<div>There is much more to a luxury watch than one that tells the time. After all, even your mobile phone does that, says Aurel Bacs, former director of the watch auction divisions of Christie’s and Sotheby’s. “It’s all about quality — in terms of craftsmanship, reliability and design,” he explains. “That distinguishes some timepieces as luxury, allowing them to command a premium running into hundreds of thousands of dollars.”</div><div> </div><div>So what should one look for when buying a luxury watch? Bacs suggests taking the advice of a watch specialist before taking a decision. “I think, first and foremost, when people go out to make an important acquisition in the field of horology, they should inform themselves. I don’t think such a purchase should be a light-hearted one. Of course, that doesn’t mean it should not be fun,” he says. </div><div> </div><div>Bacs feels that just like not everyone is a doctor or a lawyer and people go to them when required, not everyone is a watch specialist and people should visit one before taking a decision. The watch specialist can be the retailer, or he can be someone who knows about the product and can give fair advice. “Just clicking online on XYZ watch could result in frustration and disappointment. Because it’s not just what you read; it needs to sit well on your wrist.” Something may look great on one person, but it may not suit you. Or it may not be very comfortable.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Quality:</strong> Quality is the first thing you need to look out for when buying a luxury watch. “The mechanical quality, the engineering quality, the quality of creativity of design represents value in my eyes,” says Bacs. “The quality of craftsmanship — whether it is hand-made or machine-made — the beauty of its finish, all need to be considered.” </div><div> </div><div>Besides craftsmanship, one needs to look at quality in terms of originality of design — whether the design is the property of the watch brand or been picked up from elsewhere. “They say imitation is the best form of flattery, but I personally don’t appreciate that kind of compliment in horology when watch companies pick up others’ designs.” <br /> </div><div><strong><img src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=63b14467-8840-4035-821e-d11431bdb897&groupId=222861&t=1416906832500" width="600" height="451" alt="" />Service:</strong> Next, inquire about the service friendliness of the watch. After all, watches are mechanical devices and do need to be overhauled every once in a while. “Some brands have a service that takes a month and costs $500, others take five months and charge $5,000. So it is an important factor to consider.”</div><div> </div><div>Your watch, your style: A watch is a reflection of your personality. This is especially true when you are paying big bucks for it. Don’t get swayed by advertisements or brand ambassadors. “I’m not a sportsman. I’m not a Hollywood star. I am who I am and my watch says that about me,” says Bacs. Of course, that does not mean that you cannot buy a diving watch just because you don’t dive or a pilot’s watch because you don’t fly. “One has to find the right mix between what your brain tells you and what your heart tells you.”</div><div> </div><div>When you begin shopping for a luxury watch, you can also ask yourself what function it will serve. For instance, is it going to be a jewellery piece to be worn on special occasions or a high-end chronograph to enhance your professional image? It could also be a gift to mark a special event in your personal or professional life. </div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong>Classics Forever:</strong> Bacs emphasises that a luxury watch should be a classic piece and not one that is merely the latest fad or fashion. “It’s a bit of a contradiction to have a fashionable watch for $100,000. By definition, fashion changes. What’s fashionable today may be out of fashion tomorrow. A luxury watch is meant to be timeless.”</div><div> </div><div>In the 90s, for instance, there was a trend towards excess. Everything from the diameter to thickness and complexity was exaggerated. “Now, there is a trend towards wearability. I see the size, the thickness, the craziness on the dial coming down. Everything is becoming more human and wearable.”</div><div> </div><div>Finally, it comes down to your personal taste. Some might describe a luxury watch purely on the basis of the materials used. For them, a luxury watch is a gold watch where the dial is diamond-encrusted and the bracelet is 18k gold. For others, it is all about the movement and the interior mechanics of a watch that distinguishes one from another. </div><div> </div><div> “Wear it with joy” is Bacs’s final word of advice. </div><div> </div><div>(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 15-12-2014)</div>
