Buy from Authorized Retailer Outlets – Be sure the professional jeweler or watch dealer you're purchasing from is authorized to sell the brand. This is especially true in the case of higher-end luxury watches when sometimes the watch warranty or guarantee is not considered valid by the watchmaker if the dealer is not authorized.
Understand the Technology – Watches technological wonders. They have so many working parts, it is important to understand the terminology. Knowing the technology and the terminology will help you find the perfect watch for you and your budget.
Consider the Metals Used – The metal used in a timepiece will effect its wear and the price.
Generally, fine watches are offered in steel, 14 or18 karat gold, or platinum, and combinations thereof. Each metal possesses different benefits. Gold is softer than steel and in very rugged conditions, it might scratch. It is, however, the top metal of choice for fine watch-making, as it offers old world elegance. Platinum, too, is often used by prestige brands as it is the rarest and hardest of all precious metals. Stainless steel and titanium are durable materials that work well as flexible bracelets on sportier watches.
Look at Variable Cost Considerations
The price of a watch isn't always contingent strictly upon the materials used for the case, bracelet or crystal. Often, 50 to 75 percent of the cost of a watch comes from what's inside it. If it's a mechanical timepiece, or a complicated timepiece that offers additional functions and can have as many as 600 or more individual parts, the price is immediately significantly higher because of the work that went into creating the movement. Price is also varied by the extras that a watch may offer, such as a diamond bezel or gemstone markers. These additions make the timepiece more valuable, thus more expensive.
Consider the Watch Features/Benefits
Besides the time-keeping functions, many watches have more to offer. There are chronographs (watches that combine stopwatch functions for measurement of continuous or discontinuous intervals of time), alarm watches (that offer an alarm mode), dual-time zone watches (that offer the time in more than one zone), watches with moon phase indicators or power reserve indicators (that indicate power life left before needing rewinding), and perpetual calendars (that offer a calendar day/date readout that automatically adjusts for months of varying length and for leap years).
Know About Durability and Reliability
Reliability is a key factor in choosing a watch -- especially a sport watch. To be deemed water resistant, most fine watches are subjected to a pressure test equivalent to a diver's depth of 100 feet. If the watch shows no sign of internal humidity or damage, it can be called water resistant. Degrees of water resistance vary: 50 meters is almost standard, but many watches are resistant to several hundred meters or more. Chronometers, that are tested in a Swiss observatory under stringent conditions in various positions, and extreme temperatures, heights and depths, and are then certified, are considered among the more reliable and durable wristwatches.
Look for Warranties/Guarantees
Every watch manufacturer offers some warranty on its timepieces. Typically, the warranty is for one year, but some companies offer several years and some even offer extended warranties that cover the case or bracelet as well as the movement. Make sure the watch comes with its original packaging, boxing and informational materials. Be sure to get a detailed, itemized receipt.
Ask About After-Sales Service
Before buying, know about the back-up support of the brand and the retailer. Be sure to find out if the retailer has an after-sales service facility on premises if repairs are needed, and if the brand has a U.S. service center. If you buy a name brand watch from a jewelry store and feel that is not authentic, contact the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), a not-for-profit trade association, formed in 1912, whose mission is to maintain the jewelry industry's highest ethical standards. The JVC can be contacted at (800) 564-6582.