Luxury Watch Buying Guide for First Time Collectors
Starting a watch collection is about more than choosing a timepiece that catches your eye. The right watch should complement your personal style, feel comfortable on your wrist, and offer the features that make sense for the way you plan to wear it.
At Bremer Jewelry, our watch selection includes a range of styles, sizes, materials, movements, dials, bracelets, and straps. Whether you are choosing your first watch or adding something different to an existing collection, understanding these details can make it easier to find a timepiece you will enjoy wearing for years to come.
For watch buyers in Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois, visiting a jeweler in person also gives you the opportunity to compare case sizes, materials, bracelets, straps, and dial styles directly on your wrist before deciding which timepiece belongs in your collection.
What Should You Look for When Buying Your First Watch?
Before choosing a specific watch, think about where and how you plan to wear it.
Some people want one versatile timepiece they can wear regularly, while others are looking for a watch that fills a particular place in their wardrobe. You may prefer a classic bracelet watch, a leather strap, a sportier design, or something with a distinctive dial.
Our collection includes men's and women's watches across a variety of case sizes, from smaller designs measuring 27mm or less to larger watches measuring 43mm and above. Considering case size, band style, and overall design together can help narrow your choices to watches that suit both your wrist and your personal style.
What Type of Watch Movement Is Best for a Collection?
One of the most important details to consider when choosing a watch is its movement. Our watch collection includes quartz, automatic, and mechanical timepieces, giving you several options depending on what you prefer.
Quartz Watches
Quartz watches make up a significant portion of our current watch selection. These timepieces are battery powered, making battery replacement an important part of ongoing ownership.
At Bremer Jewelry, we replace watch batteries on almost any timepiece. We can also adjust bracelet links, helping you keep your watch comfortable and ready to wear.
Automatic Watches
Automatic watches offer another option for collectors interested in the mechanics behind a traditional timepiece. Our current selection includes automatic watches such as the Shinola Lake Michigan Monster Automatic Dive Watch, a 39mm stainless steel design.
Including different movement types in your collection is one way to add variety beyond simply choosing different dial colors or case styles.
Mechanical Watches
Mechanical movements can also be found within our watch selection. When comparing watches, checking the movement alongside the size, material, dial, and band can give you a more complete understanding of what makes each timepiece different.
Which Watch Material Should You Choose?
Material can have a major impact on the appearance and feel of a watch. Stainless steel is featured throughout our current watch selection and can be found across a variety of designs, from bracelet watches to models paired with straps.
Our collection also includes titanium options, such as Shinola Runwell West Wind models with titanium bracelets. Looking at different materials gives you another way to bring variety into a collection while choosing a watch that fits your preferences.
You can also consider how the case material works with other design details. Dial color, bracelet or strap style, case size, and finish all contribute to the overall look of a timepiece.
Is a Watch Bracelet or Strap Better?
The band is another detail that can dramatically change the personality of a watch. Our selection includes both bracelet and strap designs, making this an important consideration when building a collection.
Metal bracelets can create a cohesive look with stainless steel and titanium cases, while straps introduce different textures and colors. Our current Shinola selection, for example, includes watches with metal bracelets as well as designs featuring leather straps.
As your collection grows, choosing different band styles can help ensure that each watch brings something unique to your wardrobe.
How Do You Choose the Right Watch Size and Dial?
Watch size is personal, which is why we carry timepieces across a wide range of case dimensions. Our collection includes extra-small, small, medium, and large case sizes, allowing you to compare how different proportions look and feel on your wrist.
Dial design is another opportunity to define your collection. Our watch selection includes light, dark, colored, and gemstone dials. Rather than purchasing several watches with very similar aesthetics, you may want to consider how each new timepiece adds a different design element to your collection.
A smaller watch with a light dial and bracelet, for example, serves a very different style purpose than a larger watch with a dark or colorful dial and strap.
How Do You Build a Well-Rounded Watch Collection?
There is no single formula for building the right watch collection. Instead, focus on choosing pieces that reflect how you dress and what you genuinely enjoy wearing.
Our current watch selection features Shinola timepieces in a variety of styles, including Runwell, Canfield, Derby, Duck, and Monster designs. We also carry select pre-owned luxury watches, including pre-owned Rolex models.
For a first watch, you might prioritize versatility. When it is time for another, you can look for something that offers a noticeably different case size, movement, band, material, or dial. Over time, those differences can create a more varied collection rather than a group of watches that all serve the same purpose.
How Should You Care for a Watch Collection?
Proper care is just as important as choosing the watches themselves. Watches are meant to be worn, and regular attention can help keep them looking their best.
One area that can benefit from professional attention is the bracelet. Regardless of where or when you purchased your timepiece, Bremer Jewelry offers complimentary watch bracelet cleaning.
If you own a quartz watch, battery replacement will also become part of its care over time. Our service department replaces watch batteries on almost any timepiece, with battery services typically completed within 24 to 48 business hours. We can also adjust bracelet links when needed.
These services make it easier to keep a favorite watch in regular rotation and ensure that the bracelet continues to fit comfortably.
Where Can You Shop for Watches in Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois?
Shopping for a watch in person allows you to see details that can be difficult to judge online, particularly case proportions, bracelet fit, dial appearance, and how a particular material feels on your wrist.
Bremer Jewelry serves watch buyers through our locations in both Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois. Whether you are searching for your first timepiece or adding another watch to an established collection, our team can help you compare available styles, movements, sizes, materials, and bands.
Building a Collection That Feels Like You
A watch collection does not need to begin with a certain number of watches or follow a predetermined set of rules. Start with a timepiece you genuinely want to wear, then pay attention to what you enjoy about it.
For your next watch, consider introducing something different. If your first watch has a leather strap, you might consider a bracelet. If you started with quartz, an automatic or mechanical timepiece could bring a different element to your collection. You can also vary case sizes, materials, dial colors, and overall styling.
The goal is to create a collection that feels personal rather than repetitive. Each watch can serve a different purpose while still reflecting your individual taste.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Watch Collection
What is the best watch to start a collection with?
There is no single watch that is right for every new collector. A good first watch should fit comfortably, suit your personal style, and work for the situations in which you expect to wear it most. Consider the movement, case size, material, dial, and bracelet or strap when comparing your options.
How many watches do you need to start a watch collection?
There is no required number of watches. A collection can begin with a single timepiece you enjoy wearing. As you add watches, choosing different movements, case sizes, materials, dials, and band styles can help create variety.
Should my first watch be quartz or automatic?
Both can have a place in a watch collection. Quartz watches are battery powered, while automatic watches offer a different approach to traditional watch mechanics. Your preference, intended use, and the specific styles you like can help determine which is right for you.
What watch size should I buy?
The right watch size depends on your wrist, comfort, and style preferences. Bremer Jewelry carries watches across a range of case sizes, from 27mm or less to 43mm and above, giving you the opportunity to compare different proportions.
Where can I buy watches in Peoria, Illinois?
Bremer Jewelry has a Peoria location where you can shop our watch selection in person and compare different movements, materials, sizes, dials, bracelets, and straps.
Where can I buy watches in Bloomington, Illinois?
Bremer Jewelry also serves watch buyers at our Bloomington location, where you can see available watch styles in person and get help finding a timepiece suited to your preferences.
Does Bremer Jewelry offer watch battery replacement?
Yes. We replace watch batteries on almost any timepiece, with battery services typically completed within 24 to 48 business hours. We can also adjust bracelet links when needed.
Does Bremer Jewelry clean watch bracelets?
Yes. Bremer Jewelry offers complimentary watch bracelet cleaning regardless of where or when the timepiece was purchased.
At Bremer Jewelry, we carry watches in a variety of movements, materials, sizes, dials, and band styles to help you find the right fit for your collection. Visit us in Bloomington or Peoria to see our watch selection in person, compare different styles on your wrist, and let our team help you choose a timepiece you'll look forward to wearing.