Choosing a men’s watch can be a challenging task, especially if you are a first time buyer and do not know where to begin. With so many options available, it can be a long process deciding on which men’s watch to buy. A number of factors need to be deliberated, such as: the price, the quality, the brand and the style.
Taking these all into consideration, these are our top men’s watches in the following categories:
Best men’s watch for value: Vintage Omega $1000+ (or new Tag Heuer for similar price)
Best men’s watch for design: Jaeger Lecoultre Master Ultra Thin Date $1,4200
Best men’s dress watch: Blancpain Villeret Ultra-Slim $9,600
Best men’s everyday watch: IWC Portofino Automatic $5,500
Best men’s luxury watch: Patek Phillipe Calatrava $20,000+
What do I need to know about buying a men’s watch?
First and foremost, you need to establish what is important to you when it comes to owning a watch. It is also crucial to understand what differentiates watch types from one another, so that you can decide which features matter to you.
Mechanical or Quartz?
There are some subtle differences between mechanical and quartz watches. Mechanical watches are a lot more complex in design and are therefore more highly looked upon by watch aficionados and experts. The primary aspects to take into consideration here are the watch movement and the watch power.
Mechanical watches use the energy from a spring to power the watch and they do not contain a battery. Quartz watches are powered by an electronic oscillator which is synchronized by quartz crystal. These types of watches do require a battery. The primary difference between a mechanical and a quartz watch is that the former will require winding, whereas quartz watches will require battery changes.
The movement of the second hand also separates the two: mechanical watches tend to have a more sweeping motion as opposed to moving per second, such as in the case of quartz watches. Mechanical watches also tend to be considerably more expensive.
Dress or everyday?
This depends almost entirely on how often you would like to wear your watch. If you are looking for a watch to wear every day, you might want to spend a little more, however it also depends on your working environment. On the other hand, you may be looking to invest in a watch for special occasions. You need to consider your use of a watch before making a purchase. Owning a luxury watch is not only a financial investment, but a personal uptake, as you need to ensure that you are invested in properly taking care of your watch.
If you are looking for a watch to wear on an everyday basis, you will need to take into consideration your working environment. If you work in an office, you will have different needs than say if you work in a more physically active role.
Vintage or new?
The advantage of buying a vintage watch is that your money will usually go a lot further. Most watches will decrease in value over the years, unless it is a particularly rare, luxury model. This means that if you are looking to buy a luxury watch but your budget will not stretch enough for the type of watch you are interested in, going for a vintage timepiece might be a viable solution. You may also prefer the aesthetics of some of the vintage models. It is important, however, to consider whether you are buying a vintage watch for the right price, so you need to make sure you buy from a viable seller or have an expert give you a valuation.
On the other hand, watch designs are constantly evolving and newer designs are often more intricate and reliable.
Simple design or more intricate?
If this is your first luxury watch, you might want to consider going for something simple, practical and classic. However, if you already own an everyday watch, you might think about adding a more unique timepiece to your collection.
Many people may have a certain look in mind, such as a particular metal or the type of strap that they prefer. Yet, another important design feature to consider is the size of the watch dial and whether you would prefer something more understated or a larger piece.
Best men’s watch for value: Vintage Omega $1000+
Your budget may not allow for a new luxury watch and so considering a vintage timepiece might be the best option. Omega watches are renowned for their durability, quality and reliability. If you would prefer a new watch, Tag Heuer pieces are also on the more affordable side.
Best men’s everyday watch: IWC Portofino Automatic $5500
Silver watches are discreet and perfect for everyday wear. The Portofino Automatic is ideal if you are considering an unpretentious, everyday watch with no frills yet that is still sophisticated in style.
Best men’s dress watch: Blancpain Villeret Ultra-Slim $9600
Extremely classic and elegant in style, the Blancpain Villeret timepieces are timeless and go with any outfit.
Best men’s watch for design: Jaeger Lecoultre Master Ultra Thin Date $14200
Choosing the best watch on the market for design is down to personal preference, however the Jaeger Lecoultre Master Ultra Thin Date ticks a lot of boxes. Not only is it simple enough in design to wear as an everyday watch, but it is versatile enough to go with a casual outfit or with a tuxedo.
Best men’s luxury watch: Patek Phillipe Calatrava $20000+
A great all-rounder, the Patek Phillipe Calatrava watch was first created in 1932 and remained a classic, coveted timepiece ever since. It is subtle and versatile but still entirely opulent.