Avoid These Common Mistakes When Buying A Luxury Watch

• Consider whether you’ll wear it daily, for special occasions, or if you need a durable model for an active lifestyle.
• Size matters, so try different watches on your wrist to find the best size.
• Taking care of your watch properly will help it last.

If you’ve reached that inevitable point of your life where watch collecting is your essential new hobby – bordering on an obsession – welcome to the club. As we all know, watches tell you so much more than the time. Of course, that’s an essential component of a luxury timepiece, but it’s only just the start. Watches represent centuries of craftsmanship, timeless elegance and style.

With an array of brands, models, and technical details to consider, the prospect of buying your first luxury watch can be both exhilarating and intimidating. As a complete newbie, it’s common to feel a bit lost. Questions about what watch to buy, how to care for it, and even how to wear it gracefully are bound to surface. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you avoid common mistakes that (most) people make when buying their first luxury watch.

How to Choose the Right Luxury Watch for Your Lifestyle

There are a few mistakes people make when it comes to buying a luxury watch. Firstly, you need to consider if you want a watch to wear on a daily basis or just for special occasions. Of course, you’ll eventually have a watch for every day of the week, or at least, you’d hope so.

Most collections need a sporty, chic number in stainless steel or titanium. Think OMEGA Speedmaster or an IWC Ingenieur, which can handle both casual and slightly dressier settings. For special occasions, a classic, understated dress watch is a perfect choice, although some watches, like the Speedmaster or Rolex GMT, can bridge the gap, offering a stylish option suitable for both daily wear and refined events.

If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, you’ll want a watch that will be able to withstand your lifestyle, or you’ll want one with certain functions/complications.

Finally, don’t overlook the case size. While most men find a 40–44mm case comfortable, each watch style has its own fit and aesthetic, so it’s important to try on a watch to see how it feels on your wrist rather than making an impulse buy.

Look After Your Watch

You’ve found the watch for you and now you need to know how to look after it. To help guide you on the path of wristwear wizardry, we spoke to Steve Mellin, Watch Group Category Manager, Gregory Jewellers, to find out what sort of mistakes newcomers make and how best to avoid them.

The first mistake Steve says he sees countless owners of luxury watches make, is they forget to fully wind in the crown or pushers before jumping into a pool or the ocean. Failing to do so will mean the seal won’t be engaged on your watch, allowing water to get in. Steve compares this to “leaving your door open when driving your Landrover through a waterway and then wondering why your feet are wet.”

Set Your Watch Properly

Steve says you shouldn’t set your watch down on the crown when you’re not wearing it. Doing so “places unnecessary pressure or shock (especially if the table is glass or stone) on the crown stem which connects directly into the movement.” Additionally, placing a watch on its side brings gravity into play, wherein it can pull the hairspring down more on one side, eventually affecting the timekeeping rate.

Not only this but being on its side rather than being laid out flat will cause your watch to be less stable, increasing the risk of it falling and scratching the case and bracelet. In relation to setting the watch down, Steve also makes a point of recommending owners don’t put their watches down near phones and tablets, especially if they have a magnetic cover on.

“This is terribly bad for a lot of watch movements as it causes magnetism in the movement which will seriously affect the accuracy of your watch. Some brands have antimagnetic hairsprings or modern-day Faraday cages that protect the movement, but why tempt fate?” Steve told DMARGE.

You may already be aware of Steve’s next tip, however, if you’re like me and have only ever invested in ‘affordable’ watches, it may well be the best piece of advice you ever hear. When it comes to setting the time and/or date on your timepiece, you should avoid changing anything the hands read anywhere between 9 pm and 3 am.

Keep Your Watch Clean

Moving away from movements, another care tip for your luxury wristwear is to keep it clean. Most watches these days are water-resistant to some degree, so cleaning it with a damp piece of cloth will be fine. Just be sure that the crown and any pushers are fully screwed or pushed in beforehand, and wipe dry once you’re done. You can use a toothbrush dipped in water to clean metal bracelets, too.

Leather straps, on the other hand, will naturally succumb to daily wear and tear and will lose their rigidity over time and pick up the sweat from your wrist. You can clean it using a damp cloth and gentle soap, and applying a leather conditioner will help to increase its lifespan. However, don’t be surprised if the day comes when you have to change it. In doing so, you can give your watch a brand-new feel. 

Instead, wind the hands or date around outside of these hours – 5 o’clock is recommended. Steve says, “This will prevent the gears that facilitate the day/date change from jamming as they start to engage well before midnight and remain well after.”

Lastly, high-end watches are manufactured in such a way that they will require regular maintenance – every five to seven years should suffice, although you should always read the information that comes with your particular model.

Wear Your Watch Properly

With your newfound knowledge, you’ll no doubt want to flaunt your new timepiece as soon as you’ve bought it. There’s no argument from us.

Firstly, the general rule is to wear your watch on your non-dominant wrist, although ultimately it will come down to personal preference. However, rules do come into play when you’re attending a formal event. If you find yourself in such a situation, we’d like to divert your attention to this step-by-step guide on how to wear your watch with a shirt.

We’d also like to reiterate the earlier point of choosing the right watch for the right occasion. Don’t go digging out your G-Shock when you’re heading to a wedding. It’s just not right.