How To Buy Your First Watch: A Beginner’s Buying Guide

Need guidance in picking out your first timepiece? Here’s a beneficial guide on how to buy your first watch.

Remember a time when quartz watches were going to put the final nail in the mechanical watch’s coffin? How about when the smartwatch would eliminate the need for a traditional wristwatch altogether? Neither happened. Wristwatches are as popular now as ever, which is excellent for me. I get to write about them and chat about them all day.

Whenever I tell people what I do for work, they often ask me to recommend a watch. I get nervous doing that. Despite specializing in the industry for many years, that question still makes me feel like a novice. I quickly realized that it’s pretty normal to feel that way. The market is constantly fluctuating, and so are people’s watch tastes. Indeed, what is an ideal watch to one person will not be to another’s tastes. Ask a horse and a cat what is more important, grass or fish, and neither one will agree.

There are just too many options to provide a single recommendation to someone based on a five-minute conversation. Material, size, movement, functions, and price all come into play. Instead, what I do is point them in the right direction with some tips on how to buy a watch. I’m going to share some of that advice with you today. 

Some Quick Tips Before We Start

While personal taste determines which watches we like and which we don’t, here are some quick tips. You may find them very useful while navigating the ever-growing world of watch-collecting. 

First of all, try not to go crazy. There are a lot of cool watches out there, but for your first purchase, try to find something on the simple side. The key to finding a great first watch is to choose a design for various settings. A watch that will complement both formal and informal attire is best. You won’t waste your money if you’re always in the mood to wear your watch. 

Size really does matter. If your parents gave you small wrists, work with them. Plenty of 36mm watches for small wrists and 38mm options exist. Even better, trends are pointing to smaller wristwatches, with more and more brands broadening their offerings. If a watch can come on a stainless steel bracelet, I strongly recommend buying it that way. Bracelets match more outfits than rubber, nylon, or NATO straps. Opt for versatility over anything else when making your first watch purchase. 

Eight Things To Consider When Buying Your First Watch

There’s lots to think about when buying your first wristwatch. We’ll cover everything from budget to features and style. Here are some things to remember while you explore your options for your first watch.

1. Budget – Don’t Run Before You Can Walk

Setting your heart on your grail watch from the get-go will never end well. There will be some disappointments along the way. You might not be able to afford your dream watch, but you can take measures to get there one day. Start small and modest, and make your purchase achievable. You can always sell your first watch later down the line and use the profit from that to fund your next purchase. 

But if you feel that’s looking too far into the future, figure out a reasonable budget and stick to it. This way, you’re not building your hopes too high. Remember that you’re looking at around $2-6k for a solid entry-level mechanical watch.

2. Gut Over Features

If there is one thing I am learning while talking to watch enthusiasts, it’s to go with your gut when choosing a watch. Of course, rationale and logic are also essential, especially regarding budget. But there are circumstances when you can let your gut take over a little. Make sure you choose something you connect emotionally with; otherwise, you’ll never wear it!

3. Features

Extra features like power reserve displays and water resistance are nice. But think about how much water resistance you need in a watch. Just like the moon phase display is aesthetically pleasing, it’s more a watch you would upgrade to later down the line. You can afford to look at less essential offerings when working up the horological ladder. 

So, where are we at so far? Listen to your gut and pick something versatile, and don’t get too hung up on features unless they’re essential. If you’ll likely use the stopwatch feature of a watch, go for that sporty chronograph. Likewise, if you travel often, you’ll get plenty of use from a GMT. But tourbillons and skeleton dials? Reserve them for your next purchase. When you discover how addictive the world of watch collecting is, you’ll understand this advice. 

4. Trust Your Seller and Don’t Feel Intimidated

If you’re looking for someone to walk you through your first experience in buying a watch, go to a brick-and-mortar store. Buying online is very convenient, don’t get me wrong. But you’ll first need to gain experience navigating the various online selling platforms and understand the risks involved. Don’t let fancy-looking retail stores and specialist boutiques intimidate you. They encounter first-time buyers every day of the week. It’s an excellent opportunity to lay down all the features you need in a timepiece. They may even suggest something you hadn’t thought of before!

5. Get a Fair Price

Setting a budget is the first part of learning how to buy your first watch. The second thing is to decide on a reasonable price for the watch you want to buy. Of course, you could start the other way around. You could list the features you need in a watch to give you an understanding of the budget you’re looking at. 

Once you know the watch you want, try several stockists to see who will offer you the best deal. I’d avoid shopping online at places like Jomashop for your first purchase. Grey market deals, although legit, can often compromise on a watch’s warranty and returns policy. When you’re buying for the first time, you want a seamless, no-fuss purchase with an easy returns policy should you need it.

6. Try Before You Buy

Try your first watch on for size. In fact, always try before you buy! Even if you want to try a watch on for size, then go home and think about it; that’s ok. A 38mm dress watch will fit differently than a 38mm dive watch. Chronographs tend to have thicker case depths, and lug-to-lug measurements differ drastically. Measuring your wrist size before you begin shopping is essential. This way, you’ll have a rough idea of a size bracket to shop in. 

7. Modern or Vintage?

This debate takes up significant bandwidth on forums these days. Should you opt for a modern watch or a vintage watch? My advice for a first-time consumer would be to focus on new instead of vintage. Or, if you’re planning on buying pre-owned, ensure you find a trustworthy selling platform. Like buying your first car, a second-hand purchase guarantees a better brand. However, vintage watches older than 20 years can be risky for first-time purchases, especially if they need repair work. A vintage watch will require more care, while a modern watch that looks vintage won’t. You do the math. 

8. Choose Your Metal

Choosing case material is a vital consideration. Your watch needs to sit on your wrist all day long, and you need to be happy for it to do that. The same model in a different case finish changes everything about its design, as does a strap swap. Determining this choice will be your budget, of course, but beyond that, consider what your preferences are. Rose gold is fanciful, yellow gold is classic dress watch territory, and titanium is lightweight and practical. However, opt for trusty stainless steel to keep costs low. 

Great Entry-Level Watches To Consider

Look for a low-to-mid-priced luxury watch for your first purchase if you can. Brands like Longines, Omega, TUDOR, and Grand Seiko offer great entry-level watches. Made from solid materials, they’ll certainly stand the test of time. Some may hold their value well, too!

TUDOR Black Bay 39 $4,025

The Tudor Black Bay 39 goes without some of the iconic watch’s features, like the rotating bezel. But it lacks nothing in the way of neo-vintage charm with its recognizable “Snowflake” hands. This 39mm model is perfect for small wrists. It features diamond dot indexes around the hour track for an extra dash of luxury and a robust steel bracelet. Inside the case is a COSC-certified movement, constituting a very affordable entry-point watch. 

Grand Seiko Heritage $5,000

For a few hundred dollars more, you could own a Spring Drive movement – the bionic man of mechanical movements! This horological feat took Grand Seiko two decades to perfect. It combines the quartz’s accuracy with the mechanical movement’s longevity. This stylish Grand Seiko Heritage dress watch, imbued with dark blue dial tones, boasts diamond-cut dial appliques created using diamond milling tools. Furthermore, Grand Seiko watches encompass the exquisite Zaratsu polishing technique on their cases. The traditional method requires a turning metal plate, creating a mirror-like, distortion-free finish. 

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph $2,350

For just under $4000, you can pick up a brand new solar-charging dive watch from TAG Heuer. The Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is a dive tool and eco-friendly watch rolled into one. Its 40mm steel case features a unidirectional rotating bezel that frames a horizontal-patterned blue dial. Lashings of luminous material on the hands and hour markers make reading the time a cinch. Plus, you can venture down to 200 meters underwater with this TAG Heuer diver. 

Omega De Ville Prestige $5,700

Omega designs some very affordable watches. The De Ville prestige features a Co-Axial escapement, patented by Omega, and offers more in the way of features. Rather than a busy chronograph dial, the De Ville has a subtle sportiness and features a small second counter at 6H. Alongside this is a power reserve indicator relating to the 55-hour autonomy of the Calibre 8810. Above all, the watch carries status. So, if you can stretch to this budget and want something people will notice, this is your guy.  

FAQs

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about buying your first watch.

How Do I Get My First Watch?

You can buy a brand-new watch from an authorized dealer or manufacturer’s website. You can also get new discounted watches on the “grey market” without guarantee. Then there is the pre-owned route. You should take caution with the latter if you know little about how it works.

What Should I Buy for a First Watch?

For your first watch, choose something simple. Choose something reliable, versatile, and something you can (and want to) wear daily. 

How Do You Pick a Watch?

You should consider many factors when buying your first watch. Decide whether you want a mechanical or quartz and what material you prefer. You must also consider your budget and the features you need in a wristwatch. 

And That’s How To Buy Your First Watch!

Weathering every storm possible, the classic wristwatch continues to stand the test of time. There will always be a need to own one, and there’ll always be a reason to collect them. Rather than succumbing to technical fads that try to entice us, the traditional wristwatch wins hands down every time. In fact, such technical gimmicks only serve to rekindle our love of a well-made mechanical beating heart. And at the very least, quartz watches guarantee the accuracy you need in a no-fuss watch. Laptops, computers, and digital gadgets will never triumph over the trusty wristwatch, whether quartz or mechanical. 

So, how to buy your first watch in a nutshell? Know what you want in one and compare the prices of your chosen model carefully. Most of all, research the watch thoroughly before you buy it. Make sure it’s what you want, especially if it costs you a lot. Lastly, enjoy your first toe-dipping experience in watch collecting. Buying watches is all about the journey you’re on. The place you start at will likely look nothing like the place you finish up. I’ll warn you – it’s a slippery slope once you begin. Enjoy the ride!

What “rule” do you follow when buying watches? Let us know in the comments below.