How to Buy a Luxury Watch Guide: What types of watch should I go for?
Welcome to part two of our three post series. These posts discuss various aspects of Watches! Part one was an introduction to watch terminology that you will come across when shopping for a luxury watch. Part two below is a little bit more about you and what types of watches you might want to go for. Part three discusses the costs and what you should get for you money (live on 22nd of July!).
With so many luxury watch types available, knowing which would be best for you can be tricky. Choosing the style or purpose of your watch is half the battle. Watches can be put into categories, choose which you prefer and make that the starting point in your search for your ideal watch.
Classic Watches
These are the watches that stand the test of time and look as good today as they did 30 or 40 years ago. Similarly, classic styles bought today will still have style and panache in the future. Think about the Rolex Daytona, Cartier Tank or the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso for examples of classic styles that will always be desirable.
Vintage Watches
Anything vintage is big news these days and luxury watches are no different. The most highly desirable ones are those that have a place in popular history, such as the first Rolex Submariner, but other vintage names to look out for include Gruen, Hamilton, Heuer and Omega. When buying or collecting vintage watches, it might help to think about themes, such as watches from the First World War, 1940s manual movements or pocket watches. Always check the watch is genuine and in good condition before committing to buy it.
Heirloom Watches
These are the watches to aspire to, to treasure and buy with an eye of future value, whether that value is measured in hard cash or in terms of sentimental value and family history. They're the watches you'll want to leave to following generations. Good examples of watches in this category are the Breitling Navitimer, the IWC Big Pilot and the Master Memovox from Jaeger LeCoultre.
Fashionable Watches
Luxury watches can still be very fashionable. One brand that will never go out of fashion is Rolex, with its distinctive styling and instantly recognisable name that everyone associates with wealth and good living. Other fashionable watches in the luxury market are those associated with film stars and celebrities, such as Panerai, famously worn by Sylvester Stallone. Cartier is another fashionable name, having elegance and allure as part of its branding.
A Watch for Every Occasion
Having a watch for every occasion can either mean starting a collection of watches so you can pick and choose which best suits the function or event you're attending, or it can simply mean have a top-quality watch that you're proud to wear all the time.
Luxury watches bear the stamp of quality that is respected worldwide. The Rolex Submariner is an understated, elegant watch that looks just at home coupled with casual weekend wear as it does accompanying a business or dress suit. For more formal occasions, a slimmer, more streamlined look may be more suitable, in which case the styling of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph, with its clean, non-flashy dial, may provide the understated panache you're looking for.
So there you have it, if you need to know more then please do give us a call, it may be that we can help you with the funding for your new luxury watch by purchasing your old one! Keep your eye out for our next installment on the 22nd of July!
