Since the moment someone stuck a stick in the ground to study the sun’s shadow, people have sought more convenient ways to keep track of time. The invention of the wristwatch finally allowed people to do so at their convenience.

While the notion of a man cherishing his father’s or grandfather’s watch is popular in the media, that was not always the case. Originally, they were mostly worn by women as fashion accessories, and today there are more options available than ever before. When shopping for a watch, there are many things to take into consideration.

Construction Materials

One of the first things anyone notices about a watch is its appearance. The color and materials reflect on the wearer. Many places that sell watches have a variety of styles to appeal to a broader customer base. Online stores like My Gift Stop offer tons of brands so people can find the right fit.

Gold and silver are traditional metals and remain very popular today. They are elegant and serve as a wonderful backdrop for inlays of diamonds or other precious stones. Owning a wristwatch made of expensive materials is often seen as a status symbol.

While watches like that can be worn every day, they can also be stored safely and brought out on special occasions.

Steel is durable and can be coated with different colors. While watches made from steel are less expensive than those made from silver and gold, they remain attractive enough to be office wear.

Plastic and rubber are good choices for children’s watches, as they are cheaper and resilient to damage. They also come in plenty of color choices, so even an adult looking for something fun and funky might be drawn to the vibrant color options available in a rubber or plastic watch.

Often, watches are sold so that the band can be switched out for another, allowing for more customization when coordinating with different outfits. Bands can be made of steel, leather, rubber, plastic or many other materials depending on what the watch is designed to do.

Digital or Analog

Something else that should be considered when purchasing a watch is whether a digital or analog display is preferable. People have been using analog clock and watch faces for hundreds of years, so that choice has the power of tradition.

There are different options for analog watches. They come in twelve- and twenty-four-hour increments, with some of them having multiple displays to have both the twelve- and twenty-four-hour option.

Phases of the moon, lunar time and calendars are also available on some models. The hours of the day can be denoted with Arabic or Roman numerals, gemstones or the markers can be left off entirely.

Digital watches are easier for some people to read, but they are often considered to be less sophisticated. The display can occupy the entire middle of the watch, or multiple smaller displays can fit into it. The time, date, weather conditions and other options are also available.

Winding Mechanism

Traditionally, wristwatches needed to be wound on a regular basis or they would stop working. Not very many models still employ that method, as it can be difficult to remember to wind up the watch on a consistent schedule. They need to be kept in good condition by regular visits to a watch repair shop.

An automatic mechanism uses the body motion of the wearer to keep the timepiece functioning. A vast majority of mechanical watches produced nowadays uses this method when producing their products. They require maintenance due to wear and tear.

Quartz watches are powered by batteries and are usually more accurate than their mechanical counterparts. They do not need as much care if the batteries are replaced every few years.

Functions

Depending on the habits and lifestyle of the wearer, different features will appeal. Finding something waterproof is an excellent idea for someone who spends a lot of time in or on the water.

Timers can be useful for athletes training to beat their time, or for anyone who is naturally competitive and is thrown into timed situations. An alarm feature is appropriate for anyone who needs to set reminders to grab items from the store or get moving to a meeting.

Finding the right watch can be a fun challenge. Figuring out exactly what is and is not an essential feature before shopping starts is a great way to filter out unwanted options ahead of time.