Whats your first and main criteria when buying a new watch ?

[Cornholio]

Legibility, to see the time without having to try.

That's the one.

[earlofsodbury]

The wish list goes something like this:

1. Looks - can't get past that one.
2. Legibility - for blind-old-git reasons.
3. Timing-stuff - I want to be able to time things, so ideally a chrono or a diver's watch.
4. Durability - Sapphire crystal and ceramic insert; ideally a hardened steel, carbon or ceramic case.
5. Conventional lugs - so not tied-in to OEM straps only, 20 or 22mm to avoid restricted strap choices.
6. Day-date display - because I literally never know what day it is!
7. Crown guards - for clumsy sod reasons.
8. Size - 37mm to 44mm, depending on dial design; and preferably not too thick.
9. WR - 100m is a minimum.
10. Quartz - I wish higher-end quartz (especially solar) movements were much more of A Thing.
11. Centre-minutes chronograph - the perfect, legible, minimalist chrono.
12. Price - shouldn't really come last, especially with the insane inflation of the last few years.

Naturally, no one watch uniting all of these features actually exists! Damasko and Sinn get very close, though new prices have inflated beyond my reach recently.

[Slamdoor]

An unusual dial, relatively small output not made by the million ( looking at you Rolex) + not a diver. A Zietwerk would fit the bill nicely if I could afford one which I won’t.

[walkerwek1958]

The wish list goes something like this:

1. Looks - can't get past that one.
2. Legibility - for blind-old-git reasons.
3. Timing-stuff - I want to be able to time things, so ideally a chrono or a diver's watch.
4. Durability - Sapphire crystal and ceramic insert; ideally a hardened steel, carbon or ceramic case.
5. Conventional lugs - so not tied-in to OEM straps only, 20 or 22mm to avoid restricted strap choices.
6. Day-date display - because I literally never know what day it is!
7. Crown guards - for clumsy sod reasons.
8. Size - 37mm to 44mm, depending on dial design; and preferably not too thick.
9. WR - 100m is a minimum.
10. Quartz - I wish higher-end quartz (especially solar) movements were much more of A Thing.
11. Centre-minutes chronograph - the perfect, legible, minimalist chrono.
12. Price - shouldn't really come last, especially with the insane inflation of the last few years.

Naturally, no one watch uniting all of these features actually exists! Damasko and Sinn get very close, though new prices have inflated beyond my reach recently.

Why do you see 100 metres WR as essential? I’m interested to hear the logic behind this.

[TonyAFC8]

Why do you see 100 metres WR as essential? I’m interested to hear the logic behind this.

Surely there is little logic in wanting more than a couple of watches that’s why we are on a watch forum.

I have to want it despite the fact I clearly don’t need it, if I am really honest in most cases I do consider if I will take a bath if I decide to sell. I also do look for 100m WR but that wouldn’t be a deal breaker if it met the want factor

Don’t think there is much more to it than that for me.


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[Omegamanic]

Why do you see 100 metres WR as essential? I’m interested to hear the logic behind this.

Id probably be absolutely fine with a watch with an absolutely guaranteed water proof rating of 25m-50m, but as so many 30m-50m watches have been sold as not suitable for anything other than washes the dishes with; with lots of actual or anecdotal evidence of watches such as the old model Speedmaster leaking from a trip to the sea or local swimming pools. That and my old local AD having watches returned that leaked on a regular basis, then having a 100m minimum as one many criteria simply helps ease the way in which we narrow down new purchases.

[sundial]

Established reputation.

[earlofsodbury]

Why do you see 100 metres WR as essential? I’m interested to hear the logic behind this.

I'm amazed you of all people are asking that question! Surely you're aware - for all the claims of watertightness to multifathom depths - that there is often a disjunct between that nominal figure and recommended usage according to many manufacturers? So extreme is this, that the manual for a 50m rated watch I briefly owned by "a major Japanese manufacturer" advised me that I should remove it in the shower! They are very likely just covering their arses, but it hardly inspires confidence.

There are other factors beyond immersion - heat, extreme cold, soaps, surfactants, solvents, acids, alkalis, pollutants, chemicals, salt, sweat, &c &c can all make a nonsense of some kinds of sealing and you can multiply that by time and neglect! And what of things like power-washers and dental water-picks for example? Localised pressure can be pretty intense...

Personally: the reason, as should be obvious from that list, is I like tool watches - watches that are tougher than I am, preferably overengineered to Brunellian levels. Overspecified? Gimme! GIMME!!!

[Idontgram]

I'm amazed you of all people are asking that question! Surely you're aware - for all the claims of watertightness to multifathom depths - that there is often a disjunct between that nominal figure and recommended usage according to many manufacturers? So extreme is this, that the manual for a 50m rated watch I briefly owned by "a major Japanese manufacturer" advised me that I should remove it in the shower! They are very likely just covering their arses, but it hardly inspires confidence.

There are other factors beyond immersion - heat, extreme cold, soaps, surfactants, solvents, acids, alkalis, pollutants, chemicals, salt, sweat, &c &c can all make a nonsense of some kinds of sealing and you can multiply that by time and neglect! And what of things like power-washers and dental water-picks for example? Localised pressure can be pretty intense...

Personally: the reason, as should be obvious from that list, is I like tool watches - watches that are tougher than I am, preferably overengineered to Brunellian levels. Overspecified? Gimme! GIMME!!!

Id probably be absolutely fine with a watch with an absolutely guaranteed water proof rating of 25m-50m, but as so many 30m-50m watches have been sold as not suitable for anything other than washes the dishes with; with lots of actual or anecdotal evidence of watches such as the old model Speedmaster leaking from a trip to the sea or local swimming pools. That and my old local AD having watches returned that leaked on a regular basis, then having a 100m minimum as one many criteria simply helps ease the way in which we narrow down new purchases.

Very fair points but if the watch I have on has a rating of less than 100m and it’s likely to get wet, I just take it off.

Ditto leather and suede straps. I buy those quite often.

I may lead a very sedate life but I can’t think of the last time I had to get my wrists wet at a moment’s notice.

I’m being facetious of course, but it is an odd criteria to set for ALL watch purchases, particularly for anyone with a collection of watches.

[earlofsodbury]

Very fair points but if the watch I have on has a rating of less than 100m and it’s likely to get wet, I just take it off.

Ditto leather and suede straps. I buy those quite often.

I may lead a very sedate life but I can’t think of the last time I had to get my wrists wet at a moment’s notice.

I’m being facetious of course, but it is an odd criteria to set for ALL watch purchases, particularly for anyone with a collection of watches.

The criteria I enumerated/got-carried-away-with are ideals - as I noted, no watch that combines them all actually exists!

They are also what I just plain-old Like to wear.

And guilty - I already own watches that don't satisfy all - or even most - of those criteria: though they hardly ever get worn!

I walk two large, boisterous dogs daily (and hose them down afterwards as needs must...), have more garden than I can keep on top of, have 3 acres of riverside paddock I have to maintain, do all the housework and cooking, wash the cars, undertake DIY on our old and crumbling brickpile of a home, in my 'spare' time am up to the elbow inside assorted electronic devices, and am - most-of-all - a clumsy sod. All motivate me to seek-out what are usually described as 'tool' watches - an apt term at multiple levels...