Watch purchasing guides

A small history of watches and some advices for buying the perfect watch. Sixties Annual Edition 2019, 39mm polished stainless steel case, brown Louisiana alligator leather strap. Watch write-ups get nerdy quickly. With all the talk of tourbillons and power reserves, its easy to forget one of the most emotive reasons for any watch’s appeal is colour. Last year, German watchmaker Glashütte Original had a hit with its Sixties Annual Edition in retro green, where the dial graduated from a lighter centre to a darker, domed periphery — a successful experiment with colour. Duly encouraged, it’s launched the watch in orange sunburst, radiating from vibrant yellow in the centre to black at the edges. Each lacquered dial is unique, using tools and methods from the Sixties. Available with or without a date window, in a 42mm stainless steel case for the former and 39mm for the latter (and an appropriate price bump for the date version), the two new models have a one-year limited availability, making them as desirable as they are distinctive.

Let’s move on to the under 1000 USD category. While the circa $10 Casio F91W-1 probably also deserves a place on a list like this, we’ll begin with the awesome World Time just to avoid Casio-overload. But the Japanese brand is undeniably strong in this price point with tough, reliable, dirt-cheap watches. Oh, and some people find them to be quite stylish as well. This Casio World Time offers all these attributes and more (including world time, calendar, and alarms) with a dash of retro-futuristic nostalgia, and it’s surprisingly robust for such a great price. Using an automatic movement based on an old caliber originally from Seiko, the Orient 3 Star is a simple, utilitarian automatic akin to the Seiko 5. While there’s not much in the way of fit and finish, it does have a well-proportioned 37.5mm case, a stainless steel bracelet and a colorful dial. Its as simple of an automatic watch that you can get, but therein lies its charm.

Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, Longines was founded in 1832 and its winged hourglass logo is the oldest registered trademark of any watch brand. The HydroConquest is as serious a diving watch as it sounds, water resistant to 1,000 feet, making it a reliable companion underwater. The steel band gives it heft and durability, and overall it’s designed to be the perfect combination of style and technical innovation complete with an automatic movement. No distinguished gentleman should be without a Movado watch. What other way to showcase your sub-luxury wealth and style than with this timeless chronograph model, which draws inspiration from the brand’s fashion-forward ‘50s collection? The Calendoplan is masterfully designed, from the luminous hands and markers to the black, blue, and gold colorway, which is eye-catching yet neutral enough to pair with most outfits.

WatchNerd was born from a desire of a group of watch nerds to educate and connect with fellow watch lovers. Tired of seeing watch enthusiasts make buying mistakes, and frustrated by the lack of an easy way to research watches, they saw an opportunity to create an ultimate resource for their community. Our mission is to help watch lovers make the most informed decision possible, saving them unnecessary mistakes, time, and effort in their search for their perfect watch. No hidden agendas, no tricks up their sleeves — just a genuine desire to serve, educate, and connect with the community we belong to and love. Read extra details on Watch Enthusiasts Blog.