Timing Mechanism
Quartz Watch vs. Mechanical Watch
Have you thought about what kind of timing mechanism you want? For most people it's very easy and it boils down to purpose, looks and prestige. For example, if the watch's sole purpose is just to tell time and you don't need anything fancy, then your best bet is to choose a quartz watch because it's very simple and has few complications. It is also very accurate. So from a budget and utility perspective, it makes sense to buy a quartz watch.
Casio and Timex offer excellent quartz watches at very affordable prices. In addition, you can be sure that the time will be extremely accurate and maintenance costs will be very low... simply replace the battery every few years and it'll keep going.
Casio and Timex offer excellent quartz watches at very affordable prices. In addition, you can be sure that the time will be extremely accurate and maintenance costs will be very low... simply replace the battery every few years and it'll keep going.
If craftsmanship, looks and "wow" factor are more important, then a mechanical watch is probably for you. Many fine mechanical watches, especially the Swiss ones, are made by hand. Mechanical watches are easily recognizable by the two or three hands that represent the hours, minutes and seconds. Designer brands such as Omega, Tag or Rolex will often feature a sweep hand (seconds) that ticks many times in one second, which will make its movement appear smooth. While mechanical watches are typically less accurate than quartz watches, you are buying a mechanical watch for the work that goes into creating it. The more complex the watch is (from a renowned maker), the more expensive it is, and the more bragging rights you have.
In terms of which watch to wear depending on the situation, don't worry about it too much. Just use your judgment. For example, it's probably not a great idea to swim laps with a fat Breitling, but a simple Timex Ironman would suffice. By the same token, you probably wouldn't wear a Casio Databank watch with your nice suit... although I've seen it happen!
