Buying a watch can seem a little daunting to some as the world of watches can be quite full on, when you walk into a jewellers or watch retailers and find yourself surrounded by clocks as if you had just walked into Hooks room of clocks from the Disney Peter Pan film. That’s not a room no one wants to be in not even us here at First Class Watches and we work every day surrounded by timepieces.
When did this watch come out?
Watch brands release new models and collections throughout the year, usually at key points such as Baselworld. If you aren’t an avid watch collector it can be hard to know if a model is old or new just by looking at it. If you are looking at buying a watch this is where you need you need to consult the retailer, ask them questions about anything and everything that’s on your mind. That is what they are there for. The retailer should be able to tell you the latest models, the watches features, materials, movement type and country of origin. All of these play an important part of choosing your watch, which leads me on to question two…
What movement is inside of this watch?
Knowing the watches movement when buying a watch can be very important as reliance can vary from movement to movement and brand to brand. Different brands have different tolerance levels, this is the level of gaining or losing of time on the watch. Ideally you want the watch to be perfect not losing or gaining any time at all however this is only usually a viable option if you go for a quartz watch due to their high accuracy. If you are leaning towards an automatic or mechanical watch the tolerance is something you definitely need to do some research on or at least ask about so you’re not overcome with disappointment when it loses time and the retailer explains that it is within the brands tolerance, therefore deemed acceptable by the brand.
Some watch brands produce their own movements in house, these are usually the top end or luxury brands and therefore come with a luxury price tag. If you have the budget and want something precise we would always recommend that you look for a watch brand that produces its own movements. Other watch companies buy their movements from other companies sometimes from abroad where the accuracy and precision is somewhat variable. Please make sure you check where the movement was produced and make sure you are happy with the watches movement. Don’t just put up with a bad movement because you like the watch design. A nice looking watch is pointless if it doesn’t do what is is needed for.
What are some feasible alternatives?
When buying a watch one thing you never want to do is pick the first watch you see and buy it. There is usually a range of other models in the collection that the one you like belongs too. They feature a range of colour variations, features and materials so the ‘love at first sight’ might apply to finding a boyfriend/girlfriend but not a watch unfortunately. We don’t want to be a romance destroyer but we want you to be as informed as possible about the purchase you are about to make as most watches nowadays come with a high price tag.
Some times the odds just aren’t in your favour and the watch brand or collection you really like just doesn’t have the functionality you are looking for, this is when compromise comes into play. Maybe you want a lightweight watch but you also want it to have dual time, chronograph, date display, day display and a GMT world time function. Usually to have a watch with these complex functions would require a big movement with a lot of parts and this would result in a heavier watch. When this happens its about weighing up functionality over aesthetics and finding some middle ground that you are happy with. One the one hand you don’t want to pay a lot of money for a watch you don’t like the look of but there is no point paying through the roof for a watch that looks good but doesn’t have the functionality you require.
This is where it loops back to the what I was first talking about, ask about the other models in the collection as there may be one with the same functionality but maybe its made from titanium instead of stainless steel and therefore a lot lighter. Research is key and if you are having trouble reading up about watches why not pop in to our store where a member of our sales and customer service team are always on hand to help out.
Does it come with a warranty?
All watches come with a warranty or guarantee however they vary in duration of cover as well as what is covered. It is VERY important to make sure you understand the brands returns policy as well as their warranty as this can be the cause of a lot of distress and frustration later on in the watches life if something goes wrong. We are always on hand to work with our customers to get any issues resolved with the watch brand especially when there is a fault that needs resolving.
Citizen has a warranty of 5 years (plus one year if you register online for FREE) where as Rotary Watches have a lifetime guarantee. This might make you think that it is an easy choice however you need to look closer. Rotary does seem like the better option however the ‘Lifetime warranty’ is only valid as long as you get the watch serviced at one of their authorised repair centres in the UK. It is important to note that this comes at a cost depending on the model. It is a prime example of why research is important when looking to purchase a watch.
It is also important to make sure that you know what exactly is covered under the watches warranty. Usually as a general rule most watch brands warranties cover the inner workings of the watch ONLY. They do not usually cover the bracelet, accidental damage or wear and tear damage. We get a lot of customers who call up and ask if they can send a watch back for repair as the bracelet link has worn down or the watch was dropped and the glass has cracked. Make sure you are aware of what is covered and if you are not sure we would recommend you ask the retailer at any point before or after sale.
In addition your watch is also covered under guarantee by the manufacturer. The guarantee length varies by each manufacturer but there is a minimum 1 year warranty provided by the manufacturer. This is often extended to 2 or more years for most manufacturers.
The guarantee covers the watch against working defects for the time period given. Under this guarantee the manufacturer must repair the item to working order free of charge, or failing that offer compensation for the purchase value. Full conditions and limitations of this guarantee are listed within the instructions or guarantee booklet provided by the manufacturer.
Items returned under guarantee will be assessed by the manufacturer for repair eligibility. Please note wear and tear to the case, bracelet or strap are NOT usually covered under the guarantee however we will try to assist where possible.
In the event of a failed guarantee repair, when the same issue occurs within 6 months of purchase, we will endeavour to offer a refund or replacement.
Please note the fault will need to be confirmed by the manufacturer before this is possible.
What is the watches return policy?
We aim for you to be absolutely delighted with your purchase and therefore offer you 30 days to change your mind on any item purchased from our website. You may do this by using the form provided with your order or by contacting ourselves. We will provide a refund of all payment received (not including delivery upgrades), usually within 48 hours of receipt of the product. This will be made to the original payment method. For most payment methods it will take 3-5 working days for this to show on your statement.
When buying a watch please ensure items from your order are suitable before wearing as we are unable to accept items which have been worn under our returns policy.
You will need to bear the cost of return unless we are at fault. We recommend using an insured and tracked service which covers the item value in case the item is damaged or lost in transit. Please ensure the watch is returned to us in an unworn, new condition with all the original packaging (manufacturer’s manual and guarantee if applicable). Please ensure items from your order are suitable before wearing as we are unable to accept items which have been worn under our returns policy. We reserve the right to make deductions for unnecessary damage caused to the product by yourself.
We are also able to offer an exchange to a different product if required, please specify this when returning your product. Please note that the above applies to our company only and we cannot speak on behalf of any other watch retailer in the UK or internationally.
