Perfect Timing

PERFECT TIMING

STORY / KEITH STRANBERG

In today’s hurried and harried world, we often buy things with little thought, looking to get it done as quickly as possible. And, as a result, the pleasure of buying just about everything has been lost. Remember browsing in book stores? Now, many people buy from Amazon.com-style websites or purchase e-books, which is really convenience but not nearly as satisfying or pleasurable. The same is true with music, which is mostly digital today. Thankfully, you can still enjoy the purchase of a fine timepiece at one of the many fine retailers dedicated to delivering the agelong shopping experience. For a luxury timepiece, a big part of buying it is the experience – coming into a beautiful store, trying the watch on, finding out as much as you want to know, having the watch fitted to your wrist and more. Fine timepieces are not commodities, like books or music, where it doesn’t really matter where you buy them. Quality and authenticity vary widely in today’s watch marketplace, so to a certain extent it is “buyer beware” -- you don’t necessarily want to buy from the person or business that offers the lowest prices. That’s where your friendly authorized retailer comes in. Today, there are so many ways you can buy a watch. You can: > Go into and buy from a speciazed retailer in your country, > Go into and buy from a specialized retailer while travelling > Call and buy from a specialized retailer, > Buy on a manufacturer’s website > Buy on a specialized retailer’s website > Buy from a general retailer’s website > Bid at an auction (in person, by telephone, on their website, through a proxy, etc.)

"When you are buying something expensive, you want to make sure the retailer has a direct relationship with the manufacturer. If the seller is not an authorized retailer, you could unknowingly be buying a used watch, for which the warranty has already started or expired."

> Buy on eBay, Craig’s List or any number of alternative buying sites > Buy privately from a watch collector and more. When you think about it, it’s never been easier to buy something today. But, all these options can be a little confusing and there are risks, of varying degrees, involved with some of these modern ways. An authorized retailer is a store that is approved to sell the products of a particular brand, which means that the product has a full warranty and the retailer, as the brand’s local representative, will stand behind it. When you are buying something expensive, you want to make sure the retailer has a direct relationship with the manufacturer. If the seller is not an authorized retailer, you could unknowingly be buying a used watch, for which the warranty has already started or expired. A watch that seems new could be six years old, and it could include watch parts that aren’t even made by the manufacturer. Sometimes the seller doesn’t even know it is a used watch. If you buy from an unauthorized seller, there is no warranty. Authorized retailers such as ZAKAA, if you have any problems, can facilitate any repairs or service resolutions due to their direct access to the company. Also, authorized retailers have a wide range of timepieces from the brands they carry – unauthorized sellers often have very little variety to offer, after all they can only sell what they can get their hands on. There are all sorts of horror stories of people unknowingly buying counterfeit or stolen watches, which cannot happen when you work with an authorized retailer.

Also, when you buy from an authorized dealer, you have the confidence that the watches have not been tampered with or manipulated. And authorized retailers engage with clients after the sale –alerting them to new product information, special events, and they even communicate on Facebook and Twitter. The important reason to go to the retailers is that they are able to find the watch that fits their customers the best.

Hublot Boutique Abuja

BUYING THE PERFECT LADIES WATCH

Accessories are what makes every woman’s look unique and stylish. That’s why women like to spend hours choosing the right details for matching their outfit. Fine watches are no exception. They can create a distinctive manner for a wearer. Watch manufacturers try to invent different ladies wrist watches which can suit every taste. If you want to buy ladies wrist watches as a gift to someone or to yourself, there are 5 useful tips for choosing the perfect ladies watch.

Zenith Star Moon-phase

1. CHOOSE THE MOVEMENT

There a lot of different movement types of watches but for ladies watches, mechanical and quartz are the most common. The latter can be more practical, reliable, usually costs less and requires less maintenance. Mechanical movement involves careful engineering and can become a piece of inheritance. Many women nowadays choose the mechanical type but it’s pricey and more difficult to look after.

Tag Heuer Monaco

2. CHOOSE THE STYLE

Choosing the type/style or a case shape of a watch for women can be very important. The Classic shape is Round, but there are also: a masculine Square such as the Tag Heuer Monaco, a chic Rectangular or curvy Extraordinary dials to go for. The types can vary from the Sporty functional timepieces to the Jewellery watches, and finally Fashion trendy watches.

Ulyssse Nardin Jade

3. CHOOSE THE MATERIAL

The traditional gold jewellery watch has always been high in demand. Though golden accessories nowadays have obtained various shades (classical yellow gold, rose gold, pink gold, etc.), stainless steel is still widely used by watch-makers in ladies watches, mostly to give a more solid look to the watch. Ceramic is also used in modern designs: it is more practical to wear, doesn’t scratch, and gives a polished and spectacular look to the watch

Louis Erard Romance

4. BRACELET OR STRAP

Different types of bracelets can be seen on ladies luxury wristwatches, which lend them a classy and formal look, (as demonstrated by Louis Erard). Leather straps on the other hand are up-to-date and incredibly stylish. Their various colors often match dials or can be utterly exotic, such as stingray leather. Rubber straps are long-lasting, easily cleaned and won’t be damaged by a perfume.

Hublot Classic Fusion Lady

5. THE "WOW" FACTOR

Diamonds never become tasteless or go out of fashion. So if you can afford a luxury diamondset watch, such as the Hublot classic fusion lady , go for it and impress. Dial decorations are also important. They can add some elegance and grace to the jewellery watches, and if you really want to surprise, go for a mechanical watch with a Chronograph function.

BUYING WATCHES FOR MEN

You may already have your preferences, however, considering that some men’s wrists need to be shown the chopping block, Zakaa Living tells you about five things to consider when buying a watch.

Ulysse Nardin Black Toro

1. THE BRAND

If money is no problem, then the world is your watch oyster and you can choose whatever watch you want. However, in case you’re working with a budget, your brand will depend completely on how much you’re willing to spend. There are entry level brands, mid level brands, high end brands and of course, the luxury brands. Choose a brand depending on what you’re willing to invest. And remember, a watch isn’t an expense, it’s an INVESTMENT, so choose wisely. You’d rather have one branded watch as opposed to 10 tolerable pieces.

Hublot Big bang Usain Bolt

2. THE STRAPS

Watches have three broad types of straps – leather straps, which has various types of leather bands such as a simple leather strap, alligator leather straps, crocodile watch straps, etc.; metal bracelets, which can be made of precious metal (Gold) or regular stainless steel; and rubber straps. Your choice of band depends on your preference and of course, on whether your watch is meant for daily wear or whether it will be a dress watch. Traditionally, a leather strap is considered to be dressier than a metal strap, and rubber straps look sportier and durable under water.

Louis Moinet Tempograph

3. THE DIAL

The size and weight of the dial can be determined by your body type. If you’re a heavy set man, a standard dial may look womanly on your wrist. Choose a watch that’s bulkier. In case you have an average build, the standard dial should work for you; however, in case you want to experiment with a bulkier dial, you can do so. Since the 2000s watch dials have gotten bigger and one trend for men is bigger cases and bigger dials.

Tag Heuer Connected

4. ANALOG OR DIGITAL

This depends completely on your preference and watch use. A Mechanical watch has a dial that has hour and minute hands with numbers or markers that indicate time. A digital watch has an LED display and the time is displayed numerically. The only time you should buy a digital watch is when you need one for sports. Otherwise stick to the analog because besides being formal, elegant and classy, you have a variety of brands and styles to choose from. One exception to this rule is the Tag Heuer connected. Why? Visit a Tag Heuer boutique to find out!

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang

5. THE CASE

This is the structure of the watch. Mechanical watches have metal cases made of titanium, platinum, gold, silver or steel. These frames can have jewels embedded in them, have embossed finishes that are patterned, or they can have either a shiny or matte finish.