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Although you can just look at your phone or computer to find out the time, it’s still handy to wear a watch. Not only is it convenient, but it also gives you a stylish fashion accessory. Whether you own one watch or you’re a bit of a collector, they haven’t fallen out of fashion just yet and can be fun to wear. Watches have developed over time, though, and the introduction of the smartwatch has meant that you now have even more choice. But the question is, should you wear a traditional watch or a smartwatch? Which is better in terms of fashion, functionality, sustainability, and more? There are pros and cons to consider for each type of watch if you’re thinking about buying a new one.
Style
When it comes to style, you can find that traditional mechanical watches do tend to have a wider range of options to choose from. This is partly because the technology and style of traditional watches has been developing for a long time. Additionally, it’s easier to fit all of the necessary components for a mechanical watch into a smaller case compared to getting the tech for a smartwatch into a wearable case. Smartwatches tend to be a little bulkier, although some of them can be sleeker than you might expect.
You can still get plenty of choice with both options, and even some smartwatches that look a bit more like a traditional watch. You will find that you can explore a range of materials, styles, and colours with both types of watches. If you’re interested in a smartwatch, you can find some stylish options for men and there are also some pretty options for women, which tend to be a little more low-profile, feature nicer straps, and come in a wider range of colours too.
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Of course, if you look at traditional watches, you can find a huge range of styles and at a large range of price points too. If you’re on a budget but want a stylish watch, it’s easier to find a traditional watch for not much money compared to buying a smartwatch. The more stylish smartwatches are often a little pricier.
Functionality
When it comes to functionality, a smartwatch can obviously do a lot more than a traditional watch. A traditional watch might have a few different hands to tell you certain things, or could tell you what the date is. It might even have a stopwatch function.
But a smartwatch gives you a screen that you can use to receive phone notifications, control the music you’re listening to, track your health and fitness stats, use contactless pay, and more. You can easily learn how to do things like connect your most important apps using guides like this one for connecting Spotify to your Apple Watch: https://setapp.com/how-to/spotify-on-apple-watch. Of course, you are dealing with a small screen, which some people can find tricky at first. It’s not as big as a smartphone and it can take some time to get used to.
However, not everyone needs or feels they can benefit from the functionality offered by a smartwatch. You can benefit from the features on a traditional watch if all you want to do is keep track of the time and there are some different features and options to consider. For example, you can choose what type of movement you want. A quartz movement uses batteries that need to be changed, while an automatic movement will keep going without batteries or winding. You can get different types of watches, such as sports watches and diving watches, and look for features such as good water resistance.
Sustainability
If you’re concerned about the sustainability of the watch you buy, it’s definitely worth thinking about if there’s any difference between a traditional watch and a smartwatch. One thing to keep in mind is that a smartwatch is likely not going to last as long as many traditional watches. It will probably last for around two to five years, depending on its features and how it’s made. Of course, you might decide before this point that you want to upgrade to get the latest release or the next big thing. Smartwatches often put much more focus on the technology inside them, rather than the timelessness of the style.
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Traditional watches might not last too long either, but it’s all about the quality and how long you wear them. A high-quality traditional watch could last for decades or sometimes even longer. Even if you don’t invest a huge amount of money into a traditional watch, it can still be functional and beautiful for many years. Cheaper watches might start to look a little worse for wear after a while, but even some of them can be kept looking good and working well with the right care.
As for the sustainability of how they are sold, it’s much easier to find a sustainable traditional watch compared to a sustainable smartwatch. There are several watch companies focused on making sustainable traditional watches, but smartwatches are a little more comparable to a smartphone in terms of sustainability. Some sustainable watch brands include Nordgreen, Original Grain, and Votch.
Cost
There is a huge range of price points when you’re looking at both traditional watches and smartwatches. Cheap smartwatches are available from around £50, whereas a cheap traditional watch could be bought for just a few pounds. Of course, if you’re looking for good quality, you will probably want to pay more. When it comes to traditional watches, prices can get very high. At first, you may be paying for quality alone. However, some of the most expensive watches are priced according to the manufacturer and their reputation, in addition to the quality of the watch.
Assuming you don’t want to spend tens of thousands on a watch, you can get both smartwatches and traditional watches for a reasonable price.
When you’re deciding whether to get a traditional watch or a smartwatch, think about your priorities and which factors are most important to take into account.
