As a timepiece that winds automatically and does not rely on a battery, the automatic watch is the first choice of many watch enthusiasts. The variety of watches with automatic movements on the market is correspondingly large. We go in search of trends, present coveted models and exciting new products in direct comparison and provide a comprehensive overview of popular luxury watches with automatic calibers - insider tips included!
The most important facts in brief
These key statements are discussed in detail in the following article:
A high-quality automatic watch is characterized by precision and accuracy, cleanly crafted materials, an aesthetic design and its affiliation with a renowned brand. Attractive automatic watches of the highest quality can be found at IWC, Longines, Patek Philippe and Cartier, for example.
The trend in the watch world is currently moving towards bright colors such as blue, red and green, manufacture calibers, a filigree style and leather straps. The combination of mechanical movements with digital components could also play a greater role in the watch industry in the future.
The technical principle behind automatic watches, which do not have to be wound manually, is based on a rotor that vibrates when the watch is worn, tensioning the spring. If an automatic watch is not worn, it is advisable to store it in a watch winder.
What characterizes a high-quality automatic watch?
Automatic luxury watches for men and women are products that are characterized by a whole range of impressive features. Essentially, it is these characteristics and criteria that distinguish the luxury watch from the more affordable “no-name automatic watch”:
Precise movement
The most important component of any watch is the movement that makes it run. The calibre at the heart of the watch is therefore also a component that makes it easy to recognize quality. A high-quality automatic watch therefore impresses with its accuracy and precision. The wearer can therefore fully rely on always having the correct time displayed very accurately.
Many luxury watches also have complications. In other words, they have functions that go beyond displaying the time. These may include a date display, a perpetual calendar, a second time zone, a chronograph function or a moon phase display. In the watch industry, smoothly functioning complications are a sign that the manufacturer knows his trade, and this arouses pure fascination in many watch collectors.
High-quality materials
Wristwatches from the luxury segment are made from the finest materials. Their cases are often made of white, yellow or rose gold, silver, stainless steel or platinum, often enhanced with diamonds and other precious stones. Many manufacturers use flawlessly cut sapphire crystal for the glass, while enamel, mother-of-pearl, brass, silver or carbon are often used for the dial. All of these flawless materials are processed with the utmost care, resulting in watches that embody pure perfection at the end of the manufacturing process.
Fine workmanship and craftsmanship
Luxurious automatic watches are handcrafted masterpieces for the wrist. After all, behind a functioning movement with one or two complications lies a sophisticated technique that can only be understood and implemented by true masters of watchmaking. The fine workmanship of the precious materials mentioned above can require skills from different specialist areas. It is no coincidence that major brands, such as Rolex, employ experts from numerous niche crafts, for example enamellers, finisseurs, gem-setters and engravers. It is precisely the artfully crafted details that turn high-quality watches into works of art and that allow you to distinguish many a model from a cheap copy at a glance.
Aesthetic design
High-quality materials and perfect craftsmanship are used to create designs that are a feast for the eyes and will sneak into the dreams of many a watch fan. You can see the value of a high-priced automatic watch from the outside. The watch has character, charm and its very own charisma, with a common thread often running through the different models in a collection in the form of a few characteristic features. Be it recurring colors, such as luminous blue or green on the hands, subtle engravings or eye-catching patterns on the dial - these details create an unmistakable look that leaves no doubt about the authenticity of a genuine luxury automatic watch.
We would like to take this opportunity to highlight one design element in particular, as it often does not receive the attention it deserves: the strap. As an important component of any wristwatch, it plays a key role in determining how the design of the watch looks. An unsuitable, clumsily chosen strap can spoil the look, just as a strap that perfectly matches the watch can harmoniously round off an aesthetic design. While leather straps are often chosen for classic models and vintage-style watches, a strap made of precious metal can add the finishing touch to an elegant statement watch and a plastic strap can emphasize the functional note of the diver's watch. Whether leather, plastic, textile or metal: a luxury watch needs a strap that blends harmoniously into the design and emphasizes the character of the watch.
Reliable brand and origin
Today, automatic watches are part of the range of almost every watch brand. However, a comparison quickly reveals huge differences between inexpensive watches from unknown manufacturers and luxury watches from renowned brands. With low-priced models, it is often not possible to say much about the expected longevity, accuracy and lasting value. This is different in many cases with watches from “well-known brands”, such as Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin or IWC. Customers are well aware of the brand's reputation and history and can therefore rely on high quality. Such watches have their price, but clearly also their value. Accordingly, a luxury watch from a major brand, for example from one of the famous Swiss manufacturers, is often a smart investment that combines the know-how, history, tradition and craftsmanship of many decades and centuries.
New trends and developments on the automatic watch market
The world of watches is constantly changing and, as in many other sectors, one trend follows the next. The automatic watch sector is by no means an exception. Looking at the developments of recent years and taking a close look at the latest new products, some interesting trends emerge.
In terms of functionality, complications and movements, there is a trend towards manufacture calibres. What many watch giants have been demonstrating for a long time is now also being adopted by smaller companies: More and more manufacturers of luxury watches are relying on calibers produced in-house, raising the bar in terms of precision and performance. The functions of a watch remain as important as ever. Complex complications were, are and will remain something that watch brands can boast about and that watch collectors can get extremely excited about.
In terms of design trends, there are signs of a return to more delicate watches. It would be a little premature to declare the days of large-framed, bulky watches for men and women over, but in many places, automatic watch manufacturers are returning to cases with a smaller diameter and a small-scale look. Such a watch - combined with supple leather straps, for example - is very comfortable to wear and, despite the finest materials, is less likely to cross the line into ostentatiousness. Speaking of leather straps: Leather is definitely a trend that can hardly be overlooked, even if it is not an absolute novelty. Especially occasions that require a look with a focus on elegance make the classic-style automatic watch with a leather strap an excellent choice. While leather straps used to be made almost exclusively in black and brown tones, bold colors are now also coming into play, which were previously more familiar from plastic straps. In green, blue, red, orange or violet, the leather strap becomes an extravagant eye-catcher without stealing the show from the watch itself.
Incidentally, colors are not only trendy when it comes to bracelets. Some watch brands are also really letting off steam with the dial. From bright, monochrome designs, patterns and embossing to eye-catching embellishments and finishes, there are plenty of exciting possibilities here. The result is watches with which ladies and gentlemen with a huge watch collection can bring something completely new and unique into their homes - or onto their wrists.
Ultimately, a trend is difficult to define and, above all, is often a very fast-moving affair. We know it from the fashion industry as a whole: what is trendy in spring can be “old hat” by fall. With luxury watches, however, the situation is somewhat different. Fortunately, high-quality watches that change hands at high prices often remain wearable for years and decades. You could also say that quality simply never goes out of fashion.
Brands and models for automatic watches 2024
As promised, we now turn to a selection of luxury watches and brands that are enjoying great popularity this year. To enable a comparison, we will discuss certain features and criteria in each case, including the given functions, design and price. Curtain up for the automatic watch bestsellers and highlights 2024:
IWC Portofino Automatic
If there is one watch that embodies timeless elegance par excellence, it is the Portofino Automatic from IWC Schaffhausen. The automatic watch comes with a 40 mm stainless steel or red gold case, dial in blue, white or black and Roman numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock. Depending on the version, the watch has a simple stainless steel Milanese strap or a stylish alligator leather strap. The self-winding 35111 caliber offers a 50-hour power reserve and features a date display and a central second hand with stop function. Prices for this extremely chic watch for men and women start at €5,300.
More IWC automatic watches
IWC Schaffhausen's current range includes numerous other automatic watches, including the Portugieser Automatic 42 with a 7-day power reserve, power reserve display, small seconds, date and sapphire crystal case back or the Pilot's Watch, which is characterized by its ceramic case and soft iron inner case, which protects the movement from magnetic fields.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The 2024 reinterpretation of the legendary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona automatic watch presents itself in a thoroughly elegant look that has never been seen before. The new models feature a dial made of iridescent natural mother-of-pearl, framed by an 18-carat white gold case. The beautifully integrated totalizers stand out from the dial in a harmonious contrast and compete with the numerous diamonds on the dial dots and bezel. The iconic Daytona thus shines in a new light that could hardly be more sparkling. If you want to own one of the coveted Rolex models, you can expect list prices starting at just under €63,000.
More Rolex automatic watches
Among the Rolex 2024 novelties are some extremely attractive automatic watches, such as the Day-Date 40 in Everose gold with date and weekday display, the new GMT-Master II with characteristic Cerachrom bezel or the 1908 timepieces in platinum, which feature fresh colors for the dial.
Breitling Avenger Automatic
Anyone who loves sporty-style timepieces should not miss out on the Breitling Avenger Automatic 42 watches. The stainless steel watches with date and luminous indices are water-resistant to 300 meters and are available in two modern color versions. One version is clad in rich green, while the other shows its colorful side in deep blue, with the calfskin strap of both models picking up on the dial color and thus creating a successful arc. With a list price of €4,600, the price-performance ratio of this functional automatic watch is undoubtedly right.
More Breitling automatic watches
Breitling recently surprised watch fans with new Navitimer automatic watches, such as the Navitimer Automatic GMT 41 with an ice blue dial. In addition, the highly functional Superocean Automatic 42 watches and the Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham model, which captivates the ladies, are also worth a look.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, with which you can dive to depths of up to 600 meters without hesitation, shows just how multifaceted a diver's watch collection can be. From the classic stainless steel watch to the extravagant version with black rubber strap and orange highlights to the white gold luxury watch set with diamonds, the versatile variants cover everything that the heart of watch-loving Omega collectors desires. The automatic 8800 movement from Omega that powers these watches boasts an impressive 55-hour power reserve, high accuracy and resistance to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. Prices vary greatly from model to model and range from €7,200 to €115,300.
Other Omega automatic watches
As befits a renowned brand, Omega has a number of automatic watches up its sleeve. For example, there is the diamond-studded Speedmaster 38, which attracts the attention of ladies, or the Seamaster Ploprof 1200 M for divers who go all out. Other examples of Omega watches with automatic movements are the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 M, the Seamaster Diver 300 M and the Constellation in yellow gold, gold or a combination of two precious metals.
Longines HydroConquest
The HydroConquest product line from the Longines Sport Collection includes some new additions to the familiar models that bring fresh colors into play. With dials in shiny metallic green, silky blue or chic brown, the HydroConquest wristwatches show their most elegant side - naturally with date and partly in GMT version. Thanks to the wide range of variations in terms of color design and bracelets, the collection offers timepieces that are sure to appeal to almost everyone. The price of a Longines diver's watch ranges from €1,500 to €4,550, depending on the function and version.
More Longines automatic watches
Would you like a more expensive automatic watch? Then perhaps the Longines Master Collection GMT with Roman numerals and leather strap is the right choice. Men with an affinity for technology might like the large-framed Longines Pilot Majetek, while the delicate Primaluna with date display looks great on the wrist of a fashionable lady.
TAG Heuer Carrera Caliber
The fascination of racing packed into a watch: this is the Carrera Caliber from TAG Heuer. The wristwatches, which are optionally available with a date or as a chronograph, house high-precision manufacture calibers and are manufactured with case diameters of 31 to 45 mm. The manufacturer has both watch fans with a preference for large luxury watches and customers who want a fine, delicate automatic watch in mind. The prices of the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre timepieces are as varied as the sizes. These range from €2,750 to €54,350 across all models.
More TAG Heuer automatic watches
The TAG Heuer range is rich in automatic watches, all of which are actually worth a closer look. They include the Autavia Flyback Chronometer, the Monaco Chronograph with its distinctive square case and several references of the feminine-looking Link Date wristwatch.
Patek Philippe Nautilus
There is hardly anyone who is interested in watches who has never heard of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The watch, which is immediately recognizable by its octagonal, rounded case, is a true classic from the Swiss watch manufacturer and is not only attractive to divers. Whether with a moon phase display, diamond bezel or date: the Nautilus, with prices starting at just under €40,000, outlives every trend and will probably never go out of fashion.
More Patek Philippe automatic watches
If you want to add a high-quality automatic watch to your personal collection, Patek Philippe is undoubtedly a good place to start.The brand's product range includes the sporty Aquanaut diver's watch, the timelessly chic Calatrava timepieces and the Grandes Complications with automatic movement, which are a credit to haute horlogerie.
Girard Perregaux Laureato Chronograph
If you are prepared to invest at least €19,600, you can admire a Laureato Chronograph from Girard Perregaux on your wrist. This is a functional automatic watch with an extravagant case shape and water resistance to 100 meters. The mechanical movement that drives the timepiece with chronograph function, date and small seconds has a 46-hour power reserve and consists of a total of 419 neatly finished individual parts.
More Girard Perregaux automatic watches
The automatic watches from Girard Perregaux are guaranteed not to be boring. The exquisite mix of watches in the manufacturer's range is too colorful and unusual. You only have to look at the Cat's Eye in Eternity, Blossom Jewellery or Eye Lotus Edition automatic watches to see the brand's wealth of ideas for yourself - Girard Perregaux definitely does not lack the courage to create unconventional designs.
Cartier Santos de Cartier
Cartier watches are known for their incomparable chic, breathtakingly classic style and a high quality that you can see and feel.The Santos de Cartier automatic watch therefore fits perfectly into the product portfolio. Its flowing case, sword-shaped hands and contrasting Roman numerals integrated into the dial form a harmonious unit with a subtle vintage flair. Available in two sizes, the Santos de Cartier automatic watch, priced from €8,300 to €20,600, meets the highest demands and makes a statement that speaks of value and elegance.
More Cartier automatic watches
If you are looking for a watch for occasions that require an authentic, luxurious look, you are sure to find it at Cartier. Luxury watches with automatic movements include, for example, the Tank Francaise, Ballon Bleu de Cartier and Ronde Must de Cartier models, which, depending on the version, pick up on the current trend of bold colors in watch design.
Porsche Design Chronograph
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 is a watch for all those who have gasoline in their blood. The timepieces evoke associations with daring maneuvers, sleek racing cars and endless routes and are priced between €8,950 and €11,950. For this automatic watch, the manufacturer opted for a design that focuses on matt black with occasional accents in white, gray and red. The solid titanium case, the 48-hour power reserve and the day and date display visibly enhance the chronograph and make it the ideal companion in times when top speeds are the order of the day.
More Porsche Design automatic watches
Examples of other watches with automatic movements from Porsche are the 1919 Globetimer UTC and Sport Chrono Subsecond 42 models - two luxury watches that make the hearts of true Porsche fans beat faster.
Seiko Prospex Sea Automatic
A good automatic watch on a slightly lower budget doesn't have to remain a dream. With the Prospex Sea automatic watches, the manufacturer Seiko appeals to men and women who don't want to spend a fortune but still have certain expectations of the quality of their new watch. If you opt for the Seiko Prospex Sea, for a price of €3,150 you get a diving watch that is water-resistant to 10 bar with luminous indices, a 50-hour power reserve and a date function.If you opt for the Seiko Prospex Sea, for a price of €3,150 you get a diving watch that is water-resistant to 10 bar with luminous indices, a 50-hour power reserve and a date function.
More Seiko automatic watches
The Seiko Presage automatic watch with date, which has a straightforward look and is perfect for everyday wear, is even more affordable. Alternatively, the Marinemaster watches or products from the King Seiko range are also available.
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero
The Chronomaster automatic watches from Zenith can look back on an award-winning past and have managed to maintain their popularity to this day. The Chronomaster watches in the Original and Sport product lines catch the eye with a clean exterior and are equipped with impressive technology in the form of the El Primero high-frequency chronograph movement. With a power reserve of a full 60 hours and a range of functions that, depending on the model, also includes a date and moon phase display in addition to the chronograph feature, Zenith's Chronomaster watches are real all-rounders that show what automatic can do. If you are interested in such a watch, you will have to be prepared for prices starting at €10,400.
More Zenith automatic watches
The Zenith brand offers a wide range of automatic luxury watches, such as the Pilot Automatic in black or blue, the Defy Skyline with El Primero movement and light blue dial or the ELITE Classic with sunburst finish and alligator leather strap.
Vacheron Constantin Égérie
With the Égérie collection, Vacheron Constantin presents a luxury watch series especially for women, bringing together haute couture and haute horlogerie. An Égérie automatic watch is a fashion accessory, an expensive piece of jewelry and a precise timepiece all in one, with each product in the collection standing out from the crowd with its own unique details. Each model features either an integrated date or moon phase display, surrounded by dials with a fine sunray finish or lavish diamond setting. The curved numerals perfectly complement the enchanting design of the watches, whose prices start at €23,300.
More Vacheron Constantin automatic watches
Watch connoisseurs who are not put off by a price that may seem high in comparison can discover luxury automatic watches in a class of their own at Vacheron Constantin. Among the models with automatic movements, there are no-frills classics, such as the Patrimony Automatic, as well as more specialized models, such as the dove-blue Traditionelle with perpetual calendar.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master
Powerful functions, clear lines and a tried-and-tested automatic movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control wristwatches, which are worn on a comfortable leather strap, know how to delight ladies and gentlemen with a penchant for luxury watches. On a functional level, the models impress with a date, day of the week display, moon phase, 24-hour display and second time zone, depending on the reference, while on the outside they clearly demonstrate that a design can aim for elegance without losing itself in playfulness. The Master Control watches are priced between €10,300 and €34,900.
More Jaeger-LeCoultre automatic watches
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a brand where there is a good chance of finding just the right automatic watch for a wide variety of occasions. As a gift for the lady of the heart, a watch from the Rendez-Vous collection is the obvious choice, men with a penchant for complication-rich automatic movements opt for a Hybris Mechanica model and those who want to experiment with colors in line with the current trend should take a closer look at the Reverso watches.
Materials and workmanship: choosing the best quality
A wide variety of materials are used to manufacture watches today, with each material having its own advantages and individual characteristics. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at the subject. The case of most wristwatch models is made of a precious metal. Stainless steel watches are still popular, but yellow, white, red and rose gold, silver and platinum are also often used. These materials are pleasant to work with, have a certain value and last for centuries. Special ceramic materials and titanium are used less frequently in the construction of cases. These alternatives are often particularly scratch-resistant and do not rust, and their low weight also speaks in their favor.
As we all know, taste is (not) debatable, so everyone can decide for themselves which material they like best. Watches made of stainless steel or silver are often said to have a decidedly sporty look, while products made of gold focus on elegance and charm. Ultimately, however, the exception proves the rule: there are gold sports watches and stainless steel watches can also be extremely elegant.
If we compare the materials used to make watch straps, precious metal and leather straps are ahead in terms of popularity and demand. However, if you are a watch wearer for whom robustness, suitability for everyday use and wearing comfort are particularly important, straps made of rubber, textile fabric and similar materials are also an exciting option. In terms of wearing comfort, however, there is another important aspect in addition to the raw material used: the size. Only a strap that is not too wide, not too long and not too tight is really comfortable to wear.
What's more, the materials used are just as important as their professional, careful processing. A watch can be made from the most exquisite raw materials and still look clumsy if the workmanship is inadequate. The quality of a luxury watch therefore depends largely on the workmanship - it is not for nothing that watchmaking is a craft that is a life's work to master to perfection.
Technical innovations: Progress in the watchmaking trade
The watch industry is not unaffected by the changing times. And that's a good thing: after all, standing still is the greatest enemy of innovation. Over the past decades and centuries, the inventiveness of great watchmakers has brought us a number of technological advances and brilliant achievements that continue to enrich the world of watches to this day. But what is currently happening in terms of innovations in watchmaking?
A lot! The Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante automatic watch from Parmigiani Fleurier is a good example of how successful manufacturers of luxury watches are still thinking ahead and not resting on their laurels. The watch has a chronograph function and a seconds hand designed for this purpose. However, the hand is cleverly concealed behind the minute hand and can only be seen when the button is pressed. An impressive mechanism that clearly gives the watch that certain something.
New technologies, such as digital watch components and the use of artificial intelligence, are a topic that the watch industry has to deal with more and more intensively. At first glance, you might think that mechanical automatic watches and digital functions are mutually exclusive. But that doesn't have to be the case. So-called smart mechanical watches combine traditional movements and digital features. Such a product has the design of a conventional mechanical watch, for example, but is also able to offer digital tracking and fitness functions. Smart mechanical watches are still niche products, but we can look forward to seeing what developments await us in the coming years.
Watch movements and complications: Understanding the mechanics
How does an automatic watch work and how is its movement constructed? We would like to answer this exciting question in as simple terms as possible below. Because even though the movement of an automatic luxury watch may look slightly different from one manufacturer to the next and the detailed structure naturally also depends on the complications, the basic principle remains the same.
An automatic watch is wound by the movement of the arm when the watch is worn. So you don't have to wind it manually. This works thanks to the following mechanism: there is a spring in the so-called barrel of the watch. This spring is tensioned by the oscillating movements of the rotor. The rotor picks up the movement of the watch wearer's arm, so to speak, and swings, thereby tensioning the spring. Meanwhile, a slipping clutch prevents the spring from overstretching. This means that it is never over-tensioned, even if the watch is constantly moving strongly on the wrist. As the spring wants to relax - “unwind” or “uncoil” - according to its nature, it releases energy that flows directly into the gear train of the watch. There, the energy is used to turn small gears, which in turn move the hands of the watch.
If the spring were to relax completely and not be tensioned again because there is no arm movement, the watch would stop and would have to be reset after winding. Watch winders can be used to prevent this from happening even if a watch is not worn for a longer period of time. These are special devices that we will come back to later in this article.
Care and maintenance of automatic watches
As watches with mechanical movements are highly complex compared to quartz watches, proper care and maintenance is of great importance. It is therefore not a good idea to simply put the watches away and only take them out every few months to admire them briefly, following the motto “out of sight, out of mind”. In general, wearing or regularly inspecting your watch is an essential part of its care. Only those who take the time to inspect the watch have the chance to detect any malfunctions or damage at an early stage and have them rectified or repaired before consequential damage occurs.
Correct storage is also important. The best way to store a mechanical automatic watch is in a watch winder. The watch winder sets the watch in motion at an adjustable regularity so that the spring is tensioned and the model does not stand still. If you want to store the watch elsewhere, we recommend a soft surface that cannot scratch the glass or case. After all, polishing to repair such damage always involves material abrasion and a certain amount of expense - inconveniences that can be avoided from the outset.
Bracelets of watches that are worn a lot should also be cleaned from time to time. A fine brush with soft bristles that do not scratch or thin cotton buds can be used to clean the spaces between metal straps with links. Leather straps, on the other hand, can be cleaned regularly under clear water, allowed to dry thoroughly and kept supple with a suitable leather care product.
There are different opinions in the watch industry as to how often a watch should be serviced. Some swear by having their jewelry checked every three or five years, while others take the maintenance less seriously and are happy with much longer intervals between two overhauls. Basically, it can be said that it is high time to take your watch to a specialist at the latest when you notice any inaccuracies or faulty functions.
Buying advice for automatic watches
Given the variety of automatic watches on the market, it is helpful to take your time when choosing a new watch. Our step-by-step guide provides prospective buyers with a rough “watch buying roadmap” that will pave the way to their dream watch:
Step 1: Research
The first thing on the agenda is to browse. It is important to get an overview of the watches from different manufacturers and to find out what the market has to offer.
Step 2: Define your wishes and ideas
The next step is to define your personal wishes and expectations:
Watch type: What type of luxury watch, for example a diver's watch, a dress watch or a vintage model, is desired?
Brands: Should it be a model from a specific brand (e.g. Rolex, Seiko, Tissot or Patek Philippe)?
Complications: What functions should the watch have?
Movements: Are only automatic watches an option? Are there any expectations regarding the power reserve?
Design: What are your visual preferences?
Price: What is the maximum price for the watch?
Step 3: List of favorites
You can then start your search with clear ideas in mind. Ideally, you should make a list of all the watches that meet the previously defined requirements.
Step 4: Narrowing down the selection
In the penultimate step, all the watches on the list are once again carefully examined, compared and weighed up against each other. In this way, it gradually becomes clear which timepiece the heart beats for.
Step 5: Comparison of offers
Finally, offers for the selected model are viewed. Where can you buy the watch in the desired version? The price is of course a relevant factor in the comparison, but the reliability of the provider should also be the focus.
Watch collection and investment: automatic watches as an investment
If the purchase of an automatic watch is intended as an investment, the focus is on the expected value development. If you are not very familiar with the watch market, you should definitely seek advice, do thorough research and never just buy “blindly”. In general, it can be said that many automatic watches from renowned brands change hands on the secondary market at astonishingly high prices. An expensive luxury watch can therefore be an excellent investment. Nevertheless, it is of course rarely possible to predict with complete certainty how the value of a watch and the prices on the secondary market will develop. A touch of risk is therefore also present when investing in a luxury watch.
Authenticity and genuineness of automatic watches
Watches are among the most frequently counterfeited products in the world. To reduce the likelihood of falling for a fraudster and buying a cheap fake product at an expensive price, you should pay attention to these points:
Completeness of the paperwork
A good sign that a watch is probably genuine is if it is sold with all the important accessories and documents included:
Certificate of authenticity with serial number
Warranty certificate and details of the retailer
Operating instructions
Original box
However, the presence of these items does not guarantee the authenticity of the watch, as the documents can of course also be forged.
Dial and indications
On the watch itself, the hands are a point that should be examined more closely. It is advisable to compare the design of the hands of a watch on offer with the known original. There are often small deviations in counterfeits. The dial can also provide a clue: Is it cleanly finished and does it have sharp contours? That would indicate an original. Rough lines and distorted contours indicate a fake.
Engravings
You should also take a closer look at engravings. Blurred engravings, for example with different sized gaps between the letters or which appear out of place, are more common in counterfeits.
Weight
Fake watches are often lighter than originals. This may be due to the fact that an inexpensive, lightweight quartz movement is used instead of the advertised automatic movement.
Price
Another important indicator is the price. An offer for a luxury watch that is too good to be true is a clear warning sign.
If you decide to buy a watch from a reputable, proven supplier, you can save yourself the worry of investing in a cheap fake watch. At HORANDO, all watches are thoroughly checked for authenticity and authenticated by experts. This means that customers can be 100% sure that they are buying an original automatic watch from Rolex, Omega, Seiko, Tissot and others at a fair price.
Conclusion
Quality, workmanship, design, accuracy and value for money: these are all factors that play an important role in luxury watches with automatic movements. These fundamental characteristics and features remain unaffected by constantly changing trends. They should be the focus when buying an automatic watch, regardless of whether you opt for a trendy model in modern colors or a well-known classic.