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Posts Tagged ‘Watches’

Many things have changed throughout time. The clothing we wear has evolved from leaves to tunics to the clothing that is on our backs today. Transportation has evolved from traveling by foot to traveling by animal to traveling by cars, airplanes and trains. Telling time has also evolved. Many years ago man told the time merely by the sun’s placement in the sky. Then the invention of the sundial came about. Finally the clocks and watches that we use now were invented.

Watches have also evolved with time and change. Watches have been mechanical, battery powered, solar powered, and kinetic. In the nineteenth century Cartier among others popularized the wrist watches that we now wear.

The function of watches has also evolved. The first watches only told the time. Then many watches told the time and the date. Now you can find a watch that will calculate for you. You can also take photographs, listen to music, and watch movies using a watch.

The function of watches is not the only thing people look at when they decide on the watch that they are going to wear. They also look at the style of the watch. Divers look for a diving watch that can withstand a lot of pressure. Connoisseurs look for golden watches, watches with gems, or watches that are unique in different ways. Scientists search out wristwatches that can help them do their work better. Adventurers seek out watches that are tough and functional for their lifestyle. Children are attracted to the watches that are cute and whimsical. Sometimes they seek out the ones that play the little tunes, like the Disney watches. Teenagers tend to look for a watch that is fashionable and trendy.

The watch that we wear is not only functional but tells who we are as a person. Make sure that the watch that you choose shows people your true self. Your watch should compliment your arm as well as your fashion sense.

The place to purchase watches has also evolved from specialty shops to just about anywhere that you find merchandise. Antique stores have wristwatches. You can find watches in many of the stores that you would find in a mall. Auctions, boutiques, and even street corners are also places where you can buy a watch. Another place that you can shop for watches is online.

Watches are not done evolving and changing. People are still tinkering with wristwatches. They are continually looking to improve the technology in wristwatches. They are also continuing to seek out new functions that they can add to watches. Just as our fashion sense in clothing changes so does our fashion sense in watches. Watches are forever being redesigned to fit the current trends and styles. Some things in this world may be done changing, the watch, however, may change so long as people’s needs and wants continue to change.

Whoever you are you can find a watch that fits your needs and wants. Remember that people are continually making watches to fit our functional needs and wants so that we will always be able to find the watch that best fits us.

A silver pocket watch is something other pieces of jewelry are not: it is timeless. Pocket watches are the very epitome of elegance. They exude quiet wealth and charm, and give their bearer distinction.

Pocket watches are personal timepieces that can be carried around in one’s pocket. They are strapless, and they sport traditionally analog displays. Though not always a present feature, silver pocket watches often have a hinged cover to protect the watch face. Fobs or pocket watch chains are always present to secure the timepiece to a waistcoat, belt loop, or lapel. Most antique pocket watches also have fasteners designed to be put through buttonholes and worn in a waistcoat or jacket.

Keep It Open, or Keep It Closed

Pocket watches could be any one of two types. The first type are open-faced watches, or hunter-cased, often known as Savonette. The second, and possibly the most common type, has a hinged front cover that protects the crystal face of the watch. Traditionally, the stem or pendant of a Savonette is set at its twelve o’clock position. The hunter’s stem, on the other hand, is placed at the three o’clock position.

Modern manufacturers of new pocket watches, however, are not bound by tradition, regardless of the cases they use. Sometimes, mechanism intended for modern wristwatches are being used in silver pocket watches nowadays. This is a trend virtually unheard of with the old, classic silver pocket watches.

Pocket Watches on the Railway

The last half of the 19th century saw a rise in railroading, as well as the use of silver pocket watches. Old pocket watches became a requirement for all railroad workers, for the sole reason of preventing train wrecks.

After a massive train wreck in Kipton, Ohio in 1891, railroad officials established a precision standard for railroad pocket watches. In 1893, stringent standards for silver pocket watches were adapted in railroading.

Pocket Watches Today

In modern times, silver pocket watches have become collectors’ items. An antique pocket watch is bound to catch the attention of enthusiasts. Pocket watches have also considerably increased in value. Despite their plain faces, railroad pocket watches are particularly appealing for the quality of their craftsmanship. There are also several vintage pocket watches worthy of mention.
An Elgin pocket watch made 50 to 150 years ago can still be of practical use today. These pocket watches are considered symbols of America’s rise from an agricultural country to the powerful industrial country it is today. Waltham pocket watches were the first antique gold pocket watches to be mass produced, with the idea of producing gold pocket watches at an affordable price.
Hamilton pocket watches are known for their precision. In fact, most of their watches became the standard for railroad pocket watches. By 1923, 53 percent of their production was solely dedicated to the manufacture of railroad pocket watches. Another antique pocket watch worthy of mention are the very rare and much sought-after Verge pocket watches.

The pocket watch is a survivor. It survived the painful beginnings of the railroad system and is still worn today, in the age and place of commercialism. Beautiful, exquisite, and timeless, the pocket watch will undoubtedly be around for years, perhaps even centuries, more.

Traditional mechanical watches had their origins in the 14th century. The mechanical watch is powered by a wound spring and the balance wheel regulates the time. The invention of the quartz watch in the 70′s has however dominated the watch market . Today , 90% of all watches manufactured are quartz watches. Quartz watches are cheaper, more accurate, reliable and require less maintenance. Quartz watches are 60 times more accurate than mechanical watches. A quartz watch loses or gains 1 second a week while a mechanical watch may lose 1 minute a week. This translates to bigger inaccuracies for longer periods of time. In a month you would lose 4 seconds for a quartz watch while a mechanical watch loses up to 4 minutes in a month. The quartz crystal is accurate because of its extremely high oscillations of up to 32,768 cycles per second.

Quartz watches have few moving parts. Moving parts cause friction and wear and tear and as a result they are more prone to breakdown. By having less moving parts quartz watches do not have breakdown as often as mechanical watches. Also , the gear train of a mechanical watch is under constant load from the mainspring whereas the gear train in a quartz watch is not under any load.

Mechanical watches also require servicing every three years to keep the watch working in good condition and tell the time accurately.

Mechanical watches require winding up which provide reserve power of 40 hours. An automatic watch relies on the movement of the wrist to power itself. But still, if you do not wear it all the time and just wear occasionally, you will find the time on the watch has stopped and you need to adjust the time . A quartz watch powered by a battery is constantly powered and tells accurate time all the time and do not need time adjustment. Of course you do need the change the battery after two to three years.

Mechanical watches have longer lifespans than that of quartz watches. A mechanical watch can last indefinitely with proper care and servicing. Should it break down , parts are always available for repair. A mechanical watch can become a collectible and it can fetch high resale value due to its rarity. A quartz watch on the other hand features electronic circuitry that has a limited lifespan. You cannot repair it because the electronic components for it would be obsolete by then.

Lastly, a mechanical watch is not as sensitive to extreme cold temperature as quartz watches. In extreme cold, the mechanical watch still keeps working while the cold will temporarily shut down the battery of the quartz watch.

Shopping for watches on the Internet, while enjoyable can be difficult for a number of reasons. Two main reasons are that there are an overwhelming number of watches available and you don’t get to see them and feel them before you click that buy button. However, with some basic knowledge on wrist watches, you will be able to browse through more choices in less time and significantly increase your chance of finding the watch that you want.

Watches 101
Before you shop for your next watch, be it a Citizen watch or an Invicta watch or any watch for that matter, it is a good idea to know how watches are classified. Watches are generally classified as either quartz watches or mechanical watches. Mechanical watches are further broken down to automatic watches (automatic winding) and manual wind watches. Mechanical watches consist of all mechanical components and hence the name mechanical watches. Mechanical watches do not need battery. Quartz watches do need battery. Quartz watches gets their name from the quartz crystal that is in use in the movement.

There are inherent advantages and disadvantages with both quartz and mechanical watches. Quartz watches are more accurate and less expensive than similar mechanical watches. However, you do have to change the battery every few years, which will incur additional cost and inconvenience. Mechanical watches are less accurate. They are heavier and usually cost more than similar quartz watches. However, mechanical watches are view as more than just timepieces; they are pieces of art. They are canvases where watchmakers showcase their creativity and skills. Even a simple mechanical watch can have over 100 parts in them compare to just a few dozen in quartz watches. It is not difficult to see that it takes far more expertise to put a mechanical watch together. Knowing whether you want a quartz watch or a mechanical watch will help you filter out a significant number of choices.

Watches are further classified into smaller categories based on their functions or complications. Examples of popular complications are chronograph, perpetual calendar, and moon phase.

What is popular now?
Currently, chronograph watches, diamond watches, dive watches, and watches with large face are some of most popular watches available on the market. Chronograph watches are watches with a stop watch feature built in. Most people buy chronograph watches for the look, few actually use the function. Diamonds can really add some sparkles to watches. Diamond is one of the most popular precious stones, so it is no surprise that diamond watches are popular. Dive watches are popular because they are often rugged looking and convey a sense of durability, not to mention the fact that they have high water resistance. Large face watches are popular partly because many celebrities are wearing them and also because it is easier to tell time with them.

What to look for?
Once you determine whether you want a quartz watch or a mechanical watch and the kind of complications you want it to have, it is time to look at some materials.

Case materials:
Popular watch materials for watch cases are stainless steel and titanium. Stainless steel and titanium are good because and they are durable. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel, but much stronger. However, it has a duller look compares to stainless steel. Titanium tends to be a little more expensive than stainless steel.

Crystal materials:
Sapphire crystals and mineral crystals are recommended for most watches. Sapphire crystal is much harder than mineral crystal and is a lot more scratch resistant than mineral crystal. They are obviously more expensive than mineral crystals. Materials to avoid are glass and acrylic. They are found in many low end watches.

Watch band materials:
There are a wide variety of watch band materials ranging from stainless steel to eel skin. Which material works best for your watch is determined by your taste and your intended use for that watch. If you are active and will be getting the watch wet often, then you will want to go with either a metal bracelet of some sort or a rubber strap as they are easy to clean and maintain. It is not recommended for any type of leather strap to be submerged in water as it can deteriorate the quality of the band.

Tips to getting the right watch the first time!
Read the descriptions including all the specifications of all the watches you are interested in carefully. As a watch dealer, very often I see customers returning a watch simply because it was too big or too small. If only they had read the descriptions and the specs carefully, they won’t have to waste money on shipping and create extra work and inconvenience for themselves and others. If you are unsure whether a watch will be too big or too small for you, measure your wrist and know its approximate size. Remember you can always call the vendor and ask for additional help. It sure beats making an unnecessary trip to the post office.

Learn these basics about watches and you will soon discover that you can spend less time and browse through more watches, so you may find the one that best fits your taste and your style of life.

Are you thinking of buying a wristwatch online? Join the crowd! Watches have become one of the most popular online purchases. But as you may have already discovered, the enormous variety of styles and brands can be a bit confusing. Here are some guidelines that hopefully will help you to narrow your choice.

First there is the issue of size. Watches have gotten much large over the past few years. While a typical men’s watch may have measured 32-35mm a few years ago, newer men’s watches average 38-42mm with some as large as 55mm.

Rectangular watches of course tend to be narrower than round watches. Average case width for a mens’ rectangular watch is 28-34mm. Bigger watches look great in pictures, but unless you’ve tried one on, and like it – a big watch can be a great conversation piece – you should probably stay in that 40mm range.

Ladies’ watches have gotten larger as well, although many women opt to wear men’s watches these days. A large watch on a woman’s wrist can make a bold fashion statement. But if you are shopping for an average size ladies’ watch, anything under 24mm would be considered “petite”, 24-28mm “average”, and 28mm and up large. An average size ladies’ rectangular watch would be 18-22mm.

Quartz v. Mechanical. You may have heard the terms “quartz” watch and “mechanical” or “automatic” watch, but don’t really know what is the difference, or which is better. A quartz watch is simply an electronic watch, usually powered by a battery, although some are solar, and others are powered by kinetic enery. A good quality quartz watch is extremely accurate and reliable. They are also relatively less expensive than mechanical watches. The only maintenance they require is an occasional battery change. A quartz watch is the best choice for most people who just want an inexpensive, reliable watch to tell the time.

Most Citizen Watches have a technology called “Eco-Drive” which is really just a fancy way of saying solar-powered quartz watch. Solar powered watches don’t have a battery that you need to change, but an internal capacitor that will power the watch for several months when fully charged. Casio, and a number of other manufacturers also offer solar powered watches.

A mechanical watch, is a wind-up watch powered by a spring that turns a series of gears and eventually the hands. It is a more traditional technology that goes back several hundred years. “Automatic” mechanical watches are self-winding. The way this works is that a small rotor on the back of the watch’s movement spins around with any movement as you wear your watch. As it spins, it winds a spring, which provides power to the watch. When the spring is fully wound, it will typically power the watch for about 42 hours before it needs to be wound again.

Mechanical watches are popular with collectors and watch enthusiasts. Properly maintained, a good quality mechanical watch can last a lifetime and even become an heirloom.

Analog v. Digital. Analog watches are simply watches with moving hands. A digital watch is a watch with a small LED or LCD screen that displays the time in a digital format. Analog watches are considered to be somewhat more elegant and dressy, as well as traditional. The function of an analog watch is usually limited to time, day, date and maybe a stopwatch or an alarm. Digital watches frequently provide much more functionality than analog watches. Some of the newer digital watches are equipped with functions such as electronic compasses, altimeters, barometers, thermometers, timers and multiple alarms.

Another factor to consider is the “crystal”. The crystal is the glass that covers the dial. Crystals are usually made of acrylic, mineral glass, or cultured sapphire crystal. Acrylic scratches very easily, but can also be polished to remove minor abrasions.

Mineral glass is more resistant to scratching than acrylic, but cannot be polished once it gets scratched, although it is relatively inexpensive to replace. A watch with a good quality mineral crystal should hold up pretty well if you are gentle with your watches.

A sapphire crystal is virtually impossible to scratch, and theoretically can only be scratches by a diamond, or another sapphire. Watches with sapphire crystals are usually more expensive, but stay looking great for longer.
If you are looking for a “work horse” watch that you plan to wear most days, for a long time, the case material is important. Solid stainless steel, titanium or gold watches will last much longer than watches which are constructed of a base metal, and plated with another material. They also will not rust, and are less likely to provoke allergic reactions on your skin.

Swiss v. Japanese. The best watches in the world are made in either Switzerland or in Japan. The Japanese are perhaps best know for the quartz watch. Seiko, Citizen and Casio are the largest Japanese watch manufacturers and are highly respected for their quality. When you buy a Swiss watch, look for the small label on the dial that says “Swiss Made”. This guarantees the watch was constructed in Switzerland and meets a minimal standard of quality required by the Swiss government. The Swiss are best known for mechanical watches, but also produce high quality quartz watches as well.

Leather v. Metal Bracelet. This is mostly a matter of taste, but there are other factors to consider as well. Leather straps are very comfortable, lightweight and more dressy, but must be replaced periodically because sweat and dirt from your wrist causes them to wear out over time. Metal bracelets are more popular in the United States than in other places and are very durable, although some people consider them to be less comfortable. Rubber straps combine some of the durability of metal bracelets, with the comfort of leather. Rubber straps are becoming more acceptable in dressy situations and are sometimes seen on quite expensive watches.

When you buy a watch online, make sure you are comfortable with the vendor’s return policy so that you can return the watch you purchased if it isn’t quite what you expected. As with anything purchased online, you should also carefully inspect your watch as soon as you receive it, so that you can immediately report any problem to the vendor. The larger vendors are generally very good at quality control.

If you have a large wrist – over 8 inches for a man and over 7 inches for a woman – you should be aware that not every watch will fit you out of the box. Online watch dealers usually have great customer service department that can help you find a watch that will fit.

The final tip to buying a watch online is look for a vendor that has daily deals. In addition to convenience and outstanding selections, most online watch dealers have daily specials that can save you hundreds if not thousands on the watch of your choice. If you find a watch dealer that has daily deals but your favorite watch never seems to go on sale, call them directly and ask for a deal. You would be surprised on how often they will offer you a discount right on the spot.

Happy Shopping!