Watches are commonly seen as a functional item needed in everyday life, however they are increasingly appreciated as forms of jewelry or collectible works of art. As a result, there are many different types and prices of watches from the simple and inexpensive to the ornate and pricey. With such a wide variety of choices it's easy to become overwhelmed, so let's explore the basics of buying a watch. First, we'll consider several different types of watches, then look at watch features and conclude with some hints on how to buy a watch.

Types of Watches

As one of the most popular forms of functional jewelry, watches come in a wide range of types. When considering the purchase of a watch, it's helpful to understand the basic types of watches to appreciate the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Watch Appearance

Beyond the many types of movements and displays, there are a number of aesthetic components to every watch that dramatically impact the appearance and desirability of this popular form of jewelry.

Common Watch Features

All watches measure time by providing the hour and minute, but beyond that watch features are diverse. While displaying the current date, day of the week and seconds seem fairly common, there are also many additional features that you may want to consider when selecting a watch. Functionalities beyond basic time keeping are known as Complications, and a watch that has one or more functions beyond basic functionality is considered a Complicated Watch.