06/25/2020
 4 minutes

101 Reasons Why Watches Are Great: Marking a Personal Achievement

By Jorg Weppelink
CAM-1200-101-reasons-Uhren-als-Zeichen-persoenlicher-Erfolge-Magazin-2-1

101 Reasons Why Watches Are Great: Marking a Personal Achievement

Watch enthusiasts the world over love timepieces for their technical innovations and designs. The reason behind buying a watch, however, is usually far more personal. Sometimes, it’s to mark a specific achievement or life event that we would like to remember, no matter how big or small. Every watch tells a story of people and moments that goes above and beyond the time it displays.

There’s no denying the fact that luxury watches are also considered status symbols. Mechanical watches are luxury goods, so that just comes with the territory. Watches can be very expensive, and many perceive those wearing one as trying to show off. In fairness, many mechanical watches from luxury brands seem built to attract attention.

I personally don’t have any problem with that. There is nothing wrong with wearing a watch as a symbol of success. However, if you’re looking to buy a watch purely to impress others, I don’t have much else to say – and many watch enthusiasts would feel the same. Buying a watch for the sole purpose of showing off disregards the craftsmanship, design, and history behind every model. For people like me, it’s that great personal story that connects us to our watches and leaves a lasting impression. And sometimes that story is one of personal achievement.

Choosing the Right Occasion

Let’s take a stroll through life’s major events and find some that could be marked with the purchase of a watch. Some of these may be obvious, but there might be some twists in there, too.

Rolex Datejust 36 mm
Rolex Datejust 36 mm

There’s no better place to start than the beginning: birth. The birth of a child is the perfect occasion to buy a watch for yourself and/or your child. I love the idea of buying a watch for your newborn and wearing it until he or she turns 18 or graduates. They can then wear it with pride and always have a reminder of you on their wrist. Hopefully, they will then pass the watch on to their children. If you buy the right watch, it will outlive multiple generations of your family and become a true heirloom. In my opinion, the ideal timepiece for this occasion is the Rolex Datejust 36 mm. It’s a proven classic that suits anyone’s wrist.

Next on the list is graduation from high school or college. Let’s go with the latter, as it’s generally a larger achievement that leads to the start of the next phase in life. It also marks a momentous shift in the parent-child relationship. The question also arises as to whether the parent should gift their graduate a watch or if the graduate should treat themselves to a timepiece to mark the occasion? My ideal scenario would be a parent and child choosing a watch together. I remember when one of my good friends and his dad picked out a Rolex Sea-Dweller as a graduation gift. He still wears it almost daily some twenty years later. I think a Rolex sports watch is the perfect choice for any graduate. A Submariner or Sea-Dweller is sure to be with you for a long time.

Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 116660
Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 116660

The next personal achievement may come relatively soon after graduation. I know plenty of people who bought their first watch with their first paycheck (or first few paychecks) in celebration of their first job. For many, this is the first time they are able to go out and purchase a timepiece with their own money. At this point, there really is no ideal watch. It all comes down to your own personal preferences. Are you starting a collection? Are you looking for an iconic piece? In both circumstances, the Omega Speedmaster Professionalwould be a good choice.

Next up? You’ve probably guessed it: your wedding day! What better way to celebrate your new marriage than with a pair of watches? Do they have to coordinate? Absolutely not. If you can find men’s and women’s models that you both like, great. You could also buy the same watch in different configurations. What’s most important, however, is that you both buy watches you will love for years to come. If you do want a matching pair, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso may be the perfect watch for you. It’s available in men’s and women’s, sizes as well as unisex sizes that suit all wrist sizes. If you buy a Reverso with a solid case back, you could have it engraved with some words to mark the martial bond.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

Following the wedding, we probably arrive back at birth, so we have come full circle. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t many other personal achievements that could be celebrated with the purchase of a watch. There’s buying your first home, finalizing an important business deal, starting your own company, making a good investment, celebrating a friendship, a work anniversary, getting a promotion, or winning a championship – to name a few. The personal milestones you reach in life, both big and small, are nearly endless, meaning there are plenty of reasons to celebrate with a watch that can be passed down to future generations with a great story.

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About the Author

Jorg Weppelink

Hi, I'm Jorg, and I've been writing articles for Chrono24 since 2016. However, my relationship with Chrono24 goes back a bit longer, as my love for watches began …

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