory assembly lines, there are factors like materials, labor and the factory’s margin, which can still affect the retail price of the watch. Another factor is the number of middlemen between the watch brand and the consumer. If the sale process involves several distributors, the actual price of the watch can be distorted. The watch brand’s market positioning can also be a factor to consider. The prices may vary depending on the target market of the watch, whether it’s for the mass market, mid-range or luxury. Some manufacturers, such as Seiko and Orient, even offer automatic watches for less than $200.
Many automatic watches that sell at $500 to $750 cost much less than half of their selling price. Again, high price doesn’t always mean high quality. This is also true in the case of automatic watches. There are actually automatic watches under 500 that come from reputable manufacturers and have quality you can rely on. Reputable manufacturers such as Tissot, Hamilton, Seiko and Bulova have automatic watches under $500 that have features that you may find useful and has quality craftsmanship that will give the best value for your money.
Check the Strap Quality
Your watch will not be able to retain its elegance without a durable and fashionable strap. If you are a fan of leather straps, choose the strap with a “full grain” leather type description. This is the most durable and reliable leather type strap as it retains the top layer, which gives the hide its durability. Don’t be misled by “genuine leather” descriptions. Although they are actually real leather compared to fake ones, but their quality and durability may not be reliable. Full grain leather can age nicely and still retain is durability.
Metal straps are also the preferred straps among active users. Oyster and engineer straps are recommended when it comes to design and durability. They’re carefully placed links make them flexible and easy to adjust.
Check the Crystal
The transparent covering of the watch face is referred to as the crystal. Most watches are made of either mineral or sapphire crystal. Mineral crystals are cheap to make but scratch easily. Sapphire crystals are expensive to make but is highly resistant to scratch and has high durability. Thus, you can get the best value for your money by going for a sapphire crystal watch.
Landing on the best possible watch choice can help make your buying decision worth it. You can consider your watch purchase as a minimal investment wherein you’ll reap the rewards of a timeless and elegant timepiece and accessory. Automatic watches that are durable and can keep up with active physical movements are handy for daily physical activities of the modern wearers. Thus, if you could keep a watch that stays with you for a long time, choose a high-quality automatic watch.