Watch Buying Guide
When you buy a watch, you aren’t just buying a timepiece. Sure, a watch is incredibly functional and something you rely on daily, but it’s also an investment that you can keep for decades and a statement piece that reveals something about you to the world.
At Rockwell, we know a thing or two about buying the perfect watch for men and women, and we’ve put together this watch buying guide to help you narrow down the choices and purchase a watch you can depend on and wear with pride for years to come.
A Brief History of Watches
Personal timepieces have been around since at least the 16th century when nobility took to wearing small clocks as pendants on chains. Think Flavor Flav, but with a bit less bling.
These were more shows of wealth than they were time-keepers. The average nobleman in the 1500s didn't exactly have a tight schedule. If he was 20 minutes late to collect rent from half-starving tenants or watch the nightly entertainment from a band of jugglers, no one was going to complain. So the fact that his watch may have lost as much as several hours a day? Not a big deal. If he cared at all, he likely drowned any time-related sorrows in mead and—if modern Renaissance fairs are to be believed—massive turkey legs. At that point, 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. mattered not at all.
Over time, these clock-watches got smaller and flatter, going from cylindrical brass boxes to the flatter concepts we know today. Eventually, they became pocket watches, which gentlemen tucked into their waistcoats, back when they were still called 'waistcoats' instead of vests. Aren't all coats a coat for your waist?
Speaking of changing names for things, when did timepieces become "watches," and why? One origin story is that the term "watch" comes from the word woecce. That's Old English for "watchman." The watchman is the dude who strolled the town at night, looking for suspicious characters prowling under cover of darkness. Town watchmen used timepieces to track their shifts and know when their turn as the village security system was over.
Another account of the history of the word "watch" is that it came from sailors. In the 17th century, seafarers used the new time-keeping technology to track their duty shifts. They called these periods when they stood duty and oversaw the vessel "watches." Soon, the timepieces took on the same name. Wherever the word came from, it stuck. And the rest is history.
Buying Analog Sports Watches
In a world where digital gizmos and smartwatches dominate wrists, it's time to turn back the clock and celebrate the elegant, versatile heart of timekeeping...
Buying Automatic Watches
There are all kinds of options when buying timepieces. You've got everything from archaic sundials to trusty ol' clocks to sleek and shiny watches...
Buying Big Faced Watches
Let's talk watches. But not just any watches: big-faced beauties. You know the kind—the ones that instantly draw your attention...
Buying Digital Sports Watches
Looking to buy a watch? Take your cues from Olivia Newton-John, who sang about her timepiece preferences in the ‘80s hit song, "Let's Get Digital.".
Buying High-End Watches
We will guide you through what you need to know about these impressive bits of timekeeping so you can choose the best of the best. Get ready for a dive into the deep end of the high-end timepiece pool...
Gift Watches for Men
The world of watches can be as vast and intricate as the inner workings of a fine timepiece. So, grab your magnifying glass, and let's embark on this horological adventure together...
Gift Watches for Women
Are you looking to buy a watch for women–either to gift to yourself or another woman in your life that you love and admire? We’re here to help you score 10/10 on this purchase...
Let the Watch Do the Talking
You’re making history in your own way, and you need a watch worthy of that. So how do you buy the ideal watch for you? Start with these qualities:
Dependability
A watch is a functional, stylish sign saying, "I value my time and yours. You can count on me." A wristwatch also implies sophistication, which people associate with having your act together. James Bond wears a watch; Peter Griffin from Family Guy doesn’t. Ask about the accuracy and long-term dependability of any watch you are considering.
Style
People don't assume that wearing shoes says much about someone since shoes are generally required. The sign says, "No shoes, no shirt, no service," but doesn't mention anything about a timepiece. There are exceptions: we are looking at you, astronauts.
But for most people, sporting a watch is optional. Choosing to wear a watch indicates a conscious effort to craft a personal style. No matter who you are, there's a watch for your personal ethos. CEOs and seafarers, accountants and action-sports enthusiasts, lawyers and longboarders, heli-skiers or helicopter pilots: wherever you are in the mix, you can express your personal style with a thoughtfully selected timepiece.
Success
A beautiful timepiece creates an aura of success. It not only says, "I arrive on time," but also "I've arrived." A watch conveys that someone cares about quality and craftsmanship. They are willing to work hard to have some of the finer things. Your phone doesn't say much of anything. Comparing a cell phone to a fine timepiece is like comparing moonshine to champagne. One gets the job done, and the other is an experience to be savored. Make sure your watch matches your caliber.
Tradition
Wearing a watch is both modern and nostalgic. A high-quality watch says that someone appreciates tradition and the fine craftsmanship of a bygone era, combined with the technology and precision of modern technology. Your watch will show the world that you value high standards, no matter their era of origin.
Originality
Watch-wearers are mavericks. They are the people who strut into the high school reunion without a care in the world, not the ones who bring their cousins as their dates. Watch-wearers set the trends rather than follow them. That could mean breaking records on a speed track or breaking ground on an innovative construction project.
The right watch suggests that the wearer does things thoughtfully and for their own reasons. Have you ever seen a lemming wearing a tiny wristwatch on its leg as it tumbles over the cliff's edge? Didn’t think so. And not just because lemmings lack wrists, any sense of style, and people like you in their life to give them a great timepiece. Watches are the purview of innovators, not followers, so look “outside the box” in your watch quest.
Buying a Watch as a Gift to Others
Perhaps you’re buying a watch for someone else in your life. Our watch buying guide can help with that, too. A watch is a generous, thoughtful gift. If you are considering giving someone a personal timepiece, you probably have a long history with them.
Perhaps you are looking for corporate gift watches to acknowledge the loyalty and contributions of long-time employees or patrons. Maybe you are exploring men's watches to find the right one for a special guy in your life. Or are you looking for the perfect timepiece for the perfect woman? No matter the background, you and the recipient have a rich, interesting history. That's something you have in common with watches.
A little side note on gift-giving. Did you know that 68% of people* consider gift-giving as one of their love languages? But a tacky sweater, perfume that makes people sneeze, itchy socks, or another mug to add to an overflowing cabinet won't do. Nor will those lion bookends.
Just over 70% of the survey respondents said being thoughtful counts most when they judge a gift. That gift card to a big-box store or an envelope of cash says, "I was in a hurry," rather than, "I get you, so this is what I got you." Sure, people like lavish gifts, but they really want presents that speak to who they are and who you are to the giver—someone special.
That's why a watch can be the ideal gift for nearly any recipient and any occasion. It's generous but also something you can tailor to fit their personality. Birthday for your favorite horologist (aka timepiece enthusiast)? Get them a new style from their favorite watchmaker, or introduce them to a new-to-them brand that might become their next favorite. Perhaps a brand that offers customized in the USA choices, like Rockwell Time. Looking for something to fill a very special holiday stocking for someone who has never owned a wristwatch? That's an opportunity to introduce them to the joys of wearing a beautiful timepiece.
One study shows that people who regularly wear wristwatches may be more conscientious and emotionally stable. The same cannot be said for people who have mobile phones. You've probably seen people pounding on their screen in frustration or screaming obscenities at its glowing face. Have you ever seen anyone yell at a watch? Emotional stability in action?
These study results provide one of many answers to the question, "Why do I need a watch when I have a phone?" Your gift of a watch not only helps the wearer be more on time and in style. It could also make them happier and more diligent. Talk about a great gift!
So Buy the Dang Watch Already!
Our watch buying guide can help you find the right timepiece for yourself or anyone else in your life. Whether you want a head-turning luxury watch for women or a men’s big face watch that says “go big or go home,” we've got you covered.
We can also share guidance for choosing the perfect corporate gift watch or custom logo watch. You want something that can be customized to represent your company and to appeal to the recipient, whether it be a loyal employee, client, vendor, or colleague.
Life is a gift. At Rockwell Time, we live our lives every day with that in mind, and we know many of you do, too. Like us, some people believe that each day is a chance to squeeze the most joy, adventure, and pleasure out of every bit of those 24 hours. And the 24 hours after that. Even when they have a bad day–when the splits on their morning run or the numbers on the company profit statement are disappointing–they embrace that as an opportunity to persevere and a point from which to improve.
If you are looking for a watch that encourages this way of life, our watch buying guide will help you find the right one—whether it’s for the boardroom or on a wakeboard (or both). Read on. Buy wisely. Buy watches.
* https://www.postal.com/blog/holiday-gifting-statistics