BUYING Time

Mansi Shah puts together a primer on how to invest in your first luxury timepiece

- Mansi Shah

Quiet luxury has now made it to common parlance, mostly used to describe products that are free from logos but bear testimony to the owner’s wealth and perhaps taste. Screaming that you’re moneyed is passé; your wealth now has to speak in hushed tones, in whispers. Horology is a passion perfectly suited to this concept of stealth wealth.

The making of watches is considered a coveted art form that is enjoying a resurgence after the ebb of a chaotic influx of smartwatches. Aficionados of this art form will rarely need to see a dial or logo to be able to spot the signature of a watchmaker. A cursory glance at a wrist across the room, a handshake, and they could easily list the year, the collection, and the details of the bezel.

This elite clique has everyone’s attention—watches have proved to be a great investment, social media has hyped and amplified their worth, and now everyone wants access. There’s also the fact that they make for great family heirlooms, and someone who appreciates a pun would surely enjoy passing on the gift of time to the next generation.

Many are abandoning their smartwatches for the quiet, uninterrupted offering of luxury timepieces. If you’re drawn to the intricacies of watches and are wanting to make a purchase that goes beyond the brand names but are unsure of how to go about it, our guide to buying luxury watches has inputs from watch enthusiasts and horologists.