HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FIRST SERIOUS WATCH

Crafting a great product applies as much to our personalities as it does to companies that make great products. The only difference is that our personalities are ever-evolving, and the refinement never really ends.

You’ve done the hard work: completed your education (or perhaps dropped out and chose a unique path), landed a job, or started a business. You are now making decisions about how you want to project yourself to the world—all with your own hard-earned money. This is your time to excel, impress, and win over the world.

You don’t want to try too hard, yet you want to be magnetic in your own way. What you carry on you becomes an essential part of your persona and your everyday experience. One of the most vital and impactful pieces of everyday carry is a watch. You’ve outgrown the cheap designer watches and the Casios and G-Shocks (though G-Shock is a serious watch, it might not suit all occasions). Here’s how you can choose your first serious watch:

1. Budget
Well-made products don’t come cheap. It’s better to wait and save up for a good watch than settle for something that feels like a compromise. A watch is a part of you that can last a lifetime if taken good care of.

2. Brand
Watchmaking is a serious business, and that’s where brands with lineage and heritage come into play. Seiko, Citizen, and Tissot are good choices for your first serious watch. Each of these brands boasts more than a century of serious watchmaking, offering you the reliability and peace of mind needed for your first big purchase.

3. Bracelet or Strap
This is a matter of personal preference, but if a watch is available with both a strap and a bracelet, choose the latter. You can always swap the bracelet for a strap later. Buying only the bracelet afterward is expensive, whereas aftermarket strap options are plentiful.

4. Profession
Some professions, like banking, law, or consulting, may not allow you the liberty to wear a very chunky or colorful watch. Cuffed-up sleeves need a slightly slimmer watch, so keep that in mind. Since it’s your first serious watch, it’s more likely to be worn at the workplace rather than just on weekends. If you’re in a relaxed atmosphere, you can choose watches with colorful accents or dials. If you work in a creative industry, the sky is the limit. But always go with your gut and choose something uniquely you. A serious watch isn’t like a shirt that can be discarded if you don’t like wearing it.

5. Social Life
What’s your social circle like? How often do you go out? Do you like to put yourself out there? If yes, numerous stand-out options are available from most brands. Stand-out doesn’t necessarily mean size or color. Sometimes the case material (case in point: Rado) can be a stand-out choice too.

6. Wrist Size
While larger wrists can carry off smaller, sub-36mm watches, that’s not entirely true for smaller wrists. A 44mm watch will look monstrous and out of place on a 6-inch wrist. This is probably the most important consideration, especially if you’re spending a lot of money on the watch and plan to keep it for a long time. Usually, anywhere between 38-41mm is a safe bet for most wrist sizes.

Whatever watch you wear, always say Hello. You never know where it might lead.