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*Mechanical Wristwatch Buying Guide* <br>

!!General Description
----
The focus of this buying guide is a primer on purchasing a quality
mechanical wristwatch that will last you for the rest of your life.
While both [quartz watches] and [atomic watches] can offer both
accuracy and durability within the same of realm of performance, the
history of the mechanical wristwatch gives the piece a certain
intangible gravity that cannot be replicated in more recent methods
of watchmaking. The craftsmanship that goes into the creation of the
mechanical watch lends a strong note of artistry and elegance to the
watch. Its precision and longevity make it an ideal choice for the
last watch you will ever need to buy.
<br><br>

!!History and Recent Developments
----
The wristwatch was first popularized by french jeweler Louis Cartier
in the early 1900s. [Cartier] created the timepiece for a friend who
was an aviator and needed an effective method of telling time while
flying a plane. With the onset of World War I, demand for Cartier's
wristwatch increased, as soldiers found the method more useful than
the pocket watch for telling time on the battlefield. After WWI, the
wristwatch became fashionable both in Europe and the United States.
<br><br>

!!Key Features
----
The watch that will give you the most satisfaction in terms of
craftsmanship is the purely mechanical watch, the best of which
feature the most precise mechanical engineering known to humanity.
Key features to look for include an extended warranty, a long power
reserve (how long it can go without winding), a sapphire crystal
(important, very hard to scratch), official US repair centers for the
watch, .

The superior craftsmanship of a purely mechanical watch comes with a
price (see General Pricing below), and new mechanical watches from
reputable brands (see Major Brands below) are often prohibitively
expensive. Fortunately, purchasing used watches is a common practice
among luxury watch buyers looking for a bargain. Since better luxury
watches are built to last for several decades, the purchase of a
well-maintained used watch can be an intelligent buying option.

!!Watch Message Boards

When approaching the purchase of a used watch, find an online watch
community that you like and trust, and do some research (see External
Links below). On message boards you will find a helpful community that
can answer questions for you and point you toward reputable sellers.
Many message boards also have seller ratings, which will give you a
better sense of how to ensure you are buying from a trustworthy
seller. Message boards will generally also have archives full of
information about how to spot fake replicas and how to avoid being
sold something inauthentic.

!!Beware of Fake Watches

Spotting a fake watch is, like with any other enthusiast's
collectibles market, a learned process. When considering buying a
watch, ask for specific details about the piece, including when and
where it was originally purchased, and for how much. Also ask to see
pictures of the serial number, images of the manual, and detailed
images of any damage to the watch.

!!Servicing Your Watch

Once purchased, it is important to figure out whether the watch needs
to be serviced. If purchased from a reputable seller, you will often
receive information about how many owners the watch has had, as well
its history of servicing. A watch manual will inform you about how
often it needs to be serviced, and contacting the manufacturer (or
even the manufacturer's website) will often yield the same
information. Beware that servicing can often cost hundreds of dollars
and should be done only when necessary.
<br><br>

!! Major Brands
----
The majority of quality mechanical watches come from Switzerland,
Japan, German, and the United States. Quality Swiss brands include
[Rolex], [TAG Heuer], [Omega], Jaeger-~LeCoultre, [Vacheron
Constantin], IWC, [Audemars Piguet], and Minerva; quality Japanese
brands include Grand Seiko; quality German brands include Stowa,
Nomos, Sinn, Dornblueth, A. Lange & Sohne, and Glashutte Original;
quality American brands include Hamilton and RGM.

While Rolex towers above other brands as the most recognizable luxury
watch brand in the world, potential buyers of Rolex
watches--particularly a used watch--involves should pay particular
attention to variety of quality Rolex replica available. (Fake Rolex
watches are more predominant because of the generally higher price of
an authentic Rolex watch.)
<br><br>

!! General Pricing
----
High quality purely mechanical wristwatches generally approach at
least $1000, and more expensive Rolex watches are often priced at
more than $100,000. Authenticated, quality used watches can be found
for considerably cheaper, including priced as low as several hundred
dollars.
<br><br>

!!External Links
----

!!Category
----
CategoryBuyingGuide