It’s not easy purchasing a great timepiece. It takes time, money, patience and self-restraint.

I’ve spent years keeping an eye out for those good buys, but only rarely do I find a truly great deal. I’ll admit I’m somewhat stingy when it comes to spending my own hard-earned dollars, but there’s no problem with that – it means I won’t ever make a hasty purchase that I’ll later come to regret, so long as I follow my three simple rules…

Looks
Is this a good-looking watch that I’d actually wear? No? Then why am I considering buying it…

Whilst many a collector see their watches as an investment, let me be clear to you all that I am not one of those people. My watch needs what I like to call ‘wearability’; durable to have on everyday whilst always looking absolutely first-class. If I were to spend $1,000 or $10,000 on a timepiece, be darn sure I’d wear both as much as possible and not hidden in a box. Even now, I can look at my watch 8 times and still not know what the time is; this is how distracted I get from the simple pleasure of looking at my timepiece.

Exclusivity
So how unique is your timepiece? Really? That common? But… don’t you want to stand out?

I believe that your watch should be a quiet statement, subtly declaring your individualism. It doesn’t have to scream ‘look at me’, but rather remind you of your independence and distinctiveness from the crowd. Perhaps it’s a rare brand of watch, or a model that’s no longer in production. Or maybe it has a unique movement, like a mechanical alarm or bumper movement. Regardless, the most important thing about your watch is what it ought not to be; ordinary. Nor should it be if, like most luxury timepieces, you paid a lot of money for it in the first place. And this brings me onto my most important rule.

Value
It’s hard to talk value regarding timepieces when your friends might still be in shock at the news you paid more than $100 for an instrument that, effectively, tells you the time. But to those of us who ‘get it’ and appreciate the finer mechanics and quality of a beautiful hand-made timepiece, value is the price you consider to be a fair and suitable equivalent for your timepiece. Whether that means your watch was a rare find, less than retail, or an exclusive offer to purchase; what we define as good value will often change from person to person.

Of course there are many intrinsic rules each of us follow when looking for a timepiece, be it a specific movement type with 48 jewels, or simply a black face with lume. We each have vastly different desires, though all share a common interest and fascination in watches. What I would like to know is, what are your rules when buying a watch? Please share your thoughts below, and I look forward to reading your own insights.