Watch Buying Guide

A good watch is both functional and stylish, and whatever your tastes, budget and requirements, you're sure to find one to suit you when buying online.

Here are some useful hints and tips to help you choose a watch from the wide range available from online retailers.

How to Choose a Watch: Types

Here are details of the main types of watch that you can buy:

Analogue watches: Traditionally-styled watches with a numbered dial that use hands to tell the time.
Digital LED/LCD watches: These watches display the time as numbers, and can be very useful for anyone who has trouble telling the time or seeing the hands on analogue watches.
Diving watches: Water resistant timepieces that can withstand the pressure of the sea to a specified number of feet.
Solar watches: The power of the sun is used to keep the battery running.
Quartz watches: A quartz crystal is used in the mechanism, and the watch is powered by battery.

Watches are available to suit all budgets, in a variety of designs for men, women and children. There are many brands to choose from, and a host of wonderful styles ranging from the very glamorous to watches that are designed to a theme, such as football clubs and superheroes.

Features to Look for When You Buy a Watch

When choosing a watch, it's important to consider which specifications and features you'll need.

Key features to look out for when buying a watch include:

Displays: Some watches may display the date and day, animated pictures or patterns, a second hand and/or the phases of the moon.
Extra features: Choose from a range of extras such as a backlight, luminous hands and displays, an hourly indicator, water resistant design, different time zone features, a stopwatch and alarms. You can also get watches that wind themselves or are shock-resistant.
Non-allergenic: If you are allergic to the metals used for the back plates of many watches, you can buy one that's constructed from a hypo-allergenic material.
Straps: Wristbands can be made from a number of materials, including leather, plastic and rubber. They may also be made from metal, Velcro or other fabrics.
Styles: Choose from a wide range of styles and looks, such as bracelet watches, some of which have a watch face in the form of a dangling charm. You can also find regular watches with a variety of different shaped faces, nurses' watches which pin onto your clothes, pocket watches, watches on key rings and watches which are incorporated into rings or necklaces.

How to Choose Watch Accessories

Watches can come with all manner of accessories to suit children, men and women.

Some accessories to look out for when choosing a watch include:

Batteries: Extra batteries can come in very handy.
Bracelets: Often a watch will come with a matching bracelet, making a lovely set.
Cases and tins: Some brands of watch come with a special case or a collector's tin.
Extra borders: If you like the idea of changing the look of your watch you may be interested in one that comes with interchangeable borders.
Dog tags: A popular accessory with some male watches.
Necklaces: Some watches come with a necklace that will match the style of the watch.
Purses: These are sometimes available as an extra with young girls' watches.
Straps: Some models come with more than one strap so you can change it to give the watch a different look.

Before You Buy a Watch - Set a Budget

When shopping for a new watch, remember to compare prices between different online retailers and look out for special offers or discounts, as you could save money or be able to choose a better model for the same price.

You may also want to check the terms of the warranty on offer, as they aren't all the same. It may also be worth taking out an extended warranty if you are buying an expensive watch.