First Class Watches – Watch Buying Guide

The team at First Class Watches know more than most how important it is to research your timepiece before making a purchase but that isn’t always easy especially in today’s market where there are so many different movements, features, bracelets, straps and more. First Class Watches have made this guide to help you find the perfect timepiece to suite you.

Movement

One of the first things to think about when looking for a watch is the movement. Which movement best suites your specification? Is a certain movement better than another? First Class Watches have written the sections below help answer any questions you have.

WHAT IS A MOVEMENT?

The movement of a watch is the core process that makes the watch “go”. Almost all watch companies around the globe purchase parts or all of the watches movement from other companies. It is rare that a company makes its own movements, companies that do are classed as ‘vertically integrated’ this means that they make all their movements themselves without any parts of assistance from any other companies. The companies that make the movements are commonly referred to as the Manufacturers and these companies that make their own movements are usually more desirable and exclusive however with these comes a higher price tag.

MOVEMENT TYPES

The battery and powering of your watch is another important aspect to research when looking for a watch as it is core power that drives your watch. There are many different ways to power your watch and the sections below break these down for you:

Manual Movement

The manual movement is commonly called a hand-wound movement and is the oldest recorded type of movement made dating back to the 16th century and requires daily winding in order for it to work. This movement requires a lot of care and is usually found in more collectable and expensive watches, this type of movement is very popular with collectors due to the complexity and delicate parts. If you are looking for a Manual Movement watch we would recommend the Junghans Meister Driver Hand Winding watch or the J&T Windmills Mens The Milton Pocket Watch.

When considering purchasing a watch with a Manual Movement please note:

• The watch will require daily winding to keep it working correctly without loosing time. Failure to do so will mean the watch will stop ticking until it is wound again. Please note when winding the watch it needs to be wound until it is tight if you wind it any further you could risk damaging the movement.
• The watch will require a level of delicacy and care. When winding or setting the watch it would need to be removed from your wrist otherwise it could damage the movement

Kinetic

Seiko is at the forefront of Kinetic movement watches since its unveiling in 1986 at Basel Fair. The long lasting, high performance and environmentally friendly movement has sold over eight million watches worldwide. Kinetic movements generate electricity from a rotor that spins at 100,000 rpm and store it in a self-recharging battery that needs much less frequent replacement than the conventional cell battery in a quartz watch. Many companies have tried to reproduce this movement but only Seiko has succeeded in inventing the components and technologies required. Two of our favourite Kinetic watches are the Seiko Prospex Kinetic GMT and the Seiko Prospex Kinetic Dive Watch.

Eco-Drive

Citizen Eco-Drive technology uses light from any natural or artificial light source to charge the watch. It converts it into energy, which is stored in a permanently rechargeable solar cell made from a titanium lithium ion battery. This type of watch is extremely popular with the market today making Citizen one of our best selling brands. Eco-Drive watches can be charged by exposing the watch to ambient light on a daily basis and this should be sufficient to keep it charged. Please note charging the watch with with crown pulled out to position one means the watch will charge in one third of the time of normal charging. At First Class Watches we would recommend this movement if you don’t want a complex movement as this almost entirely runs itself. If you are looking for an Eco Drive we would recommend the Citizen Royal Marines Commando for men and the Citizen Womens Carina Diamond Two Tone for women.

Tough Solar

This movement was developed by Casio and consists of very small solar cells that charge the battery. It is quite similar to the Citizen in that it can almost entirely run itself apart from the fact that this movement is a lot more ‘High Tech’ and collectors often like the tough solar models because of this. If you are looking for a Tough Solar watch we would recommend the Casio Edifice Bluetooth Sync Tough Solar Watch or the Casio Mens Wave Ceptor Black Dial Titanium Watch.

Automatic Movement

A self-winding or automatic movement is a mechanical movement was invented in the beginning decades of the 20th century. It works by winding itself whist being worn on the wrist, eliminating the need for daily hand winding. If you remove your watch from your wrist for a prolonged period it will stop charging as it will no longer be working and it would need to be worn again and the time adjusted. At First Class Watches we would recommend this movement if you like the vintage, delicate style of the Manual Movement but find it hard to wind the watch every day.

Quartz Movement

This is the simplest movement and is used in a lot of lower cost watches. Its reliability makes it very popular with a number of brands around the world. If you are looking for a cost effective watch then we would definitely recommend a watch with a quartz movement the only downside to these is the 2-3 year battery change that would be necessary.

What are you using it for?

When looking for a watch I always do some research into what I am looking for it to be able to do, the core functions of the watch and break the points into two main categories “wants” and “needs”. These are what the watch needs to be able to do to make it a worthwhile purchase and the wants that are not essential but would be beneficial.

When looking for a watch bear in mind what you need it to do. For example if its for hiking look at the Casio Protrek models, if its for triathalons look at suunto, if its for casual or smart wear have a look at the luxury brands that we stock (88 Rue du Rhone, Alpina, Ball, Calvin Klein, Dreyfuss, Elliot Brown, Eterna, Frederique Constant, Gc, Hamilton, J&T Windmills, Junghans, Maurice Lacroix, Michel Herbelin, Muhle Glashutte, Premium G-Shock, Raymond Weil, Roamer, Victorinox Swiss Army).

Finding a watch that can do exactly what you want can be hard and very frustrating at times. Or website has an easy to use multi function filter system on the left hand sidebar of any brand page which helps you refine the watches to suite your requirements. If you are experiencing any trouble finding a specific watch or a watch with a specific function you are always able to call one of our team on 01926 298 499 and one of the First Class Watches would be happy to help.

Aesthetic of the watch

With so many different colours, materials and styles it can be hard to narrow your particular taste. We recommend you use the filters on the side of the website to help you narrow down a particular brand or collection that you really like.

Everyone gets a watch for a different reason so you need to make sure your watch is perfect for you. There are a lot of different functions and features of a watch these include: rotating bezel, smartwatch, diamond set, dual time, crystal set, charge indicator, world timer, alarm, sapphire glass, 24 hour sub dial. perpetual calendar, glowing markers, glowing hands, day display, date display.

Bracelet or strap

The question that is always down to personal preference is always “Bracelet or strap?”. It is the topic of a lot of discussion on watch forums around the web and is a very hard choice to make. The comfort and light fit of a strap or solid and heavy fit of a bracelet.

Metal bracelets are available in stainless steel which is tough hard wearing and stylish which is great for evening wear and is available in a range of styles such as polished, matte and ‘worn’ effect. It is also available in titanium which is a slighter weight but still just as durable and has the same professional aesthetic. Many people prefer the titanium bracelet as it has all the pro’s of a metal bracelet without the weight and bulky feel of the stainless steel.

After you have chosen if you want a stainless steel or a titanium bracelet you also need to look at the type of clasp you would like. There are a number of clasps available including Deployment Clasp and the Fold Over Clasp. More information about these can be supplied if you give us a call on 01926 298 499.

Straps also come in a range of materials including genuine leather, nylon and even Kevlar.  Genuine leather is by far the most popular of strap as it is light weight and it looks very stylish and expensive. The leather is available in tanned, crocodile effect and ‘worn’ style. There are a number of clasps available including Jeweller’s Clasp and the Standard Buckle. More information about these can be supplied if you give us a call on 01926 298 499.

Now you’re ready!

Once you have read this guide and the points and advise we give you’ll be ready to search for your new watch. A team member from First Class Watches is always on hand to advise you and are able to answer any question you may have just call us on 01926 298 499 or alternatively email info@firstclasswatches.co.uk. With a price match function for some brands and a ‘Make us an offer’ in place for others we are always able to offer you a competitive affordable price for the watch that catches your eye. When you’re ready click here to SHOP NOW