I did not think it was okay to mark the age of thirty-five with the decision about what kind of wristwear you will get. However, I managed to make it happen. Your twenties could be seen as practice, but now you have a chance to buy yourself a proper prop. You do not want to purchase the watch just to show it off on Instagram. Instead, buy the proper partner for your life.
In the first place, do not even think about the investment value of this piece. If you are not a Rolex dealer, your watches will never be sold through official channels. Prices for Omega Seamaster and Tudor Black Bay can fluctuate greatly. Buy your watch because you love how the light reflects from the bezel. Additional income can come from the resale of the watch, but it is not the main advantage.
Think about your current lifestyle instead of dreams. If you spend most of the day in a grad school library working on your dissertation on a laptop, probably, Panerai with its 44 mm diameter will not fit. If you are a construction worker, your 36 mm Datejust will look silly on your hand. You need the size that will fit your wrist perfectly. Always test the watches on your hand because the numbers in the technical specs of the watch from the website will not help.
The watch movement is vital, but the salesman should not bamboozle you with the technicalities. Do not think that you need to have a tourbillon to show your professor that you are not an idiot. You need a movement that will work flawlessly for decades after your student loan will be paid off. In-house movements are wonderful, of course, but their servicing costs an arm and a leg because you need to send it to Switzerland for six months.
Hamilton, Tissot, and Seiko watches can be considered great entry-level pieces into the watches’ world. There is a reason why owning a Hamilton Khaki Field is a rite of passage into adulthood. It goes well with a suit and will withstand the camping trip without issues. If you are ready to spend some extra cash, Longines Spirit will be an excellent watch. They show your taste without spending thousands of dollars on them.
Do not rush to buy yourself a dress watch immediately. You probably wear t-shirts and jeans ninety percent of the time. Therefore, diver or field watch will be more suitable. Leave your ultra-thin gold watch for your fifties. At the moment, you need something that will not make you panic if you spill beer on it in the local pub.
The strap game is your way of versatility. A steel bracelet will give you the feeling of robustness and readiness to work in the office. You can use the NATO strap and go camping or to the beach with your watch without issues. Even though leather straps are wonderful, in the summer they will be hot and uncomfortable. Buy watches with standard lug width because you will be able to change the straps easily.
To tell the truth, the idea of “one watch collection” is an invention of people who own fifty watches. In a few years, you will definitely replace it. It is okay, but you still should choose the watch carefully now. It should be the watch that will show that you stopped “figuring it out” and started “making it happen”. Go to an authorized dealer, put a few watches on, and do not listen to the hype. The right one will fit you perfectly.