As August fast approaches, it’s likely you and your child are planning to hit multiple department stores in search of the usual barrage of binders, notebooks, mechanical pencils and school locks. Yet once your child hits a certain age, you’ll notice that they’ll quickly become infatuated with accessories: jewelry, headbands and sneakers – in addition to scented markers and rubber erasers. Once they’re in middle school, peers begin comparing their possessions to those of their classmates, and accessories are a huge part of that. If you are considering buying your child their first “grown up” watch (to discourage the use of cell phones in class, of course), you’ll quickly find that there are a lot of options to choose from. How will you pick one that is practical, long-lasting, and budget-friendly?
Choose the Movement
There is some lingo and terminology which the novice wrist watch owner might find to be a bit confusing. Let’s clear that up right away.
Most standard watches available will be described as mechanical, quartz or automatic. Quartz timepieces are the most basic; powered by a battery, where the frequency is measured by a quartz crystal. Automatic or self-winding watches are a bit more high-caliber, where the mechanical pieces are wound by the wearer through the natural movements of the arm or wrist. If your son or daughter’s watch won’t be worn too often, his or her automatic watch may require storage in the form of a watch winder to keep the movements current. These can be pretty pricey, so be sure to factor the price into your budget. Lastly, just as the name suggests, mechanical watches must be wound manually to keep time – just as they did in the olden days before watch batteries existed!
Select a Style
Is this time piece a gift for special occasions, or a basic item for everyday wear? Now that your kid has outgrown rubber, plastic and elastic watch straps, there are more adult metals he or she has to choose from. You’ll likely be selecting a piece that is ceramic, gold or stainless steel, as platinum is expensive and better suited for professionals, and silver watches require regular cleaning.
Ceramic has become a popular option is recent years due to the comfort and durability it affords. This isn’t the delicate ceramic used in kitchen and cookware, but rather a high-tech, synthetic material that is sanded, shaped and polished into a textile that is both high-density and lightweight. It is not affected by cold or heat, and won’t cause allergic reactions when rubbed against skin. Ceramic watches are scratch and water resistant, and will not fade, discolor or tarnish – even after sweating or showering with the timepiece on – making it a perfect choice for a young student.
Gold watches are offered in white gold (which looks like silver), rose gold (which has a slightly pink hue), and the yellow gold, which is most typically associated with this golden hue. As with any gold jewelry, purity will be expressed in karats; also, many of these pieces are produced in alloys, joined with other metals such as copper, nickel or zinc to give it strength and durability. While highly attractive, this precious metal will tarnish with age and is vulnerable to scratching.
Stainless steel is also an alloy of mixed iron and carbon – to give it weight – and steel comprised of chromium to prevent rust and corrosion. This alternative is a bit more rugged than silver or gold, and its metallic hue does not sparkle and shine as others do. However, it has a much longer shelf life and is not prone to tarnishing.
Pick a Brand or Country of Origin
You don’t need to spend thousands to secure a watch of high quality for your child. Due to the rapid change of interests and tastes kids experience at that age, you’ll probably want to purchase a timepiece for as little as possible, while ensuring that it offers a solid warranty to last for years to come. Be on the lookout for watches made in Japan or China, as these countries specialize in watch movements. Of course, the best option will be a watch from Switzerland. Watches must have Swiss parts and be fully assembled and placed in the case in the country of Switzerland to qualify as “Swiss-made”.
You might do a bit of research on popular watch brands for girls and boys, or browse through “best of” lists to find acclaimed styles under a particular price point, like $100, $300 or $500. If your student is looking for a specific feature, it’s best to shop around online and compare prices before visiting in-store. For example, Amour Lite from The CGA Company specializes in tritium illumination and shatterproof glass, perfect for contact sports and nighttime practice. Invicta from EVINE Live specialize in diver watches that can be submerged up to 300 meters, which is a great option for swimmers; and for the artsy individuals, Projectswatches are unique and architecturally-based pieces, sure to be vastly different from anything worn by their peers.
Hopefully with this knowledge, the process of searching for and buying the perfect Back to School watch for your tween or teenager will be a breeze! Take this opportunity to spend a little time with your child, getting reacquainted with their ever-evolving style and tastes, and get them started on the right foot this school year with a fashionable and functional watch accessory.
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