Watches have evolved over the centuries and become almost a necessity. There are many types of watches all with different functions. If you are looking for a watch there are a few things to keep in mind. Your budget is important here. The amount you can spend on a watch will dictate what type of watch and what features or functions you will be able to have. Watches can range in price from $2.00 or $3.00 all the way up to thousands of dollars and more.



An analog watch is a watch that has hands. There may be a second hand or not. The second hand moves in continuous sweeping motion. Some second hands will move in two second intervals to indicate the batteries need to be replaced. Digital watches have the time displayed in numerals. Digital watches are very popular.

An LCD watch uses liquid crystal display to show the time. The numbers are usually gray or black on a lighter background. An LED watch uses a diode that emanates light. There is usually a button to push to display the time. The numbers in the display are red in color.

A quartz watch is very popular in the market place today as well and it runs on batteries. A tiny quartz crystal in the watch vibrates at a very stable frequency. This keeps the time instead of the traditional mechanical movement.

Other watches include a mechanical watch. It operates with the movement of a set of gears. A spring inside the watch is wound to power the gears. A jewel watch uses gems such as rubies at points of friction inside the movement.

A diving watch is water resistant through a depth of between fifty to one hundred meters and it is marked on the dial. Instead of the usual push/pull crown, a diving watch has a screw down crown. This creates a better water tight seal. The band is made of rubber or similar material because the salt water won’t cause deterioration.

Functions on watches include calendars, time zones, stop watches, and alarms. Many have the option of being set to standard or military time. Still others have indigo lights that when a button is pressed will light up and make the numbers more visible. This is especially good in a hospital or nursing home setting where you need the light to read the second hand while checking pulses. There are some watches that have removable face plates so that you can have your watch match what you are wearing. The shape of a watch can be almost any shape as well such a round or rectangular. There are ring watches and pendant watches. Pocket watches are making a come back as well.

The bands on watches are as varied in material and design as the watches themselves. There are metal bands that stretch, there are bands made of material similar to the straps on backpacks and that fasten with Velcro. There are bands of cloth, hemp, metal links and bands that come in one or two pieces.