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

[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...

[Itsguy]

Usually:
- It's Christmas (in the next six months or so)
- There's some work I'm really supposed to be doing

[uktotty]

Do I like the look of it

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk

[wallyuk]

I can read it (+2)
I can afford to lose it with grace and a shrug whilst crawling home from a dubious night out.
I don't feel the need to quote specification/history/version - (neither does the dial) to a stranger but know it's the shizzle and those in the know know.

[bambam]

Do I like it, if so initiate the buying protocol.

Love that!

Ok, what is the buying protocol (for you)?