When buying a watch, you want to make sure you’re buying an accessory that’s perfect for you. You might be looking for something stylish and timeless to wear to a bachelor party or for a dressy night out. Maybe you’re looking for something practical that will help you time your runs or get you to work on time. Either way, a good watch isn’t cheap, so it’s helpful to know what to look for when buying.
1. Mechanical Watches
The classic mechanical watch is as simple and practical as it comes. Though the details of a mechanical watch can often be intricate and exquisite, it’s probably best suited for someone with modest style. A mechanical watch is battery-free and features smooth hand movement. Most models utilize a thin band and a smaller face size while staying neutral in color.
The catch with the battery-free mechanical watch, however, is that you do have to wind it regularly — about every two days — for it to remain functional.
2. Digital Watches
Digital watches display the time using a small LED or LCD screen that relays the hour and minute using numerals, the same way that time is displayed on your phone or TV. The faces and band widths of digital watches are usually thicker in order to stand out and stay secure on your wrist.
For those who are active, many digital watches also have features to track your workouts, allowing you to time laps or how long you can hold a chest press. More sophisticated digital watches have other bonus features, too, such as heart rate monitoring or GPS tracking.
3. Dive Watches
The dive watch is designed for those who spend a lot of time in the water, whether for work or for leisure. Most are water-resistant up to depths of about 100 meters. Dive watches are often larger and thicker than mechanical and digital watches due to their impermeable construction. Many models, such as Luminox watches, for example, also pop with bright colors so that they’ll stand out on the wrist even when immersed in deep water.
Watches are essential for getting you to appointments or dinner dates on time, but it’s important not to jump the gun and purchase the first watch you see on the internet. Do your research and find the watch that works for you so that you’re never late to your daughter’s soccer game or beers with the boys again.