Watch Buying Guide

This general guide isn't specific to Movado, but rather offers you tips and reminders for anyone considering any high-quality watch or timepiece.

Aside from being visually appealing, a watch should be looked at as a quality timepiece that might be handed down through generations. It might also be considered an investment.

When purchasing a watch consider what you will be using it for.

• Casual wear (a sports watch for example),
• business (something more formal or thin that would not interfere with a dress shirt).
• Perhaps a dual-time for those who travel a lot.

There are many quality watches out there, not just movado, that will last a lifetime with proper care.

Crystals come in three flavors with varying degrees of hardness rated on a scale from 1 through 10 with ten being the hardest (diamonds)...

• (1) Acrylic
• (3) Mineral
• (9) Sapphire, the latter being your most durable offering superior scratch resistance, but it will cost you more.

Even though a sapphire crystal is almost as hard as a diamond, it is not shatter proof... on the contrary, sapphire crystals are more brittle than mineral crystals and will therefore shatter more readily than mineral crystals.

The advantage to sapphire is scratch resistance not to mention it is simply more esoteric. Finer watches will usually offer Sapphire crystals.

Water resistance typically isn't that critical, even with movado, unless you plan to use it for underwater activity, but is usually a sign of greater durability. Screw down crowns add to the water resistance of a watch. Be aware of the fact that the water resistance can deteriorate over time through climate and age.

Also consider the fact that eventually you'll have to replace the battery. Once the seal is compromised you'll have to re-establish the seal by replacing the gaskets.The metals used for the case and bracelet should be an important consideration as well as the movement (quartz, automatic and manual).

Movements

For any watch, the better the movement the more accuracy in the time displayed.

Automatics are mechanical watches with a rotor that powers the mainspring through wrist movement. Although automatics are considered more collectible and more esoteric in the watch world, they are not as accurate as quartz movements.

Quartz usually offers the most accuracy but even here you will find varying degrees of quartz quality and tolerances. Once again, a better watch will offer a better quartz movement.

If isn't a quartz movement watch, look for the statement "officially certified chronometer" or similar language. This guarantees that the movement is of the highest quality, which translates into a watch that will be almost as accurate as any quartz movement available.

Swiss made

A totally Swiss made watch will state "Swiss Made" and consist of at least 50% Swiss parts to qualify. If it states "Swiss Movement" this is an indication that the movement is Swiss with the assembly done elsewhere. "Swiss Parts" means just that... no part of the watch was assembled in Switzerland.

Movado and ESQ (owned by Movado) are among the most popular swiss watch brands on the market.

Counting the cost

Prices for Swiss made watches can range anywhere from $100 to many thousands of dollars. Always keep in mind that if it sounds to good to be true, it usually is just that.

If you're looking for a Rolex for example, be prepared to pay thousands. If someone is selling a Rolex for a few hundred dollars, walk away because either it's a fake or hot.

The thing to remember is that all watches will keep time. Therefore, any watch up to $100 is for keeping time... above $100 it becomes a statement. Remember, a Yugo with get you from point A to point B just as well as a Ferrari. But a Ferrari ... well, you get the idea.

Accessories

Bracelets are important and should offer solid end-links with quality clasps (double-deployment or something similar).

Leather bands are fine but don't hold up to outdoor weather conditions such as rain, etc. so if you work outdoors or find yourself outdoors often a metal or rubber bracelet would probably be more suitable.

Watches are also made with differing metals such as: stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, tungsten, carbon composites, platinum and gold. Of course gold and platinum would be the most costly.

Typically a high-quality stainless steel case and bracelet is highly durable but would also weigh substantially more than titanium. Titanium, on the other hand, offers poor scratch resistance.

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There are still other factors to consider before buying a watch, movado or otherwise, but hopefully this abbreviated guide will help you get started in making an educated decision on purchasing a timepiece.

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