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Five Things You Need To Know Before You Buy A Quality Watch
Buying a quality watch can be a serious decision. Not only is it a sizeable investment, but the watch you choose can have a material impact on people’s impressions of you. A great watch is a perfect complement to a well-cut suit — it conveys confidence, charisma, and success. But much like a suit, a watch should fit your personal taste and style.
Get your buying decisions wrong, and you could end up with an overpriced timepiece that leaves you feeling and looking awkward. To help you avoid that situation, we’ve assembled a list of the top five things you need to know before buying a premium watch. In less than five minutes, you’ll be ready to shop like a pro.
1. What Does Your Watch Say About You?
First impressions matter, so give some serious thought to what your timepiece will “say” about you. Every brand has a personality — some give off an understated, laid-back sense of style, others announce their presence more boldly. James Bond’s Omega Seamaster 300 might be just the thing for an international action hero, but for many situations, it might be, well… a little too much. Try too hard, and you may end up looking less “007” — and more “Austin Powers.” Definitely not groovy, baby!
Choose a watch that projects your image — not someone else’s. Flashy status symbol watches might spell success for some, but they may be a definitive “fail” for others. Eye-catching though they may be... the macho Scuba style of a Rolex or Breitling diver’s watch won’t be to everyone’s taste. A TAG Heuer might be ideal for the rugged, sporty type — but is that you? A quality watch is an investment, so take the time to choose a timepiece that makes you feel self-assured, rather than self-conscious.
Filippo Loreti watches blend contemporary design and features with the timelessness of Italian style. They project self-confidence, not swagger. Glimpse one on a person’s wrist as you shake their hand, and you’ll know the wearer is someone who cares about their appearance — but isn’t a peacock. It’s about substance, not show. With a Filippo Loreti timepiece, you’ll feel just as much at home in the boardroom as you do sipping cocktails with friends on a patio.
2. “Swiss Made” Doesn’t Always Mean What It Says
In the world of watches, the label “Swiss Made” might sound like a passport to premium quality. Alas, the reality is not so simple. While every part of an ultra-high-end watch from the likes of Patek Philippe or Moser & Cie. might be lovingly handcrafted by the watchmakers of Geneva, more affordable “Swiss Made” models are a decidedly international affair.
The Swiss watch industry’s regulations allow a watch to be labeled “Swiss Made” when only 60% of its movement — and, therefore, as little as a third of its total working parts — actually originate in Switzerland.
Why does that matter? First of all, the majority of the parts in those “60% Swiss Made” watches are manufactured in China — where 80% of all of the world’s watches are made. This in itself isn’t a problem. However, it becomes a problem when brands use the “Swiss Made” moniker purely to jack up their prices of their “Mostly Chinese” watches. A 2016 study by the University of St. Gallen found consumers were willing to pay up to twice as much for a watch bearing the “Swiss Made” inscription.
With its romantic connotations of fine craftsmanship, a “Swiss Made” watch might sound like an investment in tradition. In practice, it’s little more than clever marketing. Shop smarter with Filippo Loreti, and you can enjoy the same level of premium design, quality, and craftsmanship at a fraction of the price.
3. Every Watch Tells A Story – What’s Yours?
One of the delights of owning a premium watch lies in discovering the little details. A timepiece designed and crafted with care will be a constant pleasure — from the satisfying feel of its construction materials to the thoughtful details that make it a pleasure to both look at and to use. It’s these nuanced details that make every Filippo Loreti timepiece a labor of love — from the designer’s drawing board all the way to owner’s wrist.
Each of our watch series celebrates an icon of Italian design — from the opulent Byzantine mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, to the mesmerizing elliptical lines of Rome’s Piazza del Campidoglio, to the magnificent glass and steel roof of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade.
Premium materials are an essential part of the story, too. Our straps are handmade using the finest quality Italian leather from select suppliers in Florence. Other elements, such as the intricate 3D engravings on every watch back, are there to be enjoyed by the wearer alone. It’s this attention to detail — even when it comes to the components you can’t see — that is a testament to Filippo Loreti’s quality and authenticity.
4. What Features Do You Really Need?
To choose a quality watch that’s right for you, you’ll want to consider the features it offers. Does a minimalist dial, like the one on Filippo Loreti’s Rome series, suit your style? Or do you need a date function as well?
Sometimes, your choice will be dictated by your lifestyle or interests. For instance, if you’re a racing fanatic, you may want a watch with a chronograph — perhaps with a built-in tachymeter, so you can calculate lap speeds.
Alternatively, you may want to see everything at a glance, with a watch face that includes date, month, and day of week indicators — perhaps even a moon phase indicator to show off your taste for classic aesthetics. Again, it’s wise to think about whether your chosen watch reflects your personality and lifestyle — there’s little sense in buying a watch with a ton of indicators and complications you have no need for and may never use.
5. Quartz, Automatic Or Smartwatch?
Finally, what type of movement do you require — quartz or automatic? Also, if you’re living a “connected lifestyle”, is it important to you that your watch links with your smartphone to keep track of your daily activities or control your music?
Your answers to these questions will depend in part on your budget, but more importantly on how you use your watch. If you simply need a watch to tell time, but you’re looking for a timepiece that reflects your sense of style and creates a great impression, a quartz model may be exactly what you need.
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for classic style and a sense of tradition — plus the elegant sweeping second hand — you’ll get all of these from a watch with an automatic movement.
If instead, you need modern “smart” features such as activity tracking, or the handy ability to silence incoming calls without fumbling with your phone, a smartwatch is a must-have. Until recently, going smart usually meant opting for a cumbersome (often unattractive) device with a touchscreen, lasting barely a day between charges. Thanks to the new Filippo Loreti Renaissance smartwatch, you can have all the smart features you need — plus the clean lines of a classic premium watch, and a battery life of up to a year.
Decisions, Decisions...
Because you’re likely to wear it all day, every day, a wristwatch is perhaps the most personal accessory you can own. It’s a style accessory, a timekeeping tool, and an expression of your personality all at once. This is precisely why Filippo Loreti offers a range of different styles to chose from so you could find a watch that suits you best.
So whether your preference is classic or minimalist, stainless steel or rose gold, with a handmade Italian leather strap or steel mesh bracelet, you’ll find a Filippo Loreti watch that tells your story.
