Contrary to popular belief, watches have not been outmoded by the ubiquitous smartphone. Convenient, courteous, classy and cool, watches remain style staples, and every man should have at least one luxury watch to elevate their fashion on their fanciest days.
Yet, not every watch offers what you need when it comes to style and reliability. If you are in the market for men’s luxury watches, here are the features you should always look for:
Watch Material
All watches require all sorts of materials to function and look fashionable. After all, you do not expect the inner workings of the watch to be the same material as the strap. Yet, the most important material to pay attention to while you are shopping for watches is the material of the case, which holds all of the rest of the components of the watch together. There are only three materials you should tolerate in the case of your luxury watch:
Ceramic. Ceramic is by far the best material for a watch case because of its extreme durability. Ceramic is remarkably hard, which makes it resistant to scratches and dents, and it is resistant to heat. However, ceramic watches tend to be the most expensive in the luxury space.
Titanium. Titanium is stronger and lighter than steel, making it more comfortable as a watch material. Resistant to corrosion, Titanium is not affected by the salt, water and acids of the skin, and it is completely hypo-allergenic, perfect for sensitive watch wearers.
Stainless steel. The only acceptable form of steel in a watch, stainless steel is resistant to rust and moisture. However, there are varying qualities of stainless steel; the best watches use 316L stainless steel, which is the highest quality while allowing the watch to remain at an affordable price point.
Under no circumstances should you settle for a watch with a case made from steel, metal, brass or any type of metal alloy. These materials rarely resist wear and tear, and they will often degrade over time, so they are not worth your investment.
Watch Glass
Because glass can scratch, chip and shatter with minimal force, you need to search for watches that utilize a more durable material to cover the delicate dial of your watch. Some high-quality options for your watch glass include:
Sapphire glass. The clearest and most durable glass available today, sapphire glass is almost impossible to scratch. However, because this material is difficult to work with, it is generally only available in top luxury options.
Crystal glass. Other types of crystals can be used to form glass, which produces a glass that is three times stronger than regular glass.
Mineral glass. The most common glass used in the watch industry, mineral glass is stronger than glass and plastic, but it will scratch with heavy use. Fortunately, scratches in mineral glass can be polished out, so this can be an affordable if maintenance-heavy option.
Watch Movement
In the Digital Age, you might be accustomed to technology that runs on rechargeable or disposable batteries. While some watches do contain batteries, electricity is far from the only way to make watch hands move. In fact, in the luxury space, the most sought-after watch movement is not battery-driven, at all. Your options include:
Automatic and manual mechanical movement. The oldest form of movement is mechanical, which uses various gears to keep time and move the hands of the watch. Manual mechanical watches require you to wind up the timepiece periodically, but modern automatic designs capture the movement of your wrist to power the watch. Mechanical watches do not tick because their gears allow the hands to move smoothly through time.
Quartz movement. A quartz watch connects a battery to a chunk of quartz crystal, which resonates at a specific frequency to keep perfect time. The resonance causes the watch to tick, which can be frustrating to some sensitive watch wearers, and over time, the battery inside will need to be replaced. Still, quartz watches are reliable and affordable luxury options.
Watch Brand
Finally, the last consideration you must make before buying a watch concerns the luxury brand itself. Different luxury designers maintain different brand values, which wearers of their watches will inherit. You might perform some perfunctory research on the brand of the watch you are interested in buying before you make your purchase, so you can be certain that your beliefs and interests align with the brand’s historical and current messages.
A good man needs a good watch. Now that you know about the best watch features to look for, you can find yourself a luxury watch worthy of your wrist.
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