Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watches

The dress watch is perhaps the hardest watch to master. It has to be simple, it has to be manual wind, it has to have no complications—small seconds at a push—and it has to be small, both in diameter, but more importantly, thickness. This leaves very little for a watchmaker to hide behind, only the quality of the watchmaking itself left to do the talking. How do the very best brands in the world do it?

Ever since it was discovered that combining iron, chromium and carbon made a material that could be used to make almost anything, stainless steel has been king of construction. It’s strong, it’s malleable, its hardy—and that’s why it’s also used for making watches. What more could you ask than that? Well, apparently you can get watches made of other, more exotic materials as well. But why?

If you’ve been watching these videos then there’s a high chance that sooner or later you’re going to buy a watch. Maybe it’ll be your first, and doubtful it will be your last; either way, it’s a decision that requires careful deliberation before jumping into. Easier said than done, however, so let us do some of the hard work for you and leave you to enjoy the rest: and by that I mean here is a list of five more watches that you should avoid.

Not every watch should look like an old one. Vintage styling is nice and all, but choice is even more so. The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same thing, etcetera, etcetera. And so, for those looking for something a touch more contemporary, here are three different avant-garde alternatives for three different budgets.