An Experts’ Guide to Selecting a Timepiece
Photography courtesy of Simmons Fine Jewelry.
In today’s world of smart accessories and time-keeping screens, the notion of needing a timepiece could seem a bit quaint. But a carefully selected watch is not just an instrument that helps guard against lateness; it can also be a style statement, a tool that enhances your athletic pursuits, and even a family heirloom. With so many possibilities, options, and add-ons to choose from—not to mention potentially high price tags—selecting the right watch can seem daunting, so we sat down with three experts from scouted jewelry stores across the country to find out the key considerations that should go into picking the perfect timepiece. Find a scouted jewelry store near you in The Scout Guide Directory.
Assess your everyday needs. When it comes to investing in a timepiece, it’s important to take your lifestyle into account, says Haley Passmore of Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry in Rogers, Arkansas. In addition to thinking about what you’re drawn to from an aesthetic standpoint, be sure to consider your daily activities, what you do for a living, and how dressy—or casual—you tend to be on a regular basis as you assess your watch wardrobe. “For some women, the timepiece they choose may be based on personal preference or on actual needs,” Passmore explains. “If you lead a really active lifestyle, you might want a sports watch as well as a more dressy or everyday watch.”
Know the difference between an automatic and quartz timepiece. According to Eva-Michelle Spicer of Spicer Greene Jewelers and Watches on Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina, there are two main types of watches. Automatic timepieces, also known as self-winding or mechanically powered, are automatically wound by movement, and will lose time if not worn daily or kept on a watch winder. Quartz timepieces are battery operated, so they will keep time when not worn regularly. Therefore, “If you’re [already] primarily reliant on an Apple Watch, then an automatic timepiece might not be the best fit because it will lose time unless you keep it on a watch winder,” she explains. However, many automatic watches are coveted not only for their beauty, but for the intricacies of their mechanics, so if you desire one but still love your activity tracker, purchasing a watch winder is a simple fix.
Take time to refine your search. Of course, once you’ve decided on the type of watch you’d like, there are many options within each category. Here, our experts discuss some of the key features you can choose from as you narrow down your selection.
When selecting a classic, everyday watch: When choosing a classic timepiece to wear every day, Passmore thinks a good first step is to consider the metal you wear the most, which usually falls into two categories—silver or white gold, or yellow or rose gold. Then, you can consider other features (such as a date complication) to further refine your search.
When choosing a sport watch: Different from fitness trackers, sport watches can get very specific to the type of activity you’re engaging in, Passmore says. She recommends carefully considering the types of athletic pursuits you’ll be doing while wearing it—will you be getting the watch wet? Do you need different time zones displayed? The answers will inform which model, band style, and features you will ultimately want in your timepiece.
When seeking something more modern: If you gravitate toward more contemporary styles, there are many options to choose from, Blake Simmons of Simmons Fine Jewelry in Meridian, Idaho, says, noting that the trend toward larger timepieces for women is a nod toward modernity. One interesting option he suggests is the Pathos collection, manufactured by Carl F. Bucherer, which plays on traditional characteristics of a ladies timepiece with a twist by integrating diamonds down the shoulder of the watch rather than just around the dial. Additionally, he recommends the Tag Heuer Link model, which has a modern look with a bracelet shape and feel.
Consider investing in a generational timepiece. “Watches are accessories, and they can be as trendy or timeless as you desire,” says Simmons. While a considerable investment, a great quality timepiece is just that, and will last many generations when cared for properly, even when worn every day. Whether you’re buying a watch as a gift or purchasing a timepiece for yourself, thinking of it as a potential heirloom may factor into your decision-making.
Opt for an evening watch. One of the biggest requests our experts field from their female customers is a desire to have a timepiece appropriate for dressier evening occasions. Whether you’re going out to dinner or attending a black-tie affair, it’s nice to have a timepiece that will enhance more elegant looks. And while a dressier watch might translate to a daintier timepiece, that certainly doesn’t have to be the case. In general, Passmore recommends a watch with a bit of shine with diamonds, white sapphires, or even a mother of pearl dial, but the selection should suit your personal tastes.
Add some bells and whistles. If you’re open to a few extra perks, Spicer recommends adding a date complication, which she claims she can’t live without. Additionally, a chronograph can be helpful, she says. Dive watches have a bezel that is technically for timing your oxygen supply while diving, but Spicer suggests utilizing it for everyday applications—be it to schedule a half-hour to yourself, when to take dinner out of the oven, or when to leave for an appointment. “You just rotate the bezel to the minute hand that you need to do an activity,” she says. As an added bonus, in an increasingly automated world, there can be something oddly satisfying about going manual.
Upgrade your activity tracker with a chic band. Just because you wear an Apple Watch doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Instead of wearing the silicone band the Apple Watch comes with, Spicer likes to swap the band for a jewelry-style band, like the Smart Caviar line offered by Lagos. She’s also had clients come in with their grandmother’s 1980s gold bracelets and they’ve put pins in them to adapt them for a smart watch.
TSG Tip 412 from Haley Passmore of Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry in Rogers, Arkansas; Blake Simmons of Simmons Fine Jewelry in Meridian, Idaho; and Eva-Michelle Spicer of Spicer Greene Jewelers and Watches Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina. Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry appears in The Scout Guide Northwest Arkansas. Simmons Fine Jewelry appears in The Scout Guide Boise. Spicer Greene Jewelers and Watches Wall Street appears in The Scout Guide Asheville.
