A man’s watch is a representation of his lifestyle. Some even consider having a watch collection as a veritable rite of passage to the real world of watch wearers. As an aspiring watch collector, you need to know how to find a quality piece.
That, however, can be a challenge with all the counterfeit products out there in the market. So, before you start your hunt for fine watches in Salt Lake City, here are a few essential pointers that can help you make smart decisions.
Educate Yourself
To make an excellent purchase, you need to study the basics of classic watch styles. And what better way to learn about it than to explore everything that you can about horology or the science of creating timepieces.
Various websites and blogs offer the latest news on the wristwatch industry. All you need to do is to browse through the most popular brand sites to see which of their watches make you tick. Soon, you might even develop an inner excitement every time you see an excellent piece for yourself.
Learn About Watch Movements
Now that you have immersed yourself into the world of men’s wristwatches, it is time to familiarize yourself with the movement. Most collectors consider its “movement” as the heart of every timepiece. It is vital to learn how it works and how it keeps time. There are three basic watch movements that you need to learn: mechanical, automatic and quartz.
A mechanical watch has a movement powered by a coiled metal wire wound by hand. Once the mainspring winds, it slowly and evenly unwinds, which causes the second hand of the clock to move in a smooth motion. Mechanical watches do not need any battery and only requires the owner to “hand-wind” them to keep working. However, they are sensitive to the environment and are not as accurate as the other movements.
Automatic watches are almost identical to mechanical watches. The only difference is that they do not need the user to hand-wind the wristwatch. They are also known as self-winding watches since they do not need batteries to work as well. However, the user needs to store it in a watch winder if you are not using it often.
Quartz is the most common type of wristwatch and is the most accurate of all three movements. It is also quite affordable and only needs a small battery to move. However, it lacks the charm and character that the other two types of movement have.
Know Its True Value
The last thing that you need to understand well is its value. You need to consider the real value of the watch before discussing its price. Although the price is a crucial factor in assessing the value of the wristwatch, you should also determine the feelings that you have with it. If you do not wear it that often, for instance, then it does not represent any real value to you.
These are the three main factors that you need to learn if you are planning to start a watch collection. It is best to learn these three things so that you can get the best value for your money.