Have you noticed that wristwatches have suddenly become fashionable again? They used to be worn by adults of all social and economic classes prior to the advent of the mobile phone, when suddenly it became more desirable to use your phone to tell the time rather than the faster, and certainly more convenient, method of looking at your wrist. In any case, the resurgence of the wristwatch has many people wondering how much they should spend when they decide to buy one.
Personally, I finally broke down and bought a wristwatch when I was entering the work-force after college. I thought it would make me look more responsible. 🙂
In the interest of helping the watch wearing community make smart decisions, here is a piece of advice about how much to spend to tell time: it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I’ve put together a list of a few different kinds of ‘watch personalities’ to explain it. Hopefully, you will identify with one of them.
1. The Utilitarian
The first watch personality is that of the Utilitarian. This is the kind of person that wears a wristwatch exclusively for the purposes of telling time – nothing more, nothing less. He or she is not interested in a stopwatch, the current altitude, the depth of any body of water he/she might be visiting, and so on. He or she only wants to know what time it is – not where his/her feet are currently standing. This person does not even need to know what time it is on the other side of the world!
These are the easiest kinds of watch owners to buy for. They do not need much, thus they can spend a lot less. A reliable but utilitarian Timex or Casio is a good option here.
2. The Fashionista
The Fashionista does not much care what time it is as long as everyone is paying attention to him/her. For this wristwatch owner, it is all about making a fashion statement loudly and clearly enough to get everyone’s attention. The perfect watch, in this case, would be something from Ice or Komono. I’m are talking about bright colors and non-traditional materials, including plastics and ceramics. Even some watches with bling will be a good fit for this group of people!
3. The Sophistication Seeker
I would consider the Sophistication Seeker, the entry-level watch wearer for higher-priced brands such as Armani and Braun. I’m are not talking the super expensive Swiss watches that the uber wealthy wear, but watches for the Sophistication Seeker are more expensive than their budget counterparts are. They are for those who prefer the styling and class of the BMW at the more affordable price of a Volvo, if you know what I mean.
4. The Executive
The Executive is someone who must always be on time and look good doing it. Executive watch owners are looking for watches that are accurate, durable and show off some measure of personal wealth. After all, what good is it to be a business executive if you cannot flaunt it? Good brands for the Executive include Citizen, Bulova and Armani some great examples can be found here.
5. The Stupid Rich
If you are among the Stupid Rich, you know who you are. There’s no point even talking about budget because you do not have one. And that’s okay. When you start shopping for watches, it is all about the name – specifically whether or not it is Swiss enough. Brands for the Stupid Rich include Breitling, Cartier, Omega, and IWC.
So, were you able to identify yourself in one of our watch personalities? If so, you now know how much to spend just by looking at some of the brands we have suggested. If you do not find yourself anywhere on our list, a department store wristwatch may be just what you need.
Do you wear a wristwatch?
Image courtesy of: freedigitalphotos.net
