Which watch you choose for your own is a personal decision, but it’s one that can be hard to make without a little information. You know not every watch will complement your style or budget — so where to begin? Here are some things to think about when picking the finest minimalist wristwatch for you.
- Know your type.
What kind of watch do you really need? If you require the highest degree of precision in terms of timekeeping, you’ll probably want a kinetic or quartz movement. On the other hand, if you’re an organized person who stays on top of such things, you may decide to opt for a watch with a lithium battery. Just remember you’ll need to replace it now and then!
- Assess the materials and quality.
Along with the inner workings of the watch, the watch case goes a long way toward equipping a product with both durability and longevity. Think ceramic, titanium, and other impervious materials for a watch case that can serve you well for a long time. Obviously, these high-end materials are going to be a little pricier…but paying a slightly higher price up front also means you won’t have to replace your watch as often, either.
- Trust solid brands, but don’t be blinded by a name.
Unfortunately, minimalist watches have their counterfeiters who produce cheap knockoffs, attempting to pass them off as prestige brand names—and their imitations can be remarkably authentic-looking. If you see “warning signs” such as irregular-looking items, shoddy workmanship or display cases, or—the most tell-tale of all—a “special price” that’s so out of normal range that it’s “too good to pass up”…beware. Most of the time, you should run, not walk, away from these “deals.” Not only will you have a fraudulent product, but you most likely also will not have any service recourse to turn to if something goes wrong.
Even when the merchandise is legitimate, you can be lulled into buying something pricier than you really need, simply because it has a prestige “name” behind it. Remember, a single company may produce watches with many different “brand” names at different price points, targeting different segments of the market. Do some research regarding the best brands for you so you’re not paying for a “name” alone. You want a good product, not just a flashy “name” on your wrist.
- Investigate the sellers.
When it comes to watches, you’ll find a wide variety of dealers…and some of them are better than others. As you do your due diligence, it pays to ask questions. Ask the dealers what their policies are: how they handle broken or damaged items, repairs, service contracts, or refunds. Ask your friends and acquaintances, people you respect and trust, where they’d shop for a minimalist watch. And take their recommendations to heart, but keep a balanced approach, too.
It often pays to find out details about why unhappy customers don’t recommend a certain dealer. Surprisingly enough, sometimes a negative report on someone is due less to anything “shady” than it is to a customer who wasn’t satisfied with a particular item. Check to see if the dealer’s done anything to make that right; often, you’ll find a happy customer then replaced an unhappy one. This is a dealer you can trust, and one who’ll make sure you’re happy, too.
- If you need style help, get it.
Many men, in particular, end up with the wrong style of watch simply because they don’t know any better. So, just as you consult menswear experts when you need to get a really well-put-together look, you’ll want to consult style experts about which type of watch harmonizes with the kind of clothing you wear most often. Check out style blogs on the Internet, informational videos on YouTube, and columns in men’s magazines; plenty of information’s out there to point you in the right direction.
- Plan for all the places your watch will need to go.
A rugged outdoorsman and a corner-office executive won’t wear the same watch day-in and day-out, so be honest with yourself about how much you’re really going to ask this watch to do! Water, dust, sand, construction materials, cleaning chemicals, solvents, paints…watches can get subjected to all kinds of contaminants when they’re worn by people in certain professions.
If you’re an athlete, hunter, fisherman, wilderness tour guide, or farmer, for example, your watch needs to be tough: waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and durable. You may even want to buy two less-expensive models: one minimalist watch that’s all “bling” for special occasions and clubbing (with a selection of different types of straps and bracelets), and one that’s your everyday “work” watch and is built to withstand stress. The investment will pay off on two fronts!
- Keep your budget front and center.
Finally, speaking of investments…that’s what a watch is. It’s fine jewelry as much as it is a workday necessity; it’s both a fashion statement and a potential heirloom, if it’s especially well-crafted. But it should never be so expensive that it breaks your budget, either. Get a firm budget in mind before you go shopping, and stick to it. That’s the way to make the most of your “time”…and your money!