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Buying a watch can be a daunting experience. Not because it is stressful or difficult, but mostly just because there are so many options. There may be things you have never heard of before such as different movement calibers, jewels, or other horological terminology that you are not familiar with.

This guide aims to simplify the process for beginners who are buying a watch for the first time. Or simply someone who wishes to know more in order to not overpay for an underwhelming watch.

If you have a question that is not answered within this article, please leave it below in the comments section.

Is Wearing A Watch Outdated?

In a practical sense, wearing a watch is definitely outdated. Given that the primary function of a watch is to tell the time, date, day of the week, or to be used as a chronograph, this is something a $50 phone can do. Not just this, but a phone will also record the time a lot more accurately than almost any watch can do.

However, from a fashion and style perspective, wearing a watch is certainly not outdated. In fact, due to the advancements in technology, alongside innovation and the decreased costs associated with making watches. There has never been a better time to wear watches. The choice has significantly increased compared to 100 years ago – and the cost has become exponentially lower (unless you include luxury watches).

Lastly, some people appreciate the effort of engineering a spectacular timepiece. It is not easy to design, create or assemble a watch, even if it is a quartz model. Therefore many enthusiasts can admire the level of workmanship, alongside the number of man-hours that have been put into a watch. Watches are well-designed machines and will always have a level of respect and appreciation from enthusiasts.

How Long Does A Quartz Watch Last?

Not all quartz watch movements are created equal. A Swiss-made ETA movement will last sufficiently longer than a cheap Chinese brand, whereas other mid-level brands will land somewhere in the middle of this timeframe.

In general, you would expect a Swiss-made, high-level quartz movement to last several decades before it either needs servicing or throwing away and replacing.

Japanese quartz movements typically last around 15-20 years. At this point in their lifespan, it would likely be worth replacing the movement in the watch as it will cost you a lot less than servicing.

Chinese quartz movements are very hit and miss. If you happen to get a good model, this too can last for 15 years. However, some of these movements will simply stop working after a year or two and become completely worthless.

Do Mechanical Watches Last Forever?

Mechanical watches can last forever (or at least live longer than you and me), provided that they are serviced regularly and have replacement parts available.

Essentially, watches are machines. If a machine is looked after, as well as replacement parts being easily available, there is no reason for a machine to stop working. If you have ever been to Cuba, you will find that people are still driving Russian-made Ladas from the late 1950s. In the west, we may replace our cars every 5 years or so, but this clearly shows cars can still work 70 years after they are made.

A watch is really no different to this and is actually more mechanically simple than a car. The only worry with a watch not lasting is that firstly, you will scratch it, lose it, or simply wear it down over time. Secondly, if you did have a vintage watch and an obscure part broke, it would be very difficult, if not impossible to find a replacement.

Brands such as Rolex will happily service watches that are decades old, so this is not too unusual for a watch to live a long life. The only rare thing is seeing a very old watch in good condition since they are usually battered by wear and tear.

What Are The Most Accurate Automatic Watches?

If you are not aware, the COSC (Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) regulates the accuracy of Swiss-made watches. Whilst this board is only active in Switzerland, there are not too many other companies who seek to make extremely accurate watches.

Two brands that claim to have made the most accurate watches with good reason are both Zenith & Grand Seiko.

Firstly, the Zenith Defy Lab is said to be the world’s most accurate watch, with only a 0.3 second variation per day. To put this time difference into perspective, this is over 10x the accuracy level needed to become COSC certified.

Outside of Switzerland, the world’s most accurate watch is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive. The Grand Seiko is not quite as accurate as the Zenith, claiming to be +/- 15 seconds per month. It should also be added that the GS Spring Drive does also have a quartz component. So if you wanted to be very picky, you could claim it is not a 100% automatic movement.

Why Are Quartz Watches Cheaper?

Quartz watches are cheaper mostly due to the manufacturing process of mechanical watches. Making a mechanical watch is extremely detailed and complex. Whilst a quartz watch has around 4 parts and a circuit board, a mechanical watch can have well over 200 tiny and detailed individual pieces. Not only this but they must be assembled in the correct order, otherwise the watch would be completely useless. Not to mention, if one of these 200 pieces breaks, you have to find which one it is and then replace it.

With that being said, not all quartz watches are made equal. Swiss ETA is widely considered to be the best quartz movement available and is extremely accurate. Other quartz movements are accurate, but will not last as long over time. So an ETA quartz-powered watch will be a lot more expensive than a Chinese quartz fashion watch.

Is Quartz Better Than Automatic?

If you are an average person with not too much interest in horology, it goes without saying that quartz will be better for you. Quartz watches are inexpensive, do not require servicing, will keep going even if you leave them for 6 months in a drawer, and will only require a battery replacement every few years.

On the other hand, automatic watches are far more expensive, will require regular servicing if you want them to maintain accuracy, and are much easier to break.

However, if you have a general interest in watches and enjoy how movements of watches both look and work. Automatic is a fine option. You are still able to buy budget automatic watches such as the Seiko 5, which at less than $100, don’t come close to breaking the bank.

Lastly, if you buy a high-end automatic watch such as a Rolex Submariner. It is very likely that you will hold the value of your money within the watch. When you do come to sell the watch or gift it to your next generation, there is a very good chance you won’t have lost a cent since purchase.

Do You Have To Wear An Automatic Watch Every Day?

You do not have to wear an automatic watch every day, but depending on the model, it would likely be best if you did. More expensive and modern automatic watches have a power reserve with a visible indicator. So if you have 48 hours of power left, you will be shown this and won’t need to wear your watch for the time shown. However, if there is no power reserve or indicator, your guess is as good as anyone else’s as to when the watch will need winding again.

Investing in a watch winder is the best way to not care about wearing an automatic watch every day. This way, the watch is essentially worn for you even when it’s not on your wrist. Many modern watch winders have a variety of speeds, modes, and rotations in order to give your watch the best winding possible. Using a watch winder means you can simply take your watch whenever you want it and leave it sitting when you don’t.

Are Automatic Watches Worth The Money?

This is mostly a question of personal preference. Automatic watches are clearly worth the money spent to a large amount of the population since if they weren’t everyone would be wearing quartz timepieces.

It should also be noted that some automatic watches (such as Seiko 5 or Orient Bambino) are a lot cheaper than luxury-level quartz watches such as Tag Heuer F1’s or some Raymond Weil models. Therefore you can actually get a budget choice automatic watch for a lot cheaper than a quartz watch. These automatic watches are not bad either, they have solid movements that will not let you down.

Overall, it really depends on how much you want to spend. If you look at a brand such as Tissot, you may find that they offer very similar models in both quartz and automatic. If you think that spending an extra $150-200 for an automatic movement is worth the money, then go for it. Humans are fairly illogical beings and enjoy machines, therefore we are mostly willing to pay more money for things we like.

Is More Jewels In A Watch Better?

Up to a point yes. Jewels (when not used for decorative purposes) provide a useful function in a watch. The primary use of a jewel is to reduce friction, if you think of a spinning balance wheel, it is much better to set this on a jewel than another piece of metal that will slowly wear away.

In modern day, synthetic jewels are used, but when luxury watchmaking first began, manufacturers were using real rubies and emeralds in their watches.

At a certain level of complication, there is no use for having any more jewels in a movement and it becomes purely for show. In the 1960s manufacturers added jewels randomly throughout watches claiming “100 jewel” models. Although these were completely useless and purely for design.

What Does 24 Jewels In A Watch Mean?

It simply means there are 24 jewels in the movement. If the watchmaker is honest, this means that the movement is more complex than a 17 jewel movement. However, as previously discussed, jewels can literally be added anywhere, so it is not a real metric of complexity, nor value.

If you really want to know how good your watch movement is, it’s a good idea to know the specific caliber and compare it with other movements online. This will be a far more accurate way of knowing than simply comparing jewel numbers.

Do Quartz Watches Have Jewels?

Yes, but not all. Some higher-end Swiss movements from brands such as Ronda, Sellita, and ETA contain jewels. The purpose is the same as a mechanical watch – to reduce friction in the movement.

As these movements are higher-end, quartz watches that contain jewels are typically more expensive than those without. Overall though, as long as you have a Swiss-made quartz watch, you shouldn’t really worry about jewels as the watch is guaranteed to last for decades with or without them.

Are Japanese Watches Better Than Swiss?

This is a question that would have been very easy to answer 100 years ago. With Swiss watches being light years ahead of most of Europe, let alone Japan.

However, in modern day, Japan definitely produces good quality quartz watches for inexpensive prices, where are Switzerland has a stranglehold on the luxury watch market.

If we are to compare companies such as Citizen and Casio to the likes of Swatch and various other cheap Swiss quartz brands, we can clearly see that the Japanese brands come across as favorites.

However, if you are to look at the luxury watch market, you have the historical brands such as Patek Philippe, Vahceron Constantin & Audemars Piguet, which are pretty much untouchable. In recent years, Grand Seiko has produced some fantastic quality watches for a lot cheaper than the holy trinity can offer. However, the history and development of Swiss brands is too powerful and it seems as if they will remain on top for a long while yet.

What Is The Oldest Watch Brand?

The oldest watch brand in the world is disputed between Vacheron Constantin and Blancpain. Vacheron Constantin was founded in 1755 and has not stopped making watches since. The brand has been consistent in its style and pricing for well over 250 years.

Blancpain was founded some 20 years earlier than Vacheron Constantin but has had several periods of inactivity. The most notable of which was shortly after the infamous quartz crisis in 1973. Although the brand was revived in 1983 and is currently doing very well in terms of both sales and innovation. Like many other Swiss brands, Blancpain was consigned to the memories of luxury Swiss watchmaking for a number of years.

What Is The Difference Between Zulu & Nato Watch Straps?

There is not much difference between Zulu and Nato straps except for the fabric and layout of the material. For the most part, Zulu straps are made of thicker and more durable material than a Nato strap. Even though they are both nylon, Zulu will be made from a higher grade.

This is not because Zulu straps are better or more expensive, but because of the layout. Nato straps are doubled up, so you’re getting 2 layers of fabric instead of 1 (Zulu). This means that even though Nato straps are made of a less durable material, there is twice the amount that should make up for the quality difference.

Overall, there is not a big difference at all and this should not really be a concerning or decisive factor in buying either strap. It is mostly a personal preference of which style you prefer.

Why Are Modern Watches So Big?

Modern watches have become bigger for a variety of reasons. The first reason is that they have become more fashionable. Over time, styles always change. In the 1990s baggy suits were incredibly popular for men, in modern day, most men wear fitted suits which are very tight. Watches are no different, the general population liked small and elegant timepieces. Now they prefer garish and loud models.

Secondly, humans have become a lot bigger. An average German man was under 165cm tall in the 1860s. In modern day, this number is now over 180cm. In addition to this, nobody was working out or bodybuilding in the 1800s. People were fit, but they did not have giant forearms and bulging biceps. It has become more proportional for men to wear something that does not look tiny on their wrists.

Of course, people are always going to have their own style of size that they think suits themselves. But in general, the watch-wearing people over the world have trended towards larger and larger dials.

Is A 40mm Watch Too Big For A Woman?

In the present day, No. 40mm would still be considered oversize for a woman’s watch, but certainly not too big. This can be seen with mainstream watch fashion brands such as Michael Kors or Coach regularly making watches which are 40mm.

Women’s watches are mostly anywhere between 25mm-40mm dials in the current era. The only company which really makes larger watches than this are Invicta, who are infamous for creating gigantic watches.

Is 35mm Too Small For A Mans Watch?

A 35mm will not look modern on a mans wrist. However, if you have particularly skinny wrists, 35mm is certainly big enough. In fact, if you have small wrists and insist on wearing an oversized watch, this is probably going to look a lot sillier.

Overall 35mm is a fine size for a men’s watch. In the 1940s Rolex were regularly producing watches with dials smaller than this for men. Over time, the dial size has grown and grown. Although if you’re a smaller man, 35mm is fine since you want a watch that is proportioned well to your height and stature.

What Is The Most Comfortable Watch Strap

Once again, this is going to be a matter of personal preference.

Some people will prefer the soft feel of nylon, or something soft but a bit more durable such as leather. With metal bracelets, you have the option or either a precious metal such as gold, stainless steel, or titanium. Typically titanium should be the most comfortable of all 3 since it is by far the most lightweight as well as being hypoallergenic.

Sports watches make use of silicon straps. This kind of material is an expert at collecting dirt and needs regular cleaning, but it is very comfortable.

Overall you should really try how various watch straps feel until you get a personal favorite. If you don’t have a luxury and expensive watch this becomes even easier as you can regularly swap out and buy replacement straps.