Inexpensive Watches
Watch enthusiasts do not necessarily have to dig deep into their pockets to get a watch of great quality. There is a large number of wristwatches that are well-made despite their relatively low price. Seductive design, good quality and a temptingly low price need not be mutually exclusive.
But on the contrary. Especially trendy brands such as Ice-Watch or Swatch delight their fashion-oriented and budget-conscious customers with a fascinatingly varied product range. The fashion character is consistently in the foreground, watches are understood here as stylish everyday accessories. Those who value technical aspects should consider a Japanese manufacturer. Lorus, a subbrand of Seiko, offers many beautiful quartz watches and a large number of sporty digital watches and chronographs. Very popular and hip are still the G-Shock models from Casio.
Mid-Priced Watches
Watches of this price group are not yet used as status symbols. Nevertheless, they testify to the distinctive style and quality awareness of their wearer. They are priced up to 500 €. The selection of models is correspondingly broad and makes it possible to find the right watch for almost every taste.
For example, the segment is interesting for those who are looking for extremely chic or glamourous models from international designer labels such as Philipp Plein. But also fitness and sports enthusiasts can make a find here: if you are looking for a hybrid smartwatch or comparatively cheap, technically convincing smartwatch like the Instinct by Garmin.
Materials
Watches are made of very different materials. It depends on the choice of material on how the workmanship of a watch, its resistance and wearing comfort are to be assessed. Weigh carefully what purpose your watch will serve and what kind of strain it will be exposed to. For action-packed activities, lightweight, durable materials are recommended. For outdoor watches and sports watches such as the Casio Pro Trek models, Seiko Prospex diving watches or the multisport watches from Garmin, therefore, silicone bracelets are often to be found, frequently in conjunction with polymer plastic or hardened stainless steel cases. Their watch crystals are usually made of very robust sapphire or mineral crystal.
If your watch is to charm with elegance and exquisite chic, you should better opt for a classic leather strap in combination with a timeless stainless steel case. The stylistic spectrum ranges from sporty-dynamic, for example from Hamilton to noble-exclusive, e.g. from Junghans.
Movement
The movement is the centrepiece of every watch. More precisely, it is the complex mechanism inside of them that ensures that watches show the correct time. Often, the term "calibre" is used to specify the exact model. Basically, four types of movements can be distinguished: mechanical, electromechanical, electronic and battery-powered.
While in electronic or electromechanical movements oscillating quartz crystals usually determine the steps of the watch, mechanical movements are driven by a series of moving wheels. In the process, a mainspring which continuously releases power keeps the watch running. Mechanical hand-winding watches, on the other hand, always have to be manually wound up. Another type of mechanical watches are automatic watches. They receive their energy through the arm movements of their wearer. Even in watches with electronic movements quartz crystals predominantly act as impulse source today. In addition, radio-controlled watches receive their time signals from special time signal transmitters, smartwatches and activity trackers often via the Internet. Finally, batteries or, with solar watches, small cells can serve as power source.
Brands
The brands and manufacturers of watches are almost as numerous and different as the models of their respective product range. Among them are popular lifestyle and trend brands like Guess or Maserati. In addition, the many long-established companies focussed on high-quality craftsmanship such as Junghans, Tissot or for example Mido. So the choice is yours – and it is really huge and diverse.
Design
The design of watches is strongly influenced by changing trends. For example, vintage style and retro look have been popular for a long time. Historic pilot's watches and chronographs by Messerschmitt or Zeppelin play with the distinctive charm of the past. But also such different brands as Bauhaus, Jacques Lemans or Sternglas deliberately use the nostalgic look.
In addition to personal colour and material preferences, in terms of design your individual taste always should be crucial. Because it will not make you happy to be in line with current fashion trends with your chosen watch, if exactly these trends do not suit you at all. A good guideline for you is the question: does the watch match my individual style? If you can clearly answer yes, the chances are very good that you are just about to buy the watch of your dreams.
Manufacturing
Elaborate craftsmanship or dispassionate assembly line production, filigree masterpieces or industrially mass-produced articles: this is how – very roughly – the range that exists in the manufacture of watches can be described. Between these two poles, exclusive manufacturers and designer watch forges such as Poljot International compete with renowned watch companies such as Citizen for the favour of customers.
Correspondingly, the latter can – quite roughly – also be subdivided into types. For the "watch pragmatist", for example, a watch is merely an article of daily use. For him, its purpose is usually exhausted in displaying the time. Therefore, a cheap, accurate quartz watch makes him happy. On the other hand, the beloved objects of his passion constantly give reason for even deeper devotion to the "watch fanatic". Consequently, watch complications for him can not be complicated, movement refinements can not be sophisticated enough.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches are not just the youngest members of the watch family. They are undoubtedly the hippest and, above all, the most versatile by far. Combining the communication and entertainment options of a smartphone with the features of a classic wristwatch, these modern high-tech accessories far exceed the performance range of traditional watches. Just like activity and fitness trackers, they are wearables and like these are small "wearable" computers.
With the emergence and ever-increasing popularity of smartwatches, the watch in its original function as a time indicator has, so to speak, arrived in its own future. Smartwatches are likely to remain popular and sought after just because they meet our growing need for fitness, fun and a very conscious lifestyle – not least in the field of accessories.
