Watches Becoming More Luxury than Necessary, Says Jeweler

Ask someone for the time in 2016, and more likely than not, they will reach into their pocket, grab a smartphone, and proceed to tell you the time. The humble watch, it seems, is becoming less visible on the wrists of today’s generation. That’s not to say it’s gone altogether, but simply shifted from an essential accessory to a luxury adornment, which is according to Leo Zeik, owner of Leonardo Jewelers in Red Bank, New Jersey. Zeik recently spoke to app.com about the changes he’s seen over the years, in terms of trends, functionality, and styles.

“Watches are a luxury today,” Zeik said. “Realistically, you don’t need a watch to tell time — you have (a clock) on your iPhone. To me, it’s more of a luxury. It’s a piece of jewelry. It’s a statement.” Dedicating most of his life to wristwatches, Zeik says he still prefers an enduring style, without flash or pizzazz. “When I hear trendy, I think here today, gone tomorrow.”

However, it might be all well and good for someone who has spent their entire life surrounded by watches – having a sixth sense for what particular wristwatch is best suited for each person. But for younger men and women only now coming into their prime, even choosing a certain wristwatch can be difficult enough out of the thousands on offer. Luckily though, online watch retailers Chrono24 have released an incredibly useful infographic, which can direct you to the perfect watch for you. Are you aiming for passion over function? Casual or elegant? Mechanical or quartz? Is your budget around $1,000 or $10,000? Take a look at the infographic here.

As for which specific wristwatch he chooses himself, Zeik is unequivocally drawn towards a Rolex. “If you’re going to have just one watch, get a Rolex. It can be casual and luxurious,” Zeik said. “I personally own a (Rolex) Submariner that’s from 1973. The one in my showcase (that’s) brand new, has been improved. They’ve improved the movements over the years…if you’re wearing a Rolex, you can’t really tell if it’s brand new or five years old or if its 30 years old. (Rolex) doesn’t change their look. That’s one of the reasons they stay so classic.”

Turn of the Tide

While a Rolex might be classic and luxurious, it still has to compete against the might of smartwatches being released on the market now. However, the old adage of “If you can’t beat them, join them,” has never been more apropos to longstanding Swiss watch manufacturer Tag Heuer, who have finally joined the smartwatch crowd with the Connected.

Attempting to harness today’s tech with the company’s notoriously well-crafted and beautiful designs, Tag Heuer have given the smartwatch a fair go, but an attempt that some reviewers seem less than pleased with. Engadget.com recently summed up the Connected, citing its pros like ‘excellent build quality’, ‘lightweight and comfortable’, ‘smooth performance’ and ‘long battery life’, whereas its cons were ‘bulky design for some’, ‘moderate screen quality’ and ‘no GPS or heart rate monitor’.

The biggest con of all, however, was easily the Connected’s price. At $1,500, Engadget felt the price tag wasn’t anywhere close to viable for the smartwatch, citing that there were far better and cheaper options available, with the review stating: “Tag Heuer’s Connected is an expensive, incredibly well-built Android Wear smartwatch that runs smoothly and offers long battery life. It’s too bad, then, that $1,500 doesn’t net you a watch with a truly great screen, or the niceties we’ve come to expect from other devices. If you’re a true watch nerd, you might love the blend of classic Tag style and twenty-first-century convenience. Everyone else can buy a $350 Android Wear device and not feel like they’re missing anything.”