A luxury watch is more than simply a timepiece; it’s also a statement about your style and attitude, and in many cases it’s an investment. For connoisseurs, choosing a new watch may be second nature – but for those making their first foray into the arena, there is much to consider, far more than when choosing a watch from a high street fashion brand. So, where do you begin?
Style & Fit
One thing that will always be a concern to the discerning watch owner is, of course, the style and appearance of the piece. After all, this is not an investment to be hidden in a safe; it’s one you’ll be wearing on your wrist. Therefore you should consider the style and fit of your watch, just as you would with a high street brand. For your first luxury watch, you should look for a piece that will complement your wardrobe for both smart and casual wear, as this will enable you to get the most out of it.
When it comes to the fit of your watch, there is an element of personal taste but you will essentially wish to match the size of your watch to the proportions of your wrist; a slim wrist can easily be overwhelmed by an over-large watch face, and similarly a delicate watch can be lost on a larger wrist.
Left: the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 M Watch has a 38mm case.
Right: the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Watch has a 45mm case.
Budget
You will, of course, need to consider exactly how much you wish to spend on your watch. At Banks Lyon, we have very favourable finance available on many brands, which offers extra flexibility in this area. As mentioned earlier, a good luxury watch can be an investment, as many of the prestigious brands retain their value very well. If this is your intent, it can be a good idea to look at the current price of second hand models, as well as the current price brand new, as this will help you to see which brands and models tend to retain the most value.
Brand
Because your watch makes a statement about you, it can be important to consider the impact of brand; Bremont watches, for example, speak of British craftsmanship and are synonymous with the aviation industry, giving their wearers a touch of “derring do”, whilst the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch range, with their NASA connection, has an even more adventurous air.
Left: Bremont ALT1-P Pilot Watch.
Right: Omega Speedmaster 'First Omega in Space' Moonwatch.
Movement
Technical details are, of course, a prime consideration when you choose a high-end watch. If precision is a vital factor, then a quartz movement may be more suitable for you, as they keep extremely accurate time. Mechanical models, on the other hand, demonstrate supreme craftsmanship, and as such often command a higher price. If you are considering a mechanical watch, you can choose between a manual model that needs to be hand-wound or an automatic watch, which is wound automatically by the movement of the wearer’s arm. An automatic mechanical watch is therefore an ideal first watch choice.
Whatever your criteria, one of the best ways to make your choice is to see and try on the watches you’re considering for yourself. At Banks Lyon, we’ll be more than happy to welcome you to our shop, where you can consult with our expert team and browse our extensive collection. For more information, call us on 01524 38 48 58 today.