Watch Buying Guide

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT WATCH?

Choosing the right watch is potentially, a very difficult decision.  What size case? Do I want a leather strap or metal bracelet? What colour dial? And there are even more options than these!  So imagine walking into a store with hundreds of watches .... but then you may have just walked into Dipples.  Our expert staff are always on hand to help you choose the right watch, whether that is a gift for a loved one, or one for yourself.  In one of stores you are able to try the watches, to get a feel for how they look when being worn.  This is often crucial to helping you choose.  We do however allow you to return purchases made via our website, so you can buy from us in complete confidence.

If you are unable to get to one of our stores, we are able to carry out remote consultations over Zoom or FaceTime, please read below for some our suggestions that may help you make the right choice.

ARE THEY AN AUTHORISED STOCKIST?

As officially authorised stockists of every watch brand both in our stores, and here on our dipples.com website, we are best placed to advise you on the watches.  Each watch will come will a manufacturer guarantee, the length of these can vary, but are generally 2-3 years, although a few watch brands are now moving to 5 year guarantees.  We also receive extensive and on-going training, so that we can make sure the watch you choose, is suitable for every occasions you wish to wear it.

All our watches are purchased direct from the watch companies, and as such are all legitimate products.   This also means we can always return the watch to the original supplier's officially certified workshop, or source the correct manufacturer genuine parts for our own watch maker to use.  Repairs and servicing carried out in this way, will always carry a guarantee, from either the watch brand, or ourselves.

This is always easy to check - a quick look on the brands website will reveal a stockist list - Dipples will always be on that list for every brand that we have available.

WHICH BRAND DO I CHOOSE?

Choosing your watch brand can say quite a lot about yourself.  Each brand has it's own ethos and speciality, for example, the British watch manufacturer Bremont, say on their website, that their watches are 'Inspired by a love of flying historic aircraft, of watches and all things mechanical, our timepieces had to be tested beyond the normal call of duty.'  We have a wide and varied collection of watches that encompass all manner of occasions and pursuits.

Many of the leading Swiss brands have been making timepieces in one form or another for over 100 years - Longines was founded in 1832!  We carefully choose the brands we work with, so that whatever the price point they operate at, we are sure they offer world beating quality.  We have watches in stock from Japanese, Swiss and British watch manufacturers.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A WATCH?

This is a really tricky question to answer, as it will depend on a myriad of reasons as to why you want a watch.

So to offer some help, here are some suggestions - 

  • Sapphire crystal glass - these are extremely difficult to scratch, but they are not so suitable for extreme sports such as mountaineering as they can smash, a mineral crystal glass would be better in this scenario.
  • Automatic or mechanical movement - whilst the time-keeping is not as accurate as a quartz movement, they can be repaired for years, or in some cases even decades after purchase, these are therefore ideal for a special birthday or anniversary gift.
  • Quartz movement - these are great for watches that will be used for extreme activities and sports, with high accuracy.  They do tend to have a 15-25 year lifespan.
  • Solar powered quartz movements - these have the benefits of a standard quartz movement, but they do not have a battery.  It is not unheard of them lasting 10 years between servicing.
  • Ceramic cases and bracelets - ceramics are very durable and scratch resistant, although they are not suitable for high impact activities.  They also tend to be hypo-allergenic so are great for people with allergies
  • Water resistance - most watches today have some degree of water resistance, and we would generally recommend one of at least 50m for day-to-day wear, although for diving and water sports 200m + would be required.
  • Leather strap - these look great on watches, especially dress watches that do not get worn every day.  They will tend to wear out within 12-18 months if worn everyday - although this can be quicker if we have very hot humid weather for example.  Swimming and frequent immersion in water is not recommended.
  • Stainless steel metal bracelets - these are great for everyday use, and many sporting activities.  We would recommend washing the bracelet at least once a month, as this will extend the life of the bracelet.
  • Slim case watches - great for wearing for a special event.  Slim and delicate, often with quartz movements.  Perfect for anyone with smaller wrists.
  • Thicker case watches - great for everyday wear, often highly water resistant too.  These are also suitable for anyone who wants more of a statement timepiece on their wrist.

WAS THAT HELPFUL?

We hope that you found that helpful!  We are always a phone call or email away, so please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any questions you may have.

Please use our appointment page if you wish to collect a 'Click and Collect' web order, or would like to have a video chat regarding certain timepieces.

Luxury shopping can be very overwhelming, and hopefully the expertise of our staff will help to make your next watch purchase less stressful and more enjoyable.