Customers always want to know one thing when shopping for a Man's Watch...
"What's the BEST Watch to Buy?"
There are so many different types of Watches out there, but the main advice I give people is not exactly what Brand Name to choose, or what Style to choose (That's all preference), rather, I tell them the best place to begin...
What Metal to choose!
Choosing the right Metal
Choosing what type of Metal you want in a Watch can be pretty easy. At least it was for me.
The first obvious choice you have to make is what color do you want? Yellow or White?
Your best bet is to get a Watch that is the same color as the rest of your Jewelry so it looks good together. But, I'm telling you, most guys now-a-days (no matter the color of their Wedding Ring) lean towards the White Metal look (Probably 85-90% of them).
White dominates in Men's Watches!
So that's the Color of Metal this post is about! White! :)
White Metals
There are a couple of different White Metals available for Men's Watches.
The main ones are:
- Base Metal
- Stainless Steel
- Titanium
- White Gold
Let's take a closer look at them...
Base Metal
Base Metal is used in about 90% of ALL Men's (and Ladies) Watches on the market.
Base Metal is a term used to describe various Semi-Precious Metals. Metals like: Iron, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Copper and Chrome.
(Precious Metals would be Metals like: Gold, Silver and Platinum!)
Base Metals are inexpensive, which is great, BUT... Semi-Precious Metals tend to erode, corrode, oxidate, tarnish and leave stains on your wrist.
Not good!
Base Metals can cause crazy skin reactions with different people. Many are Allergic to the Nickels and develop red rashes and symptoms that can affect them their whole life. If you are one of those people that can't wear Base Metal Watches, I highly recommend looking into a Hypoallergenic Metal like Stainless Steel or Titanium.
Stainless Steel
I love Stainless Steel... Which is usually Stamped S.ST or S. Steel or Stainless Steel.
In fact, I love Stainless Steel so much that it's the only type of Watch I have worn for the last 15 years.
Stainless Steel is VERY heavy, very durable and will never erode, tarnish or turn your skin black. It lasts you a lifetime!
My Watch is over 15 years old and still looks new. Every couple of years I have the Jeweler remove the band and polish out the scratches (you can do that with a Stainless Steel Watch versus a Base Metal Watch) so it looks brand new again.
I would never buy another type of Metal. I love the heaviness of Steel. I like the weight of it on my arm. It feels like a real Watch. A man's Watch!
Stainless Steel Rocks!
Titanium
Another great Metal that's becoming more and more popular for Watches is Titanium.
Titanium is also an extremely durable Metal. But, unlike Stainless Steel, Titanium is very Light-Weight (it feels Hollow). You can wear a Titanium Watch and not even know you have it on. It's that light!
The coolest thing about Titanium is the Color. It's a Dark, Gun-Metal Gray color that's very attractive, stylish and masculine.
Another great selling point about Titanium... The price! Titanium is inexpensive.
So for the Look, Durability and Price... Titanium can't be beat!
White Gold
If you have the money, you may want to invest in a Solid Gold Watch (10kt or 14kt Gold).
Granted, there isn't a huge selection of Solid Gold Men's Watches to choose from (the Ladies get way more choice), but you can still find some great looking Watches and Styles. Just be prepared to shell out some major bucks!
Solid Gold will last you a lifetime. It can be polished up. It can be fixed if it gets broken. And Solid Gold tends to carry more Sentimental Value to it and can be handed down from Generation to Generation.
The bad point about Solid Gold is the fact that it's the most expensive type of Watch to buy, and some people are Allergic to the Nickel Alloys found in Gold. Read: Gold Allergies!
That's why I always advise buying Stainless Steel or Titanium!
The Bottom Line
You WILL pay more for a Stainless Steel Watch than a Titanium or Base Metal Watch (still not anywhere near the price of Gold though), but you'll love the weight of Steel and love how long it lasts you.
Base Metal Watches generally have a life span of about 2-7 years...
Stainless Steel will last you forever. When you divide that money up into forever... It's a pretty cheap way to go!
Buy Stainless Steel! You'll love it! :)
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