What makes a good watch?
What do you look for in a watch?
Is it the style, the features, horology, investment or the price?
For me, the main reason is that I like purely mechanical things. When I look at a mechanical watch movement from 100 years ago, it blows my mind how detailed and precise they were for a collection of handmade springs, gears and levers. There’s something inherently beautiful in seeing all of that curled up in a tight little package that you can wear on your wrist.
I also like the ritual. I select my watch for the day, set the date and time and either wind it (for a pure mechanical) or just strap it to my wrist (for an automatic). The -4/+6 seconds per day I lose or gain is simply a non-issue. I’m not timing anything that critical for that long - they make stopwatches for that sort of activity, or I’d maybe just use an app on my phone.
Every scar on my watch feels like a documentation of my life; a story to tell :)
Watch collector / enthusiast and “wrist pervert by nature” based in London, GB
I'd say for me, I've always loved a good chrono. That's one of the 1st things that draws my eye. I don't time things or really have a need for it, but the first watch I ever bought at 16 yo was a Fossil Blue Chrono. I still own it and it still works for the most part. I do have watches in my collection that are not Chronos but I'd say the below are the main things I consider when I look for a new piece.
1.) Uniqueness - Generally I tend to like things that are either not popular or people don't know about.
2.) Exhibition Case back - Yeah I'm one of those collectors. I LOVE watches with this option. Clearly every watch I own doesn't have an exhibition case back, but I have a few, and I do look at them often.
3.) Versatility - Generally I'd like to be able to wear my pieces casually and professionally.
4.) Feeling - If I like it I'll try to obtain it. I don't collect to invest or sell. I wear my pieces and want to look at every one of them warts and all and remember why I bought it. Many of my watches have stories behind why I purchased them, and I record short videos to tell the story.
I'd say for me, I've always loved a good chrono. That's one of the 1st things that draws my eye. I don't time things or really have a need for it, but the first watch I ever bought at 16 yo was a Fossil Blue Chrono. I still own it and it still works for the most part. I do have watches in my collection that are not Chronos but I'd say the below are the main things I consider when I look for a new piece.
1.) Uniqueness - Generally I tend to like things that are either not popular or people don't know about.
2.) Exhibition Case back - Yeah I'm one of those collectors. I LOVE watches with this option. Clearly every watch I own doesn't have an exhibition case back, but I have a few, and I do look at them often.
3.) Versatility - Generally I'd like to be able to wear my pieces casually and professionally.
4.) Feeling - If I like it I'll try to obtain it. I don't collect to invest or sell. I wear my pieces and want to look at every one of them warts and all and remember why I bought it. Many of my watches have stories behind why I purchased them, and I record short videos to tell the story.
Totally agree - especially with uniqueness! That's the reason I've got vintage timepieces in my collection
Will it impress people I don't know on the internet?
I'm interested in watches with any of the following:
For me it's just fall in love --> on budget --> bougth it 😁, Case shape and the dial (the looks) are makes me fallin in love the most
On a limited budget (sub $500) specs are at the top of my list. I’m blown away at some of the watches in this price range with impressive water resistance, strong lume and reliable movements such as ETA. As my future budget allows I’m sure ill care high-end finishing and brand history.
I wear an automatic watch 24/7 including at night. If it can handle jogging in the rain, a day at the beach and can show me the time at 2am, consider me impressed.
"Does it look nice?" And then I go from there. Honestly specs aren't top priority for me, I'm not a diver anyway.
What I have seen in the watch world is different people like different things, and that is what makes this hobby that much more interesting. Coz I have had strong opinions on things and suddenly you hear a different perspective that opens your mind. Personally I am attracted to the dials on the watch, sometimes for their simplicity sometimes for how crazy it looks. I am less attracted to features, movements etc, although I do enjoy reading about them and looking at them though an exhibition case back. I am after the craftsmanship and creativity more than all the technical details.
The "telling time" part is the best part of a watch.
For me it's just fall in love --> on budget --> bougth it 😁, Case shape and the dial (the looks) are makes me fallin in love the most
I'm right there with you. The watch needs to be beautiful, which is subjective. I need to love it, not just like it. For me, movement isn't as critical. I like mechanical, automatic, and various type of quartz including multiband 6 or bluetooth. My latest love is a silver dial Tudor Black Bay 36.
I struggled to answer this earlier, but I came to my conclusion eventually. For me the primary concern with a watch is practicality.
Is it practically durable? Is it practically legible? Is it something that I will actually wear/use?
Because I love practical watches I tend toward 38-40mm "tool" watches, but don't fuss too much about spec monsters. I'd rather 10-12mm thickness than 10000000000000m WR, helium escape valve, compass, barometer, inclinometer, GPS, toaster, and diver's/astronaut's extension.
Things I consider.
Well executed design and consistent QC. As I have aged, readability and larger crowns have become paramount.
Is it available, and is the movement not a pin-lever movement? That’s pretty much it at the moment for criteria.