Whether you received an heirloom timepiece, are shopping for a sports watch or want something appropriate for formal events, think about the following.
Basic Features
A quality watch is an investment and should be treated as such. Initially created as a female accessory, the practical side of watches emerged during World War I, when they were first used on the battlefield. Today, all watches bear some combination of the following factors.
Movement
In layman’s terms, “movement” refers to the watch’s motor or inner operations that power the hands and allow it to keep accurate time. For modern-day models, movement boils down to two basic types:
- Mechanical: Used for the first portable watches, a coiled mainspring unwinds to turn gears and release energy that powers the hands. A significant amount of craftsmanship goes into mechanical watches, making them a high-dollar item that’s rooted in history. Because this mechanism’s accuracy doesn’t last forever, you’ll need to take it in for a tune-up every five to 10 years.
- Automatic: Introduced in the 1920s, automatic watches are based on mechanical movement, but don’t require hand-winding. Instead, the watch does this automatically through a small weight, or rotor connected to the mainspring. A slipping clutch prevents the watch from over-winding itself. Although tune-ups aren’t necessary, it’s recommended you store it in a watch-winder to help maintain its accuracy.
- Quartz: Seiko invented quartz movement in 1969 and since then, this extremely accurate, nearly maintenance-free system has turned into the most common watch mechanism. To turn the hands, the watch’s battery – in place of a mainspring – sends current through a quartz crystal, which then causes the crystal to vibrate more than 30,000 times per second. The vibrations move the motor, which in turn powers the hands and other functions. As such, quartz movement is far more durable than other types and is essential to feature-heavy sport and field watches on the market.
Band Types
To match a variety of different occasions, watch bands are usually made from:
- Leather: While you can wear a leather band every day, the smooth texture and neutral appearance give off classic style, which fits better with normal dress codes.
- Metal: From steel to white gold, metal projects a luxury character that’s acceptable for formal events. On the practical side, it’s used for dive watches; the material won’t chafe when your wrist is wet.
- Nylon: Rooted in military wear and one of the least formal on this list, woven nylon is a staple of sport and other active watches for its sturdy, breathable, lightweight construction.
- Rubber or Silicone: Flexible and waterproof, these materials are ideal for diving and other activities where you’ll be sweating. Yet the look may be too informal for the office.
Extras
Also called “complications,” these extras are not included in every watch but can make or break purchasing decisions:
- Alarms
- Power reserve indicators
- Repeaters
- Chronograph – or stopwatch – and a tachymeter
For sportier watches, the chronograph keeps time and calculates speed, distance traveled and fuel consumption in some cases.
Watch Styles
For the many events of life, there is a men’s watch style for every occasion.
Dress Watch
This style tends to have a thinner band, typically in leather with a circular, rectangular or square case and watch face. Due to its relatively simple design, the face usually features the hour indexes or Roman numerals. For complications, dress watches keep time and offer a date or moon display at most.
Field Watch
Based on the original trench watch designed for officers, field styles are rugged and durable with multiple features. These watches tend to be medium sized with a leather or canvas strap and usually have a combination of:
- Clear, straightforward numbering
- An illuminating face for night use
- A stainless steel or titanium case
- An option to stop the seconds hand
Dive Watches
Usually water resistant down to an average of 100m, these technical watches feature a corrosion-resistant design – stainless steel, titanium or rubber and silicone. For this more demanding use, a dive watch usually has:
- An easy-to-read face, often with hash marks
- Sapphire or mineral glass
- A unidirectional bezel, which indicates how long it’s been below the surface
- Metal band
Racing Watch
Equipped with more features, this diving watch style was introduced by TAG Heuer in the 1930s. Initially created for pilots, it evolved into a style for racecar drivers by the ‘50s to measure distance. Today, these watches:
- Are medium to large in size, usually with space for its bells and whistles
- Have large, contrast-heavy dials with Arabic numerals
- Feature stainless steel cases and leather or metal bands
- Include chronograph, tachymeter and date features
Explore our range of casual and formal timepieces at Hannoush Jewelers. Browse online or visit one of our convenient CT locations today.
