The GMT watch has been a staple of men’s fashion for decades. It has played a significant role in the industry for a long time, and it’s an engineering marvel.

The GMT watch is not so complicated that you can’t understand it or have to read a manual to know how it works. Instead, it is its simplicity and an ingenious design that has helped it maintain its status as a luxury style of watch for a long time.

What is GMT?

GMT is the signifier for “Greenwich Mean Time.” This is the time zone by which all other time zones are determined. Back in the late 1800s, an international convention was looking to decide what would be the “mean” or average time that they could compare other time zones to.

The committee decided they would use the time in Greenwich, London for this. In theory, around noon GMT is the time when the sun is at its highest point during the day.

Of course, it may be off by a few minutes here or there due to the way the earth orbits, but this is, in general, what you’ll find. At the time, people rarely transitioned between time zones, and if they did, it would take days, sometimes weeks, to get from one to another.

In a world where you can fly from London to Tokyo in a matter of hours, though, that has certainly changed. In the 1950s, Pan Am airlines approached Rolex, asking if they could create a watch that would help their pilots track multiple time zones as they flew from place to place.

What is a Swiss GMT Watch?

Put simply, the GMT watch is a watch that can track time across multiple time zones simultaneously. The watch was created specifically for those who traveled across time zones and needed a way to track the time wherever they went.

Depending on the specific watch, you can track one, two, or even three additional time zones. This feature is called a “complication,” which just means that it is an additional feature in the watch outside of standard timekeeping

Complications are common in a few different kinds of watches. For example, any watch that features a “chronograph” has at least one, and possibly more, complications. Each additional feature added to a mechanical watch requires extra work from a craftsman to keep everything inside the watch working as expected.

In some GMT watches, this complication is rather simple. In others, there are more complex systems in place to help it accomplish its goal.

How does a Swiss GMT watch work?

The way a GMT watch works is that there is an independent hour hand that moves half as fast as the standard hand. Originally, this hand would line up with a 24-hour clock made into the bezel of the watch. It would standardly be set to GMT, and you could just rotate the bezel to change the time zone.

Modern GMT watches are a little more sophisticated than this. Some work similarly, but they have an adjustable GMT hand that can be set separately from the local time wherever you are. Others link the GMT hand to the minute hand of the watch.

Both have their pros and cons, but they can be equally useful. Any watch that’s a GMT watch, regardless of exactly how it works, is invaluable to anyone who adventures or travels often.

How to style a Swiss GMT watch?

The GMT watch, known as the world timer and created through true craftsmanship, is not only popular because of its functionality, but also because of its style. Characterized by a large, bold bezel and a simplistic face design, GMT watches are instantly recognizable for anyone in the watch world.

That said, styling a GMT watch comes down the what specific watch you have. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, so there isn’t a specific way you would style on in the same way as something like a dress or diving watch.

Just keep general watch styling guidelines in mind. If you’re wearing gold rings or other jewelry, go with a gold watch. Also, match stainless steel with silver.

If you’re wearing a suit, you may want to step it up with something a little classier For business casual, leather watch bands and minimalist face design can go a long way.

How expensive are GMT watches?

One of the defining features of the best GMT watch for a long time was a steep price tag different from watch brands. On average, these watches will run you anywhere from $2,000 to six figures, depending on the watchmaker and style.

This creates a barrier to entry to those who want to own a luxury GMT watch, but can’t afford such a steep price tag. Fortunately, there are other options available.

In recent years, more and more watchmakers have begun to produce these types of watches at a much more affordable price point. Unfortunately, many accomplish this goal by lowering the quality of their parts.

In some cases, they may use a cheaper mechanical watch movement, or in others, you may see an acrylic watch face as opposed to glass or sapphire crystal. These are easy ways to get lower the costs of watch production, but they also degrade the quality of the watch.

If you’re looking for a true luxury timepiece Swiss GMT watch, make sure you’re getting something that is still high quality. Regardless if you prefer a black dial, blue dial, or dual time watch, we can all agree that if you want to be able to keep the watch for a long time, the movement, crystal, and other materials of the watch will determine just how long it will last.

Buy Swiss GMT Watch at Jack Mason

At Jack Mason, we believe that a man’s watch speaks to the man he is, as well as the man that he is becoming. We also want to create a product that you can buy that will last you long enough to pass down to future generations.

Moreover, we believe that all of that is possible without the “designer” prices. That’s why we’ve launched our new Halyard GMT. Inspired by the pilots of the 1950s, this GMT complication watch captures what made the first GMT watches special, with twists for the modern man.

You’ll find a Swiss Ronda 505.24H movement, and a timeless, sapphire crystal face design with a red-and-blue bezel to signify day and night with the addition of a date window. It also has quick-release pins for the band, making it compatible with any 22mm Jack Mason watch strap.

The rotating bezel allows you to track time across not one, but also a second-time zone and third-time zone. That is three different time zones, and additionally, luminous markings on the face make it readable even on an overnight flight regardless of your ETA.

Most importantly, this limited edition Swiss GMT watch is priced at only $359, which is less than 10 percent of what most designer brands would charge you. We use the same high-quality materials, and you can trust that the watch is going to last.

We believe in our watch quality so much that we offer a lifetime guarantee should anything ever happen to your GMT watch. If you’ve been looking to pick up one of these classic watches but didn’t want to fork out thousands of dollars, the Halyard GMT may be the watch you’ve been looking for.

Other watch styles you should know about

If the GMT watch isn’t for you, there are plenty of other watch styles out there. Each has its own time and place, but they are all staples of the watch industry.

Field Watch

The field watch is a classic for adventurers and watch enthusiasts alike. Field watches are rugged and durable, meant to be taken with you wherever you go.

That said, they also make for great casual watches, even if you aren’t trying to go out on some grand adventure. Nylon or leather straps paired with plain, no-fuss faces make for an excellent daily driver.

Diving Watch

The diving watch is another great style of watch that typically comes in a stainless steel case. These are characterized primarily by their water-resistant make including the case back. Made famous by James Bond in the first 007 films, the dive watch is a classic silhouette in men’s fashion.

Unlike the GMT watch, this is a watch that has a specific visual style associated with it. You’ll find large faces and either rubber or metal bands to keep the water resistance feature guaranteed and safe from diving pressure.

Automatic Watch

Although not technically a “style” of watches, the automatic movement style has been a staple among luxury watches for decades. There are three different styles of automatic watch movements: quartz, manual, and automatic.

In quartz movement watches, a battery or power reserve powers a small vibrating quartz crystal that helps it keep time. In a manual watch, you have to keep the crown wound every day when you wear it to give the watch the power it needs to keep time.

With an automatic, though, it harnesses the kinetic energy from your swinging wrist as you walk to keep the mainspring inside the watch wound. It is a beautiful piece of engineering, and a good automatic watch is an impressive sight to behold.

The term “nautical ” can mean different things to different people. Some people picture themselves beachfront while others can't help but think of sailors. 

If you ask us, we think timeless watches. Unlike a diving watch or a dress watch, there are not as many “defining features” to a nautical watch that set it apart from other styles.

However, in general, any watch called “nautical” is built for the sea whether you're in the United States or across the Atlantic. The concept is to create a watch that both looks great and is functional for anyone sailing out on the open ocean.

With that, there are a few characteristics that are common among the majority of nautical watches. In this article, we’re going to tell you exactly what those are and how they work.

What makes a watch nautical?

Your typical nautical watch is made with stainless steel, is water resistant, has a black dial and in some cases royal navy. However, nautical watches aren't limited to those characteristics. For us at Jack Mason, there are a few key features that define what a nautical watch is. These include a refined look, functionality, and enough features to be useful for sailors.

There’s not a specific standard that determines a watch as nautical, but these are a few good places to start. It’s what we prioritized when creating our nautical collection of watches.

What should a nautical watch look like?

There aren’t any hard and fast rules about the appearance of a nautical watch. Like many other styles of watch, there a few features that you’ll see across them, but nothing is written down to say, “X makes a watch nautical.”

One concept you’ll see across nautical watches is a boat or sailing-inspired design. This can be in the colors that watchmakers choose, the layout of the face and hands, or other elements of the watch.

For example, our Regatta Timer nautical watch’s design is inspired by the long history of Regatta and boat racing. In addition to the aesthetic elements of the watch, this inspiration also works its way into the functionality of the watch.

What features does a nautical watch have?

As with the other elements of the watch, this can vary between watchmakers. That said, there are a couple of features you’ll see across the board.

The first of these is water-resistance. Given that these watches are designed to be used by sailors, it logically follows that they should be resistant to water.

They typically have a much lower resistance than something like a diving watch, but they can stand up to the splashing waves or a quick dip. For example, our Regatta is rated at up to 200m, while our diving watches are rated for 300m.

In addition to this, you’ll typically see nautical watches fitted with a chronograph or other timing device. Due to the long history of watches and boat racing, nautical watches need to be able to help the users keep track of their race times.

Chronographs are extremely useful for sailors and non-sailors alike. In fact, they usually have additional features that you may not even be aware of.

How does a chronograph work?

Chronographs are built into lots of different watch styles. They aren’t unique to a nautical watch, but a nautical watch without a chronograph or other timing feature is missing something.

A chronograph was originally a type of stopwatch. Before the age of digital stopwatches, athletes and racers of all kinds used chronograph to track their lap times and time their races.

Not long after, watchmakers began including chronograph features in standard wristwatches. This was due in part to soldiers’ need to keep track of time and distance on the battlefield.

The simplest form of chronograph has three dials on the watch face in addition to the standard timekeeping. One of these is for hours, another for minutes, and the last for seconds.

The watch has the ability to keep track of real-time, and it has a separate mechanism for operating the stopwatch feature.

Many chronographs also feature additional complications. One of the most common of these is a tachymeter.

This allows the wearer to do some simple math to track distance or speed as long as the other variable is known.

For example, if you know you’re going to sail a specified distance, you can use the tachymeter to figure out how fast you got there. In the same token, if you know the speed you’re traveling, you can use it to track how far you’ve been.

In a world without satellite GPS, these tools were invaluable for sailors, soldiers, and race car drivers. They would use them every day in their professions.

How to style a nautical watch

Because a nautical watch can take a variety of different forms, there isn’t one correct way to style this kind of watch. Instead, it is dependent on exactly what watch you have. That said, there are some general watch styling principles you can bear in mind when pairing a watch to your outfit.

“Gold with gold”

In general, you want any jewelry that you’re wearing to match. This principle applies not to just to gold, but to whatever material your watch is made of. If you have a gold wedding band and a gold chain necklace, a gold watch would likely suit you best.

If you’re someone who prefers silver or titanium jewelry, you’ll want to opt for silver watch faces and bands. This is primarily a focus with the watch face itself, as many watches allow you to swap out the straps depending on what you need- Some prefer stainless steel while others prefer a silicone strap.

For example, all Jack Mason timepiece watches are compatible with a number of different strap watch options, including many that can fit leather straps from our collaboration with Moore & Giles.

If you’re someone who wants one watch to be able to go with anything, you may want to consider going with a black watch face. This is going to be the most versatile option. Although, if you’re not someone who wears any other jewelry, matching your metals is not really a concern for you.

Dress for the occasion

There’s a reason that most men have more than one watch in their collection. It’s hard to find watches that are suitable for a day out hiking and a night on the town.

You need to keep in mind the clothes that you’re wearing when choosing a watch to wear. If you’re wearing a suit and tie, you should opt for something like a dress or diving watch. If it’s a polo and shorts out on the boat for the afternoon, something a little more casual may be in order.

An important distinction to make here, though—these are just guidelines. When it comes to the way you style your nautical watch, it is entirely up to you. If it looks good on you and makes you feel confident, that’s all that matters.

Style rules are meant to be broken. Once you understand what you are “supposed to do,” then you can start carving your own path for your personal style.

Does the movement matter in a nautical watch?

Nautical watches come in various shapes and styles, but they also have different movements depending on the watch. The “movement” is what makes the watch tick, literally, and what helps it keep time.

In general, there are three types of watch movements: quartz, manual, and automatic. Each has its pros and cons, and there is a time to buy all three styles of watches.

Quartz movement

A quartz watch movement is different from the other two in that it is not a mechanical movement. Instead of gears and springs that work to help the watch keep time, it uses a quartz crystal that vibrates at a specified frequency.

This crystal’s movement is powered by a watch battery and helps keep it on time. In general, these are significantly easier and cheaper to manufacture than watches with mechanical movements.

That’s not to say quartz watches are bad. In fact, they are often more accurate than mechanical watches. However, they don’t have the same level of craftsmanship as something like an automatic.

Manual movement

The manual watch movement is one of the oldest watch movements, and it hasn’t changed much since it was first created. Both manual and automatic movements are mechanical in nature with one primary difference.

Manual movements require you to wind up the watch yourself in order to keep it powered. When you wind the watch, it puts tension on the mainspring, which is then slowly released overtime to keep the gears turning.

Manual watches are cheaper than automatics, but they are usually pricier than your average quartz watch. They still require an immense amount of craftsmanship, although you do have to keep them wound.

Automatic movement

Last but not least is the automatic watch movement. This is a favorite among watch enthusiasts, with some people refusing to wear anything but an automatic. It works almost identically to a manual movement, except the watch is able to keep itself powered by harnessing kinetic energy from your swinging wrist.

These watches are usually on the pricier side, but the craftsmanship is more than worth it. If you’re interested in purchasing an automatic, we have a few here at Jack Mason that we think you will absolutely love.

The diving watch is a timeless silhouette for men’s watches. Elegant, sleek, and functional, the diving watch has been around since the early 20th century - maybe even earlier.

Classic silhouettes like the Rolex Submariner made the diving watch an instant classic. It was even the watch of choice for Agent Bond in the first ten 007 films.

In this article, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about the diving watch including its history, what makes a watch a “diving” sports watch, and exactly how it works.

History of The Diving Watch

As the name suggests, one of the key differentiators for a diving (also called “dive” or “diver’s”) watch is water resistance or waterproof. This concept isn’t new to modern wrist watches. It may go back as far as the 17th century date window.

There are records of water and dust-resistant watches being made at least in the 19th century for specific individuals. It’s likely these were made for explorers or people who were often braving the elements.

The first concrete example we have of a diving watch comes in 1926. Rolex created a watch case and case back they called the “Oyster.” It featured an airtight seal that, in theory, would prevent any water damage to the timepiece and is submersible.

This was put to the test the very next year. An English swimmer would take the watch in October of 1927 on an attempt to swim across the English channel. After more than 10 hours, the watch held its seal, and even managed to keep accurate time.

Around this same time and in the coming decades, more and more watchmakers began crafting watches made specifically for use in water. As scuba diving became more popular and accessible, more and more people began wanting a watch they could wear with them, even when diving hundreds of meters underwater.

In recent years, there have been more diving watches that are built as pieces of jewelry rather than with function in mind first, but the silhouette of a dive chronometer has remained classic and timeless.

<h3>What Makes a Watch a “Dive” Watch?</h3>

There are a number of criteria that define what a diving watch is. These were put in place by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and include several specific features.

First and foremost, the watch must be water-resistant up to at least 100m deep. Many dive watches end up having resistances of 200-300 meters, but at least 100 is required. The watch also has to feature a specified level of magnetic, chemical, and shock resistance.

Also, they must have some way to track diving time. This can be digital, but in mechanical watches, this is usually found in a rotating bezel. This was incredibly useful for divers, as they needed a way to know how long they had been underwater.

In a world before digital clocks and chronograph, being able to rotate your unidirectional bezel to show the minute you went under and track the next 60 minutes was revolutionary.

With that, the watch also has to be easy to read, even in complete darkness. This usually means large minute markings for legibility and luminescent face details. And will look really good with your wetsuit. It is also anti-reflective so that any underwater glares can be avoided.

The last two requirements are a strap or band that can handle at least 45 pounds of force on either attaching point and some way to know the watch is dying on battery-powered watches with power reserve.

There are plenty of “diving watches” on the market that don’t fit these specific criteria. In many cases, it’s more about the look and feel of the watch rather than the specific details. However, nearly every dive watch will at least feature water resistance, a solid, secure strap or band, and a time tracker of some kind.

How Does a Diving Watch Work?

Diving watches come in all different forms and movements, so there is some variety as to how the inner workings of the watch are constructed. In general, you’ll find them in one of three stylings: quartz movement, manual movement, or automatic movement.

Quartz watches are powered by a battery that keeps a quartz crystal in the watch vibrating at a specific frequency. These watches are incredibly accurate and inexpensive to make, but they lack some of the craftsmanship of a mechanical watch.

In contrast, manual watches are completely mechanical. However, they need to be wound regularly to maintain tension on the mainspring and keep the watch running. Automatic watches function pretty much the same way internally, but they include a mechanism for harnessing kinetic energy to keep the watch wound.

If you’re interested in learning more about these watch movements, check out our article on how an automatic watch works[LINK]. With diving watches, though, there are other features to consider.

What Does “Water-Resistant” Mean?

The biggest defining feature of a diving watch is water resistance. Depending on the specific sport watch, this can work in a few different ways, but they all follow the same basic principle.

The sports watch is built with gaskets at every place where water could get in, creating a seal that prevents it from happening. Also, things like a screw-down crown can assist in this as well. That doesn’t solve the problem, though, as diving underwater also creates pressure on the watch.

To help a diving watch withstand the high pressures associated with underwater diving, manufacturers have to take additional steps when making these watches such as a helium release valve or helium escape valve.

For example, you’ll notice that diving watches often have a thick crystal on the face. At Jack Mason, our Seamount Automatic diving watch is made with sapphire crystal, one of the hardest and most durable materials in the world.

We use this in part for scratch resistance, but it also helps ensure that the face will not crack under pressure. In most cases, diving watches are rated for any recreational water activity and light diving, but may not be suitable for a professional scuba diver.

As you go farther down into the water, the pressure gets higher and higher. Although diving watches are rated for a certain distance underwater, watchmakers usually recommend not scuba diving unless the watch is rated specifically for extreme water pressure.

Lab tests and deepsea pressure are not the same, and just because a watch did well in the lab doesn’t mean it will withstand the depth ratings of the deep blue ocean.

What Does a Diving Watch Look Like?

Diving watches come in a variety of different styles, but there are some key features you’ll see across them all.

In general, dive watches are bulkier than other watch styles. Originally, this was due to the need for creating a watertight seal and the extra bulk created by the gaskets inside the watch.

You’ll also notice that many of the best dive watches are made of either metal (like stainless steel case) or a silicone-like material. For obvious reasons, leather straps are not ideal for taking the watch underwater, and using a material like silver or gold gives the watch a natural water-resistance.

In contrast, some watchmakers in recent years have opted for a silicone or rubber strap material for the band, and this is a great choice as well. These bands also give the watch a more casual feel, which is preferable for lots of people.

You’ll also usually find a large watch face with big, luminous hands and details for easy reading underwater. The most classic example of a diving watch is a Rolex Submariner. That’s the look that comes to most people’s minds when they think of a diver’s watch.

You’ll see that the numbers, hands, and face are much bigger than a typical field or dress watch. You’ll also notice that there are luminous elements on different parts of the watch face. This is to make sure that divers can read the watch, even when deep underwater.

There are some diver’s watches that stray far from the classic Submariner-style look, though, opting for something much more digital like a mini limited edition dive computer. These can be great options too, but they don’t offer the same level of class and elegance that you get with more traditional diver watches.

Buy Diving Watches at Jack Mason

At Jack Mason, we offer a collection of diving watches in both quartz and automatic styles. Whether you’re looking for the Bond-style all-metal look, or you want something colorful with a rubber strap, we have something to suit you.

The watch you buy should represent both who you are, as well as the person that you’re becoming. We believe that a man’s watch becomes a part of him over time and that it should last him for years to come.

That’s why all of our watches are crafted with sapphire crystal and either Swiss or Japanese movements, to make sure that you’re getting the highest quality possible. In addition, we don’t think you should have to spend a small fortune to get a luxury watch.

Our watches offer the same quality as other luxury brands like Blancpain, Doxa, Breitling, Oris, Panerai, Tudor, and Heuer - just without the designer price tag. Check out our collections for yourself. We think you’ll be able to find something you love.

Sources:

1. https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:6425:ed-4:v1:en

The right watch that a man wears is more than just a piece of jewelry. At Jack Mason, we believe that a man’s watch should reflect both who he is today, as well as the man he is becoming. It’s an integral part of a man’s style, and because of that, the wearer should take care when choosing a watch. 

In this article, we’re going to go through everything you need to know when choosing a men’s watch.

What Watch Style Should I Choose?

The first thing you need to consider when buying a watch is the style of the watch in question. There are a few general styles to consider including a dress watch, field watch, and chronograph. Each of these can be narrowed down to a more specific style, but choosing one of these categories will set you in the right direction. 

Dress Watch

The dress watch is a classic silhouette for a man’s timepiece, unlike a clunky smart watch and other casual watches. A dress watch is simple, clean, and elegant, like James Bond. The defining features you’ll typically see are minimalist face design, clean details, classic watch case, and simplicity. 

This is the kind of wristwatch that is meant to accompany a three-piece suit or be worn at a dinner party. You’ll often see all-metal dress watches in precious metals like a gold watch, silver watch, or stainless steel, but you can also seamlessly swap in a leather strap or watch band. 

For a more traditional dress watch look, check out the Canton Day-Date. The type of watch with gold and silver accents make this a timeless and iconic piece that you just can’t go wrong with. 

Field Watch

Another timeless watch style is the field watch. It gets its name from its original use. The field watch is not dissimilar from the watches soldiers would wear on the battlefield to stay synchronized in their maneuvers. 

Today the core concept remains the same. The field watch is durable, functional, can tell time, and built to take a beating. 

The Solar is a perfect example of this. The solar powered watch was chosen for it’s lifespan, use of earth's most available resource, and for it’s subtle encouragement to get outside and recharge.

Field watches are the perfect watch for the person who likes a little adventure in their life. While you certainly can wear one to a special occasion, the watches are built for the outdoors.

A good field watch will last you a lifetime of hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. And on top of that, it still looks great and is suitable for plenty of indoor occasions, too.

Chronograph

Last but not least is the chronograph. Technically, a chronograph is a watch function that you’ll see across a few different styles, but it’s worth pointing out as its style.

A chronograph is a watch that has built-in complications that give it additional features. Typically, a chronograph watch will have standard timekeeping, but it will also have additional dials to keep track of separate hours, minutes, and seconds.

Before the rise of digital stopwatches, athletes would use chronographs to time themselves on runs or in other sports. The sports watch can track time separately to function as a stopwatch, or even to help you calculate time or be a tachymeter with distance in some cases with a little math.

The Halyard is our best-selling chronograph - and for good reason. It’s got a classic tan-and-white look with easy-to-read dials on the face. We love this watch, and if you’re looking for a chronograph, we think you will too.

Other Styles

We would be remiss not to mention a few other watch styles, including the aviator (or pilot watch) watch, the dive watch, and the racing watch to name a few. There are distinctions among these that make them different, but broadly they fall into one of the three main categories.

Pilot’s watches are similar to field watches, but they can take on a variety of looks. The most distinguishing feature is that they are easy to read. They also include moon phases and time zones so the pilot can keep track as they cross time zones, instead of having to look at their smartphone. You’ll often see white roman numerals on a black face, for this reason, to make it easier for the pilot to see in the cockpit

Diving watches usually look more like a traditional dress watch. However, you’ll find that they are always water-resistant (hence the name) and are usually made of some kind of metal that can hold up to extended periods underwater.

When it comes to racing watches, they can take on a lot of different looks, but they will always include a chronograph. Drivers used these watches to time their laps, so they needed the stopwatch feature that comes with a chronograph complication.

The style of watch you choose ultimately comes down to personal preference. There isn’t one that’s better than the other. Each has its purpose, and you have to determine which watch is best for you.

Which Watch Movement is Best?

Another important element to consider when choosing a watch is the movement. This is a word that watchmakers use to describe how the watch works. In general, there are three types of watch movements: manual, quartz movement, and automatic.

Manual

Manual and automatic movements are both types of mechanical watch movements. With a manual watch, you have to physically wind the watch yourself to keep the mainspring tight and give the watch power.

Any watch that requires you to wind the crown every couple of days is a manual watch. These movements have no other way to keep themselves powered.

Pros:

• Manual watches are inexpensive to make
• You do get a mechanical movement, which is preferred by many people
• Manual movements are extremely common

Cons:

• You have to keep the watch manually wound if you want it to keep time
• If you don’t wear the watch for a couple of days, it will be dead the next time you want to put it on
• There is no way to keep the watch going outside of winding it yourself.

Quartz

Quartz watch movements became popular in the mid-20th century. Watchmakers found a way to create watches that keep accurate time with a digital movement.

Quartz watches have a small quartz crystal inside that vibrates at a specified frequency. This keeps the watch moving and helps it keep accurate time. However, the crystal is powered by a battery that needs to be replaced often.

Pros:

• Well-made quartz watches keep time just as well or better than mechanical watches and are incredibly accurate
• Quartz watches are the cheapest movement to put into a watch, as they require the least craftsmanship
• These watches are more durable than most mechanical watches since there are a lot fewer moving parts

Cons:

• On a quartz watch, the second hand “ticks” around the watch face. In contrast, mechanical watch movements give you a smooth rotation of the second hand, which is usually preferable. 
• Quartz watches have not been around as long as mechanical watches, so you lose some of the history that comes with a luxury watch

Automatic

Automatic watches are a favorite of ours here at Jack Mason. They function similarly to manual watch in terms of how the movement works, but they require no winding of the crown.

They can harness the kinetic energy of your wrist swinging back and forth to maintain tension on the mainspring. This was revolutionary technology when originally invented, and it continues to be a favorite among watch lovers everywhere.

Pros:

• As long as you wear them consistently, automatic watches wind themselves as you wear them
• The second-hand moves smoothly around the face, which is a beauty to see
• You don’t need a battery to power an automatic watch

Cons:

• If you aren’t wearing the watch every day, you’ll need to keep it on a watch winder. If you don’t, it will be dead the next time you go to wear it. 
• While they are accurate most of the time, over time the watch may start to lose accuracy and need a few tune-ups over its lifetime.
• Automatic movements are typically the ones with the most expensive price tags.

Each watch movement has its benefits, but again, it comes down to your personal preference. We recommend considering an automatic watch, as the legacy and prestige that comes with an automatic movement is something you don’t get with other watches.

How Do I Choose Between Men’s Watches I Like?

Once you’ve done your research and determined the style of watch you want to get, there are still likely dozens of options available. It can be difficult to choose, but you just have to find the watch that best suits you and your personality.

You can also buy a few different watches. We know that different occasions may call for different watches, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your choices.

Purchasing a men’s watch is exciting, and we know you want to find something that uniquely represents you and your style. Take some time and browse our collections at the watch brand Jack Mason. We think you’ll find something that suits you perfectly.

Watches or chronographs as we know them haven’t actually been around that long. Before the time of the Rolex clocks were the time of clocks and sundials. Humanity has had ways of time keeping for thousands of years, but the concept of a portable clock is relatively recent.

In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, European clockmakers started watchmaking personal, portable clocks, such as the German. They called these creations clock watches, as they were a little bigger than what you know as a modern watch.

They acted as a transitory device between full-size clocks and watches that you could carry on your person. These devices were made possible by the invention of a part called the mainspring.

The First Watches

This invention was possible due to the creation of a watch part called the mainspring in the early 15th century. A mainspring is basically a wound up piece of metal ribbon that functions as the power source in mechanical watches and mechanical clocks.

When this was first invented, it was revolutionary, as clocks could be made much smaller and still keep time. The user just needed to wind the clock every so often in order to keep tension on the mainspring.

A clockmaker from Nuremberg named Peter Henlein is typically credited with inventing the very first watch. He created one of these “clock watches” in the 15th century. It’s important to note, though, that many other clockmakers were creating similar devices around this same time.

While Henlein is well-known as the first inventor of the watch, there is not actually any proof that he created the very first one.

The Pocketwatch

Not long after the invention of the first clock watches, consumers were looking for a new way to carry their timepieces. The original clock watches were typically worn as pendants around the neck, but as waistcoats began to become a popular part of men’s fashion, consumers wanted an option that they could keep in their coat pockets. They could watch the first and second hands to keep the time.

This led to the rise of the pocket watch. In addition to the convenience, it also helped keep their timepieces safe from weather and other damages.

Later on in the 1800s, Prince Albert created a new watch accessory called the Albert chain. This allowed men to carry their watches by attaching them to the pockets on the front of their coats.

Further Watch Technology Developments

Over the next few hundred years, a variety of watchmakers began inventing different pieces that would make watches more accurate, accessible, and an overall higher-quality product. You can read more about how a mechanical (specifically an automatic watch) works here[link to how automatic watches work article.)

Each piece of the watch was developed over time through small advancements in technology. But despite all these changes, the modern men’s wristwatch was still nowhere to be seen.

Men would typically wear a pocket watch until the early 20th century, although women starting to adopt the wristwatch or bracelet watch much earlier. The earliest men’s wristwatches of the watch industry were less of a fashion statement and more of a tactical and wearable decision. As the watch movement progressed the watch manufacturers progressed towards the wristlet watch.

When Was The Wristwatch Invented?

There is debate among the history of watches who actually created the first wristwatch, with some saying it was in the 16th century, others at the start of the 19th. Either way, at neither time was it an immensely popular piece of fashion.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the first official wristwatch was created for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary by Patek Philippe, a Switzerland based Swiss watchmaker in 1868. That’s debated among horologists, but the Swiss watch is one of the first we have a record of.

Women began to wear them regularly in the 19th century, but men didn’t really take to them until the start of the First World War. There are stories of Napoleon being frustrated by having to pull out his pocket watch to check the time, but it’s widely agreed that wristwatches didn’t see real popularity until the war.

Men began wearing wristwatches for tactical reasons, not for fashion. Before watches, soldiers would have to find some way to signal others on the battlefield before making a move, potentially revealing their plans to the enemy.

With a wristwatch, though, they could coordinate a maneuver to begin at a specific time. As long as everyone’s watches were synchronized, they could begin an attack without the possibility of alerting the enemy.

This was revolutionary for battlefield tactics at the time. At the end of the 19th century moving into the 20th, tons of watchmakers began creating more and more wristwatches.

At first, these were basically pocket watches attached to a leather strap. Over time, however, manufacturers began creating dedicated wristwatches. This especially became true after the general public saw the value of the watch during World War I. 

Given the prevalence of trench warfare at the time, it was vital that artillery teams and infantry could coordinate their attacks if they were going to be successful. The watches being produced at the time were also much more durable than previous iterations so that they could survive the trenches.

The wristwatch went from being seen as a piece of women’s attire to donning the wrist of every soldier and nearly every civilian by the early 20th century. The general public saw the utility of the wristwatch and wanted one for themselves.

When Were Automatic Watches Invented?

With the earliest wristwatches, wearers had to wind them constantly in order to keep power in the mainspring. It wasn’t until 1923 that someone finally developed the first self-winding mechanism. John Harwood was that watchmaker, and his idea would go on to be replicated by hundreds after him.

The automatic watch has become one of the most popular styles of watch on the market and a symbol of luxury. The concept of a watch that uses your kinetic energy to keep it powered throughout the day has captured the attention of the watch-buying public for decades.

However, there have been other styles of watch since that have gained increasing popularity over the years.

When Were Quartz Watches Invented?

In contrast to the automatic watch, in the 1950s watchmakers began trying to create electric watches. The idea was to create something that didn’t need to be worn or kept in a watch winder in order to keep time.

The first of these electric watches came about in the 1950s and kept time by using a solenoid to power the balance wheel. Some more advanced models used a steel tuning fork, instead.

This style of watch didn’t stick around for long, though. In 1959, Seiko started working on a watch that could be powered by a quartz crystal and a battery, and at the 1964 Summer Olympics, they had a working prototype.

This watch was used to time events at the games that year, and it did fairly well. Come 1969, the first official quartz watches hit the market. Inside the watch, instead of a mainspring, you would find a quartz crystal set to a certain hertz level that was powered by a battery. The quartz movement is unlike that of the past.

In place of a mechanical balance wheel and other parts, quartz watches used a digital counter. Over time, these watches would become increasingly popular because they were cheap and easy to make. The highest quality quartz watches were also, at times, more accurate than some mechanical watches of the day.

However, quartz watches have lost a lot of their luster today. In a world with smartwatches that can tell you the time and the weather, people buying traditional watches are typically looking for a piece of jewelry rather than a utilitarian timepiece. 

Related Questions

Are watches different today than they used to be?

In some ways, no! The watches you buy today are very similar to the first wristwatches soldiers used during the war. Components have changed, and watchmakers have found simpler ways of accomplishing the same goal. But, the basic function of a mechanical wristwatch has not changed much over the years.

What is the difference between an automatic and quartz watch?

Automatic watches are watches that wind themselves as you wear them. They harness the kinetic energy of your wrist motion and use that to wind up the mainspring, which powers the watch.

In contrast, a quartz watch uses a quartz crystal powered by a battery to help it keep time. In general, quartz watches are cheaper than automatic watches, but there are exceptions to this.

Buy Men’s Wrist Watches at Jack Mason

At Jack Mason, we believe that a man’s watch represents not only a part of who he is, but who he wants to become. We also believe that luxury watches shouldn’t come with such a steep price tag.

That’s why our watch company has taken the legacy of the men’s watch and made it approachable and affordable for anyone, unlike other companies like Cartier and Omega. Whether you’re looking for a field watch, an aviator watch, an automatic, or something else, we’ve created a hand-crafted design that’s perfect for you.

Browse our collections, and we think you’ll find a watch that suits you and your style. And all of our watches are designed to last a lifetime with sapphire crystal and high-quality leather straps.

The watch that a man chooses to wear reflects not only who is, but who he wants to become. The choice in purchasing a luxury watch should be uniquely yours. But it can be difficult to know what to look for when you want to buy a watch.

You have to consider the aesthetics, the quality, the craftsmanship, the price point, and more anytime you want to purchase a watch.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through exactly what to look for when buying a men’s watch including how to judge a watch’s quality, where to look for watches, and how to determine if a watch is a good fit for you.

A Brief History on Men’s Watches

People have been using pocket watches for hundreds of years, but the idea of a wristwatch is relatively recent. Large pocket watches started gaining in popularity around the 1700s.

However, watchmakers didn’t start putting them on bracelets for the wrist until the 1910s. At that time, soldiers in World War I needed a reliable way to tell time without having to pull something out of their pocket.

So, swiss watchmakers began creating what we know today as the wristwatch. At first, people thought they were a fad that would go away after a few years. However, a quick look at the wrists of people you pass on the street would show just the opposite.

In fact, watch sales are expected to grow by nearly 6 percent heading into 2021. As watches continue to be a staple of our culture, it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for when you go to buy one, as there are so many different options on the market, like eco-watches that are powered by the sun.

How to Choose Men’s Watch Aesthetics

The first thing you consider when purchasing a watch is usually what it looks like. At Jack Mason, we believe that a man’s watch should reflect both the man he is, as well as the man he hopes to become.

There isn’t a “right answer” when it comes to the way your watch looks. You just need to find something that you really like and that meshes with your style. If you don’t like the way it looks, you won’t wear it—no matter how much you paid for it.

Given how many different styles and brands of watches there are out there, you need to have an idea of what you’re looking for before you start shopping. First, think about what style of watch you’re looking for.

Styles of Men’s Watches

There are a few different styles of men’s watches that you will commonly see. These include dress, aviation, field, diving, and racing watches. Each of these watches has its own unique look and feel.

Dress Watch

The dress watch is about as classic as it gets. They usually have a slim face with a thin wristband. You should be able to easily slip the watch in and out of a dress shirt cuff.

This style of watch is classic, and every man should have at least one in his closet. Check out our Heritage collection if you’re looking for a clean, classic dress watch. If you don’t already have at least one, it’s a great investment.

You can wear dress watches with anything, but they especially pair well with a well-tailored suit. This is the kind of watch you want to wear out to a nice dinner or on a date. They’re elegant, minimal, and timeless.

Aviation (Pilot) Watch

Another timeless watch style is the pilot’s watch. Although this style of watch does not a specific defining feature, there are certain elements you’ll notice are common among aviation watches.

For example, they will typically have large, easy-to-read dials. Function and ease of use are the priorities with this style of watch.

Having been created for pilots to use while flying, the idea is to have a watch that you can read in any kind of light or environment. Pilots during the war used their watches to track time, and in some cases, they used them to track distance.

Although not always present, you’ll often find chronographs on this style of watch. To put it simply, a chronograph watch is a type of watch that also has a stopwatch built into it. The wearer is able to track time, and in some cases use other complications of the watch to track distance as well. This was incredibly useful for pilots.

Field Watch

The field watch that you can purchase today is not unlike the old trench watches that soldiers wore during World War I. These watches were designed to be rugged, durable, and functional, while also still looking good.

You can see these design features in the field watches of today, as well. They are typically made of highly durable materials like stainless steel and are fitted to a leather strap. Today, they’re a great choice for an outdoorsman or someone who likes to adventure. These watches can really take a beating.

Diving Watch

Another common style of watch is the diving watch. As the name suggests, the idea behind these watches was to create something that could be worn underwater.

A good diving watch should be able to withstand significant water pressure and remain visible even in little-to-no light.

Take a look at our best seller Seamount here at Jack Mason. The bright-colored face and solid stainless steel bracelet construction mean you’ll be able to take that watch down into the depths with you without any worries.

Racing Watch

Last but not least in terms of watch styles is the racing watch. The biggest defining feature of a racing watch is the chronograph.

These sport watches were used to help racers time their laps and determine the distance they were driving. Before the invention of smartphones and digital timers, these new arrivals were essential to any motorsport enthusiasts.

They also have a classic, timeless look that you just can’t go wrong with.

If you want something a bit sportier, there are even touchscreen digital watches and sports watches with silicone straps or rubber straps that are perfect for sports, the water, and the outdoors.

How to Determine Watch Quality

Once you’ve determined the style of watch you want to buy, now it’s time to find a good, high-quality timepiece. This can be hard to determine, but there are a few things you can look for that will be key indicators of quality craftsmanship.

Watch Movements

There are three different styles of watch movements—manual, automatic, and quartz. Each of these has their pros and cons, but most luxury watches are going to have an automatic movement.

This means that the watch uses the kinetic energy from your swinging arm to keep the watch charged and keeping time. These watches will also usually have a second hand that moves non-stop instead of “ticking” from second to second.

Manual watches are similar, but they require you to turn the crown manually in order to power the watch. With quartz watches, time is kept by a quartz crystal and battery within the watch.

In general, quartz watches are cheaper to manufacture than automatic watches, but there are exceptions to this. If you really want to purchase a watch that’s going to last, we recommend going with an automatic bracelet watch.

Sapphire Crystal

There are a few different materials used for the windows of a watch face. Some are made of glass, others acrylic, and some are made of sapphire crystal. The material your watch uses will determine both its longevity as well as it’s resistance to scratches.

At Jack Mason, we use sapphire crystal in all of our watch faces. While not a necessity, it certainly will help your watch last much longer. If you’re going to spend the money on a luxury timepiece, it’s worth buying something that’s going to last you.

Men’s Watch Prices

Lastly, we want to briefly touch on the price points of men’s watches. This is a difficult topic to address, as they range anywhere from $10 to $100,000. The amount of money that you spend on a watch is ultimately up to you and your budget, but there are some things to keep in mind.

After a certain price, you start paying more for the name and status that comes with a particular watch instead of the timepiece itself. That price can vary, but that’s the reason Jack Mason watches are as affordable as they are.

We want to make sure that you can get the best quality possible at a reasonable price. Most luxury watchmakers charge much more than they should be, given the quality of their watches. If you can, try to avoid overpriced watches that will max out your credit card and get something that gives you a decent value for the quality that you’re getting.

Conclusion

When it comes to what you should look for when buying a men’s watch, the ultimate deciding factor is whether or not you like it. You should absolutely love your watch, and it should reflect both who you are and who you are becoming.

Just because all of your friends like a specific watchmaker like Rolex, Cartier, or Movado, doesn’t mean you have to. Buy something that fits you and your style and makes you feel good about the watch you’re wearing -- whether that's a limited edition gunmetal smartwatch with a chic black dial or a classic rose gold leather strap watch. At the end of the day, that’s really the only thing that matters.

Sources-

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/05/history-wristwatch-apple-watch/391424/

https://www.statista.com/outlook/13010100/109/watches/united-states

Buying a luxury men's watch is an investment. If you buy something that is genuinely made with quality in mind, you will be able to pass it down for generations—to your children and grandchildren. Automatic watches are usually created to last a lifetime, but that isn’t always the case.

To understand how long automatic watches last, it’s important to first understand what an automatic watch is, how it works, and what differentiates high-quality watches from cheap ones.

What Is an Automatic Watch?

The first thing you need to know is exactly what an automatic watch is. In simple terms, an automatic watch is a watch with a mechanical movement that powers itself by using the kinetic energy you generate from swinging your arm.

What Is a Watch Movement?

Just to briefly touch on this—there are three basic types of movements in watches. These are manual, automatic, and quartz.

A quartz watch uses a quartz crystal and battery to keep time. You’ll find this in less expensive watches, and these will have a “tick” motion in the second hand. The biggest benefit of quartz watches is the price point.

Quartz is a much less expensive movement to manufacture than automatic. You’ll find these in your fast-fashion and department store watches.

Manual and automatic movements are similar. They are both mechanical watches that use mechanical elements to keep time. There is a mainspring in the watch that builds tension and slowly releases it in order to power the watch.

The difference between the two is how they store energy. In a manual watch, as the name suggests, you have to manually wind up the crown on the side of the watch in order to build that tension.

In contrast, an automatic watch does that for you through a self-winding power reserve. There is usually some kind of weight or ball bearing within the watch that moves back and forth as you move. The watch takes that energy and puts tension on the mainspring that it can release later in order to power the watch.

Are Automatic Watches Less Accurate Than Quartz Watches?

Given that quartz watches are powered on an electrical circuit and automatic are mechanical, it’s natural to wonder if it can really be as accurate. This is an ongoing debate in the watch world, but there’s nothing to worry about with a quality automatic watch.

Watchmakers have been honing their craft with automatic watches for hundreds of years, and they were making them with incredible precision and accuracy before quartz watches were even invented.

There are some cheap automatic watches that can’t keep up with quartz, but if they are of equal quality, they will both keep time perfectly fine. In fact, the best Swiss automatic watch movements that we see in Swiss army watches are sometimes better than quartz. And, not to mention, there’s just something special about a second hand that glides so smoothly around the face.

How Long Does an Automatic Watch Stay Wound?

Automatic watches have been around since the late 1700s.  When they were initially invented, they could only last for a day—maybe less. Now, though, automatic watches, when fully wound, can last for days or weeks at a time without additional winding.

For an average automatic watch, you’re looking at between 40-50 hours of life. There are some that last longer, but this is typical. And for most people, that’s plenty of time.

If this is a watch that you are going to wear every day, you only need about 30 hours of wound up energy. In theory, you shouldn’t go longer than that without wearing it.

Should I Buy a Watch Winder?

This is a question we see a lot. In case you don’t know, a watch winder is a case you can place your automatic watch in that will rotate and keep the watch wound even when you aren’t wearing it.

If you're a big watch wearer with a collection of watches and plan to keep them stored for weeks at a time between wears, a watch winder can be a great investment. It will make sure that every time you want to wear a specific watch, it is wound up and ready to go.

However, if you only have one automatic watch and plan to wear it every day, your winder may sit empty more than it gets used. It really just depends on what you specifically plan to do with your watch as to whether or not you should buy a watch winder.

Can You Overwind an Automatic Watch?

Some people worry that if they move too much or wear their automatic watch too long that they may overwind it. While this is an understandable concern, it’s nothing that you should worry about.

Automatic watches have built-in features that prevent this from happening. In most, this is accomplished through what’s called a slipping spring.

Basically, as the mainspring builds tension, it gets closer and closer to this slipping point. If the mainspring gets close to being too wound up, it will slip and quickly lose a bit of tension. It will still remain close to fully wound, but this piece prevents you from overwinding and damaging the timepiece.

Will an Automatic Watch Last a Lifetime?

There is not a simple blanket answer to this question. It really depends on the quality of the watch you buy. If you get a genuinely high-quality automatic watch, it can last for hundreds of years.

When a watchmaker takes the time to put his heart and soul into creating a watch, it should last long enough for you to hand down to your children. That’s what you’re paying for with a quality watch.

However, there are some automatic watches that are made quickly and cheaply. These will not last you as long, and you may end up having to buy so many replacement watches over the years that you don’t actually save any money this way.

But, a good automatic watch doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. There are ways to determine the quality of a watch that has nothing to do with its price. In fact, a lot of what you pay for in the world of luxury watches is status and prestige rather than actual quality when it comes to things like Swiss watches, stainless steel watches, and bracelet watches.

What to Look for in an Automatic Watch?

When shopping for an automatic watch, you want to look for a few key indicators of quality. The first thing you should look at is the materials and components that the watch is made out of. Two quick things you can look at are the movements and the face of the watch.

Although all automatic watches work in functionally the same way, the internal components can have a dramatic effect on the longevity of the timepiece.

For example, at Jack Mason, we use only Swiss and Japanese watch movements—known for their quality and tendency to last a long time. We believe that a man’s watch should be able to last long enough to pass down to his children, and the components play a big role in that happening.

In addition, we use exclusively sapphire crystal for the faces of our watches. This is a synthetic material that is nearly as strong as a diamond. It is close to impossible to break, and it is nearly scratch proof.

You can get watches that have either acrylic or glass faces, but these are not nearly as high-quality as sapphire crystal. If you’re going to spend the money to buy an automatic watch, you want to get something that will last.

Why Are Automatic Watches So Expensive?

You’ll notice that most of the high-end watch companies in the world create automatic watches. It is one of the most sought-after styles of watch, and many people prefer it to any other kind.

Because of this, you’ll often see extremely high prices associated with these watches—sometimes upwards of $100,000. While some automatic watches are worth the price you pay, much of what you pay for is prestige and brand recognition.

You don’t have to spend insanely high amounts of money to get a quality automatic watch. There are plenty of watchmakers out there creating incredible watches at a fraction of the prices you may be used to.

Buy Automatic Watches at Jack Mason

At Jack Mason, we believe you should be able to get a wrist watch that represents you and will last a long time without spending thousands of dollars. Take a look at our pro diver Seamount Automatic, for example.

At only $399, it’s not even close to prices you may be used to seeing for a dive watch of its quality. With a stainless steel bracelet casing, Japanese automatic movement, and sapphire crystal, it’s an incredible timepiece. It’s also part of our Diving collection, meaning it’s tested for water resistance of up to 300 meters.

If that’s not your style, we have six unique, hand-picked collections, all designed to be a reflection of who you are and who you will become. With styles ranging from rose gold leather strap watches, automatic stainless steel dress watches, limited edition Swiss made chronograph watches, and everything in between, you are bound to find something you love. We believe you should be able to buy a high-quality, luxury timepiece at a price that you can afford.

Sources-

http://www.historyofwatch.com/watch-history/history-of-automatic-watch/ 

https://gearpatrol.com/2017/06/02/best-quartz-watches-for-men/#:~:text=Because%20the%20thing%20is%2C%20quartz,the%20most%20expensive%20mechanical%20watch.

Chronograph watches are some of the most well-crafted and interesting watches on the market. They are intricate pieces of human craftsmanship that can be used for a lot more than telling you the time.

In a world of smartwatches, many people have forgotten just how useful and practical a chronograph watch can be. It not only functions as a timepiece, but you can also use it as a stopwatch, to measure time, speed, or distance, and more.

Here, we’re going to explain to you what a chronograph watch is, how it works, how to use one, what to look for in a chronograph watch, and where you can buy one for yourself.

History of the Chronograph Watch

Chronograph watches have been part of watchmaking for a long time. The first recorded chronograph was invented by a Frenchman named Louis Moinet in 1816. The watchmaker invented the new technology to use in astrology, as it could measure time more precisely than most watches of the time—down to 1/60th of a second.

However, his first chronograph watch never went to market. The first publicly-marketed chronograph came about a few years later in 1821.

Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec, a watchmaker for King Louis XVIII, iterated on the concept by using two different watch faces. The king wanted to be able to time the laps of horse races, so Rieussec’s watch used the power reserve from one face’s movement in order to move a needle around the other. That needle was covered in ink so that it could mark the elapsed time.

This was a little impractical, though, so by the mid-1800s other inventors had created chronographs that could be reset, removing the waste of ink. During this time, chronometers functioned only as stopwatches, but they were revolutionary.

Before this invention, it was impossible to time things to such a precise degree. Runners could know exactly how long their laps took, pushing them to get faster and faster times. In addition, the military began using the chronograph function extensively.

Once we get to the early 1900s, you start seeing wristwatches with built-in mechanical chronograph functionality. Breitling was one of the first companies to include a separate stopwatch function on the side of the watch for operating the chronograph hand.

Around this time, you also start seeing the introduction of new complications like the tachymeter, automatic chronograph watches, and more and more watchmakers creating their own versions.

What Is a Chronograph Watch?

Modern chronographs differ slightly from those made in the 1800s, but the core concept remains the same. At its most basic, “chronograph” is just another word for a stopwatch. However, there are lots of other features built into modern chronographs that make them more useful than stopwatches.

Most chronographs feature at least a few dials within the watch face and three buttons on the right-hand side of the face. Take a look at our Pursuit Chronograph as an example.

The three dials on the face cover three different measurements of time—hours, minutes, and seconds. The placement of these dials differs from watch to watch, but typically you’ll see these three, at least.

On the right side, there is a crown typical of any timepiece, but there are two additional buttons. These function as a start-stop and a reset for the stopwatch feature.

Although many people are used to having a stopwatch at all times on their smartphone, chronographs were necessary for keeping accurate time not that long ago. Not to mention, they look as classic as ever.

With some chronographs, you will also find additional complications. These include tachymeter scales for measuring distance, a way to measure your heart rate, date windows, and other useful tools.

How Do Chronograph Watches Work?

The only thing a watch really needs to be called a chronograph is a second hand that moves independently of the timekeeping function. If that hand can be started, stopped, and reset, then you have a chronograph.

The inner-workings of a chronograph watch are similar to other quartz watches with one key difference. Chronographs have to have additional systems and mechanisms to control each of the functions or complications of the watch.

This is why chronographs are often more expensive than other kinds of watches. They have a lot more moving parts, and watchmakers have to make sure these mechanisms do not interfere with each other.

Chronographs keep time in the same as any other watch, building tension on a mainspring that slowly releases to move the gears and keep time. However, a chronograph watch has multiple systems within the timepiece to track different sets of time. Usually, there are at least two, if not more.

How to Use a Chronograph Watch?

One of the questions we get the most is how to actually make use of a chronograph watch. Many people have them, but they end up just using them as a normal watch. That’s fine, but you’re really missing out on lots of features that a chronograph watch offers.

Below are just a few of the different ways you can make use of unique features of a chronograph.

Stopwatch

The first and most common feature among all chronograph watches is a stopwatch. By using the two additional buttons on the side of the watch, you can start, stop, and reset this function.

In some, this will be an extra hand that goes around the face of the watch, but typically this will use the dials on the face. The second hand will start counting first, followed by the minutes and the hours.

This may not seem very useful in the age of smartphones, but this was incredibly important for many people back in the day. Those in the military would use chronographs to time artillery strikes or to see how long it took to get from one place to another.

Tachymeter

Although this isn’t found in all chronographs, lots of them will have this feature. A tachymeter is made as a rotatable bezel that is used to measure speed and distance.

This was most commonly used by athletes timing their races. If you know the time and the distance, you can use the tachymeter to calculate your speed. In addition, if you know time and speed, you can also use it to calculate your distance.

The number on the tachymeter may not make sense initially, but there are easy formulas you can use to do your calculations.

If you travel one mile in 60 seconds, that will correspond to 60 on the tachymeter, as well, meaning that you’ve traveled at 60 miles per hour. ^[a]

If you’re trying to measure distance, it works in a similar way. You just have to know the speed at which you’re traveling. So using the same example, if you know you’re going 60 miles per hour, when you stop it at 60, the distance you’ve traveled will be one mile.

There are some bezels that rotate, allowing the wearer to do multiple calculations simultaneously. This is not found on all chronographs, but you’ll see it pretty often.

What to Look for in a Chronograph Watch?

When it comes to buying a chronograph watch, there are a few things you should keep an eye out for. Each of these will be important when choosing which watch you want to purchase.

Quality

Make sure you’re buying something that is going to last you. If you want to go buy a $20 watch that will last a few months, that’s fine, but if you’re going to spend any significant amount of money on a chronograph watch, buy something that’s well-made.

For example, all Jack Mason watches are made with sapphire crystal, genuine Italian leather straps, and come with a warranty for the lifetime of the watch.

We want you to have a luxury watch that you can treasure and pass down to your children and grandchildren. That’s part of the beauty of owning a quality timepiece.

Complications

Know what complications you’re getting in your chronograph watch. If you just want the stopwatch feature, then don’t spend the extra money for extra complications.

However, if you want to use the watch to measure speed or distance, you’ll want to make sure it has a built-in tachymeter. This just comes down to your personal preference.

Price

The pricing of luxury watches is complicated. You don’t want to spend so little that you get something low-quality, but you can easily start spending far too much money just because of a brand name associated with a particular watch.

Find something that fits your price point and offers a good value for what you’re getting. Some expensive watches are worth the higher price tag, but you can often get the same quality at a much more affordable price.

Appearance

And last but not least, you want to be sure you like the way the watch looks. At Jack Mason, we believe that the dress watch a man chooses to wear not only reflects who he is, but it also helps to create the legacy of who he wants to be.

If you don’t like the way the watch looks, you won’t wear it. And why spend so much money on something just because it has a specific name attached to it?

As with so many other things, just make sure you buy what you like. Our Halyard Chronograph with Swiss Superluminova markings and a stainless steel case is one of our favorites, but if it doesn’t suit your style, you should find a watch that will.

Sources-

https://www.heddels.com/2018/01/history-of-the-chronograph-2/

https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/luxury-watches/ 

Luxury watches are becoming increasingly popular each year. It’s expected that the industry will be worth more than $9 billion by 2025. In addition, mechanical watches are just as popular as ever, especially automatic watches.

Automatic watches, also sometimes called self-winding watches, are classic. They have been around for hundreds of years, and they are still the pinnacle of luxury to this day.

In this article, we’re going to explain how automatic watches work, explain the history of automatic watches, and talk about things you should look for the next time you purchase a watch.

Types of Watch Movements

There are basically two different types of watch movement—mechanical and quartz. Typically, mechanical watches are the more sought-after of the two, but there is a reason for this.

A quartz watch uses a small battery and quartz crystal to keep time. As it does so, you will notice the second hand moving around the face in “ticks” or steps. It will move over to the next second, wait, and then jump to the next.

In a mechanical watch, though, the hands move in a smooth, fluid motion around the face. This is because the hands are being moved by a piece of metal slowly unwinding itself instead of being run by an electrical power reserve.

What Are Automatic Watches?

When it comes to mechanical watches, there are two types. The first is automatic, and the other type is manual. They both function effectively the same way, but they differ in the way that the springs are wound.

In a manual watch, you have to wind it up in order to power it. With automatic watches, the watch powers the mainspring by using the kinetic energy generated by your wrist as it swings.

This means you don’t even have to wind the watch or change a battery, as long as you wear it consistently.

History of Automatic Watches

Automatic watches have been around for hundreds of years, but there is a debate regarding exactly who created the first one. In the 1770s, a Swiss inventor named Abraham-Louis Perrelet designed the first automatic mechanism for a wristwatch.

However, in 1778, another inventor by the name of Hubert Sarton publicized the technology. Sarton made sure to give credit to Perrelet, though. Unfortunately, these early designs were not without their problems.

They were not reliable and seemed to break or stop working within a few days of use. Further developments in automatic watchmaking didn’t really come about until after World War I. At that time, English watch repairer John Harwood started manufacturing automatic watches that could hold their charge for a full 12 hours.

He started selling them to the public, and other companies quickly started to follow suit. Now, it’s hard to find luxury watches that don’t have an automatic mechanical system.

How Do Automatic Watches Work?

Although this differs slightly depending on the watch, the basic concept is the same across all automatic watches.

In all mechanical watches, there are a number of components that make the watch function. The first and most important of these is the mainspring.

Mainspring

The mainspring is a spiraled piece of metal that builds tension as it is wound up. In manual watches, this is wound by twisting a small piece on the side of the watch called the crown.

In an automatic watch, there are weights that move around as the wearer moves their wrist. The energy created by this motion causes the mainspring to tighten, storing energy for the watch to use later.

Rotor

In most watches, the weight that charges the watch is a rotor.  This rotor will pivot back and forth as the wearer moves their wrist. It is attached via a series of gears to the mainspring. As it moves around, it winds those gears to put tension on the mainspring.

Gear Train

The next important piece of an automatic watch is the gear train. As the mainspring slowly unwinds, the released energy is sent to the gear train. This set of gears will allow the mainspring to send energy to another piece called the escapement.

Escapement

As energy is transferred to the escapement, it acts as a braking mechanism, making sure the right amount of energy gets to the right parts of the watch. Without this, the watch would release energy far too quickly and be unable to properly keep time.

Balance Wheel

The escapement then releases that built-up energy into another section of the watch called the balance wheel. This component beats between 5-10 times per second and is what makes sure the watch stays on-time.

Watchmakers determine how fast the balance wheel beats, which in turn determines the speed of the watch.

Dial Train

The last piece that makes the watch keep time, the dial train is what actually moves the hands of the watch face. Once the energy has been tamed by the balance wheel, the gears that make up the dial train take it and move the hands of the watch.

Jewels

In most luxury watches, you’ll also find some kind of jewels. These are typically a type of synthetic ruby and help prevent friction and wear on parts of the watch. They also help increase the accuracy of automatic watches.

Preventing Overwinding

As the tension builds up in the mainspring, there is a potential for the watch to overwind itself. If that tension is not released, the watch can overwind, potentially causing the mainspring to break. In most automatic watches, there is some sort of slipping spring or other mechanisms to prevent the watch from overwinding itself.

Basically, this works by letting the mainspring “slip” if it gets too much tension in it. It will slide around the inside of the watch when the mainspring is fully wound, releasing a portion of the built-up tension and keeping it from breaking. Most automatic watches can keep going for up to two days if fully charged.

What to Look for in Automatic Watches?

With the number of automatic watches on the market, it can be hard to know what to look for when purchasing one. Truthfully, the most important thing is the simplest. You need to feel good about the watch.

A luxury watch is something you can buy now and have for the rest of your life. Potentially, it will be something you can pass onto your children and their children. You want to find something special that fits you and that you would be proud to share with future generations.

If you’re going to purchase an automatic watch, you want to buy something classic and timeless. Something like our Canton Day-Date Automatic at Jack Mason is perfect for a first automatic watch. This dress watch is modeled after some of the most timeless and classic Swiss watches ever made. Or you could consider a stainless steel bracelet watch that is chic and stylish.

In addition, you want something that is accurate and you can count on. An automatic watch should keep time on its own consistently and without you having to do anything. You should be able to set it, wear it, and not worry about it.

Should I Buy a Watch Winder?

This is a question we get asked a lot. In case you aren’t familiar with it, a watch winder is a type of rotating display case for automatic watches. It allows you to put your watch away and keep it charged even when you aren’t wearing it.

If you are someone who collects a lot of luxury watches, it can be worth having a few watch winders. That way, your watches will always be charged and on-time whenever you want to wear them.

However, if this is your first automatic watch, you may not need one. If you’re planning to wear the same watch every day, that will keep it charged on its own without you needing to keep it on a winder.

Shop Automatic Watches at Jack Mason

If you’re looking to purchase your first Swiss automatic watch, check out our collection of classic watches. We pride ourselves on offering quality watches that will last a lifetime because we believe that the watch a man wears showcases both who he is, as well as who he will become.

We have a few different styles of luxury automatic movement watches all available at an affordable price point. No matter what your style is, we have a watch that will represent you and your individual style.

In addition, all Jack Mason watches come with a lifetime warranty against any kind of manufacturing defects for the lifetime of your watch.

We have six uniquely designed collections, Aviation, Nautical, Field, Racing, Pro Diver, and Heritage, as well as a number of limited-edition series, which we number 1-100. Each men's watch we offer is built with high-quality materials including Italian leather straps, sapphire crystal, rose gold, stainless steel, and chronograph watches with Japanese and Swiss made movements. For your first luxury timepiece, there’s not a better choice than a Jack Mason.

If you are interested in learning more about luxury watches, including automatic stainless steel watches, dive watches, and strap watches, check out our journal. We would love to share our passion with you.

Sources-

http://www.historyofwatch.com/watch-history/history-of-automatic-watch/ 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/940452/luxury-watch-market-value-worldwide/

In the world of luxury watches, there are often millions of options to choose from. At times, it can be overwhelming to try to decide which men’s watch you want to buy. At Jack Mason, we believe that a man’s watch should reflect both a part of who he is and who he wants to become.

In this article, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about choosing a men’s luxury watch. We’ll talk about how to determine the quality of a watch, what to look for when purchasing a luxury watch, and how you can make an informed decision about the watch you want to buy.

What Makes a Watch “Luxury”?

When we talk about men’s watches, the term “luxury” gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? There are a few things that set a watch apart as being “luxury.” These include the watch movements, craftsmanship, components, and the look and feel of the watch.

Movements

The first thing that sets a watch apart is its movement. If you aren’t familiar with the term, there are three basic types of watch movements—manual, automatic, and quartz.

Quartz watch movements are the most common that you’ll find in cheaper, low-end watches. In a watch with a quartz movement, the mechanics of the watch are powered by a small watch battery and quartz crystal. The second hand on a quartz watch will “tick” around the face from second to second.

Most luxury watches, though, are not quartz watches. For the most part, you will see either manual or automatic movements in luxury watches.

These function in basically the same way, but there is one key difference. In both styles of watch, the mechanics of the watch keep it powered. There are no electrical circuits. Instead, there are mechanical gears and a part called the mainspring that keep the watch moving.

In a manual watch, this is powered by you winding the crown on the side of the watch. In an automatic, the watch actually powers itself by harnessing the kinetic energy generated by your arm’s swing as you walk.

Most people prefer automatic watches, as they do not have to be wound at all. However, these are usually more expensive than manual watches, and if you don’t wear them, they can run out of power and still need to be wound back up.

With most luxury watches, you’ll be looking at automatic movements. It is classic, and most people prefer to have an automatic watch over quartz or a manual.

Craftsmanship

In addition to the watch movement, you need to look at the craftsmanship of the watch. Find out what went into making that watch and who made it.

Men’s watches are more than just timekeepers—they reflect a part of who a man is. Good, quality watches are passed down from generation to generation. They are more than just a piece of jewelry.

Because of that, good luxury watches are made with incredible care, precision, and craftsmanship. You can tell some of this by just looking at the watch, but you also need to know the components that are inside.

Components

It’s easy to make a watch look like a luxury watch, but actually crafting something with quality components is another story. There are a few specific pieces of a watch you can examine to help you judge its quality. These include the crystal, the strap, and the movements.

The face of any watch is made of one of a few materials. Typically these are acrylic, glass, or sapphire crystal. Most cheap watches will have an acrylic face. These are not very durable and scratch fairly easily.

As you move up in quality, you’ll find some watches with a tempered glass face. While this is certainly a step up, these faces still scratch really easily and are not the most durable material.

The best luxury watches have faces made of synthetic sapphire. Second only in hardness to diamond, watches with a sapphire crystal face are more likely to scratch the thing that rubs against them instead of getting scratched themselves. Every Jack Mason watch is made with sapphire crystal, and most other luxury watches are too.

In addition to the crystal on the face, you should also consider the band or strap the face is attached to. With many watches these are interchangeable, but you just want to make sure they are high quality.

Whether they be gold, gunmetal, rose gold, silver, steel, Italian leather, or a stainless steel bracelet, good straps can really make or break a beautiful watch. You don't want a silicone strap or a rubber strap on a luxury bracelet watch!

Lastly, you want to consider the components of the wristwatch movements. You’ll find some so-called luxury watches that use cheap internal components to cut costs. Instead, try to find a watch with either Swiss or Japanese movements. These will make for the highest-quality watches along with features like a touchscreen.

Looks

A luxury watch should not just be high quality, it should look and feel like it too. If you’re buying a luxury watch, you should love wearing it and showing it off. In addition, it should match you and your style in a way that no other watch could.

Whether you’re going for a classic best seller dress watch, a limited edition chronograph, or a new arrival that's a little more adventurous, your watch should look and feel special.

It should reflect you and your personality, and you should feel good having it on your wrist. If you don’t, no matter how great the watch is, you should look for something else.

What to Look for in a Luxury Watch?

Once you understand all of the different elements of a luxury watch, it can still be difficult to know exactly what to look for.

At the end of the day, looking for a luxury watch is a personal experience. You have to buy something that you like and that makes you feel good.

As we said, your watch should reflect who you are. If you’re a more adventurous, outdoorsman type, maybe a field watch would be a great choice. If you want to be able to time your runs, races, or flights, maybe an eco-drive chronograph with a bold black dial would suit you better instead of a cheap sports watch or digital watch.

Whatever you choose, make sure that it is a good fit for you—not just something someone else recommends.

How to Decide Between Luxury Watches?

The first step is to narrow down your choice. Find watches that are high-quality, will last you a long time, and suit your personal style. However, even after doing that, it’s likely you will end up with multiple watches still to choose from.

At that point, choosing between them can be difficult. You’ll often find multiple watches that are nearly identical.

One of the biggest concerns at that stage should be the price of the watch. Luxury men’s watches can go for an extreme range of prices. You’ll find options anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way into the hundreds of thousands.

Spending $200 will certainly get you a much better watch than spending $50. However, there are diminishing returns the higher you go. Once you get past a certain price point, you pay a lot more for name and prestige than actual quality.

We recommend finding a watch that hits the sweet spot of value and quality. If you can get the same quality as a $2,000 for $250, why put the extra money on your credit card?

Why Are Luxury Watches So Expensive?

This is a question that we see a lot. Luxury watch prices continue to rise each year, and it seems impossible to find watches that aren’t thousands of dollars.

Sometimes, watches are priced this way because of the specific materials they use. A watch may be made of entirely 14k gold or have diamonds around the bezel. Obviously, this significantly increases the price.

However, there are other cases where you pay more for the name of the watch than the actual quality. Many luxury watchmakers charge more for status than they do for the timepiece.

For some people, that’s fine, but for others, it can be unreasonable to pay the extra costs just for the name or status.

That’s why we created Jack Mason. We wanted to provide consumers with high-quality luxury watches without the typical luxury price tag that you would normally find at places like Movado, Rolex, Gucci, or Cartier. Our watches use the same materials and components as designer brands but at a fraction of the cost.

Buy Men’s Luxury Watches at Jack Mason

We believe that a man should be able to buy a quality watch that’s going to last a lifetime without breaking the bank. All of our watches come with a warranty that lasts the entire lifetime of the watch.

We know that you want to buy a watch that you can pass down to your children and grandchildren, and we want to offer a way to do that at a price you can actually afford.

Whether you’re looking for a smartwatch, chronograph watch, stainless steel watch, leather strap watch, sport watch or something in between, we have you covered. We offer six unique, thoughtfully designed collections created to suit you individually. We’re sure you can find something you’ll really love.

Sources-

https://www.watchtime.com/tag/automatic-watches/ 

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/gallery/best-mens-watches

https://www.primermagazine.com/2015/spend/the-best-watch-brands-by-price-a-horological-hierarchy

Introducing our Newest Solar Watch 

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day we’re introducing a new version of our Solar Watch to help create awareness about the global campaign.

We're Doing Our Part 

When purchasing the Solar Watch, 5% of proceeds will go to support Rainforest Trust, funding their most urgent projects across the globe. 

For over 30 years, Rainforest Trust has worked tirelessly to preserve critical habitat and safeguard species. In doing so, they are taking the first and most imperative steps to prevent deforestation. 23.5 Million Acres of Land - protected to date by Rainforest Trust projects.

Thoughtful Design

Since the Solar Watch has become one of our most popular watches, we wanted to maintain the overall design and recycled and sustainable materials as the original version, but incorporate new colors and customizations.

During the process of exploring sustainable materials, the biggest challenge was creating an environmentally friendly watch without sacrificing style and quality. We chose the solar-powered movement not only for its lifespan and use of earth’s most available resource but also for its subtle encouragement to get outside and recharge it.

The 42mm stainless steel case is cast from recycled case blanks that would be otherwise unusable material, and it is tested for water resistance of up to 100 meters.

The recycled polyester strap is made from used plastic bottles and a sustainable cork backing. The production process for this innovative material, developed by Kvadrat, is much more efficient than for virgin polyester. It uses less energy and chemicals, which minimizes CO2 emissions to make a genuine impact on the global environment.

The EpsonVS43 movement uses a solar cell that sits below a dark green perforated dial design featuring Super-LumiNova® numbers and a day-date aperture. This design allows light to reach through the dial and power the movement. No need to replace the battery because it can run for six months on a fully charged solar cell.

“This is my favorite watch that I have designed in my career thus far. It’s really satisfying to see our customers respond so positively to a product that we are really passionate about. With new, innovative materials and technology becoming available, I am excited to see where the watch industry will go.” - Senior Designer, Colin Curry

KEY FEATURES

• 42mm recycled steel case
• 20mm recycled PET fabric strap
• Sustainable cork strap backing
• Quick-release strap pins
• Second crown turns internal compass bezel
• Custom case back commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day
• Internal compass bezel
• Perforated dial design allows light to enter the solar cell

Look & Feel 

The quality of a leather strap can make or break a watch, sometimes literally. It’s no secret that the country of Italy is home to some of the best tanneries in the world. All Jack Mason watches have Italian leather straps.

Other countries, of course, produce high-quality leather, so in our opinion, it’s best to rub your fingers into the leather and feel how the surface reacts. It is quite easy to tell when a leather feels “plasticky” from the surface coating or just plain flimsy.

Break-In Period

Similar to a new pair of leather shoes or boots, some leather straps require a breaking-in period. Don’t be discouraged if the strap feels a bit stiff when new. We encourage you to bend and work the leather a bit to see how it performs. 

Our Customers Agree

"Excellent quality. This interchangeable strap reeks of taste and class!" - Peter P. 

"I was given a Jack Mason watch for a gift, and I loved its classic look, however, I ruined the band and the reason why I ordered a replacement. The bands are easy to put on, with the easy hinge. It looks good either with casual clothes or dressed up. I have already had women compliment me on the watch and the new bands. Great quality and it comes in a really nice pouch! I bought the perforated tan leather band and a black one too." - Jacob V.

Shop All Straps

Leaders in Luxury Leather

Since 1933 Moore & Giles has supplied leather for high-end hospitality, aviation/automotive and residential interior design industries, but we had the honor of creating the first watch strap from their premium leather.

We are always striving to offer our customers the best value. Our new premium Moore & Giles leather straps are truly luxurious and still under one-hundred dollars.

When it comes to choosing your next watch strap, we hope this helps to provide you with peace of mind, knowing the value you receive with one of our leather straps. 

Shop Moore & Giles Straps