Online jewelry sales in the U.S. market hit $2.45 billion in 2006, an increase of 20 percent from 2005, according to data from IDEX Online Research. Online sales comprised 3.9 percent of all jewelry sales of $63.0 billion in 2006. For those who fear that it is unsafe or unwise to purchase watches online, this should provide comfort and reassurance. With outstanding return policies and quality guarantees, consumers can rest assured that even if their purchase is not exactly what they hoped, they can return or exchange the watch for something more to their liking. Online security is so advanced that there is little risk of information getting into the wrong hands. Shoppers are encouraged, however, to read both the return policy and guarantees are before submitting their order.

One website that has built an excellent reputation for quality and customer service is KenmarWatches.com. Kenmar Watches has been selling wristwatches on the internet since 1997, and carries well over 125 brands. They offer 100% customer satisfaction and you can even receive your new watch in 24 hours or less.

Styles Of Wrist Watches

While there is a wide variety of watches on offer today, the general categories of watch are listed below. Keep in mind that many of today's watches blur the line between one type and another, so when buying a watch online, the information provided here should be used only as a general reference.

Dress Watches: Keep it simple. One rule of thumb is to consider what would look best if you were standing on the red carpet at an awards ceremony. Dress watches are often thin, plain, and crafted from a precious metal, such as gold or platinum.

Designer Watches: Often, by the time a person has made a name for themselves in the watch world, they previously made a name for themselves in some other medium. This is not always the case, however, and there are scores of designers who specialize solely in wrist watches (such as Longines, Pulsar, Seiko, and Tissot), but by-and-large designer Wrist Watches are created by other popular fashion, furniture or accessories designers, including Anne Klein, Betsey Johnson, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Ed Hardy, Armani, Fendi, Gucci, and Locman.

Sports Watches: As the name implies, sports wrist watches are often rugged and frequently display bells and whistles such as a stopwatch ("chronograph") or waterproofing. Many sports watches are water-resistant to some degree, and nearly always have large, prominent hands. Two important sub-categories are Diver and Pilot watches.

Which Watch Wrist Watch?

Probably the most important thing to consider when buying a watch is personal style. Beyond that, one might consider whether or not the prospective owner has other watches. If this is to be the bearer's only watch, it is best to go with a simple sports model, one that will not be out of place at the gym, but will look equally appropriate at a job interview. When shopping for a watch online, look into the website's return policy, in case you and the watch recipient have different tastes and styles!

The next consideration is size. Watches have gotten bigger and bigger in recent years. When you Buy Watches online, be sure to read the description for exact measurements. If you already own a watch, compare the size of that timepiece to the ones you are looking at on the internet. However, a good return policy at an online vendor (such as KenmarWatches.com) can ensure that even if the size is too large or too small, the watch can be returned for a more comfortable size.

If you are purchasing a watch online to give as a gift, many websites offer wrapping and gift options, including allowing the gift recipient to exchange for a watch of their specific choosing. This is one more reason why more and more people buy watches online.