There are so many different kinds of watches on the market today. And more are possibly coming.
So you might struggle to decide which one.
Perhaps the first step is to find out as much as possible, all the types of watches available.
And this is what we will do here. We list down 41 different kinds of watches, and you can check out which one suits you better.
By Movement Type
Mechanical/Manual
A mechanical watch is a watch that uses a manual winding to rotate the gears inside the timepiece.
This type of movement has been around for centuries and is still popular today.
The main benefit of a mechanical watch is that it doesn’t require a battery, so it will continue to work even if there is no power.
However, they also require more maintenance than other types of watches. A Tissot T1194051603700 is an example of mechanical timepiece.
Automatic
Automatic watches are mechanical watches but powered by the natural movement of your arm.
Instead of manual winding, a mechanical watch has a rotor inside the watch. When you move your arm, you will spin the rotor.
The rotor then winds the mainspring, which then powers the watch.
Automatic timepieces are seen more prestigious by many. They are also more expensive. Most luxury watches run on automatic movement.
But then, there are plenty of affordable automatic watch to choose from as well, such as this Seiko 5 SNZG15J1.
Quartz Watches
A quartz watch is a watch that uses a battery to rotate the gears inside the watch.
This type of movement was first introduced in the 1970s and has since become the most popular type of watch.
The main benefit of a quartz watch is that it is very accurate and doesn’t require much maintenance.
The downside of Quartz is that it can feel a bit ‘cheap’, although there is premium and expensive quartz watches out there. The Bulova Precisionist is an example of a more premium Quartz watch.
ALSO READ: Automatic vs Quartz: Which Is Better For You?
Solar Watches
A solar watch is usually a quartz watch, but instead of using battery to power the movement, it uses the energy from the sun.
This removes the need to use batteries to power the watch, which makes it environmentally friendly as well.
The downside of solar watches is it needs the sun, which means if you live in the far north, the watch might have issues functioning during winter months.
Casio Solar MTP-S120L-3AVCF is an example of an affordable solar watch.
Light
Engineers further developed the solar watch, allowing it to be powered by more than just the sun.
Any source of light is enough to power the watch. For example, sun, lamp, torchlight.
Citizen Eco Drive is a popular example of light-powered movement.
Many Citizen timepieces run on Eco-Drive movement. An affordable example is the Citizen Garrison BM8180-03.
Kinetic
Kinetic movement are basically a combination of automatic and quartz movement.
A typical quartz movement uses a battery, while some experimented with natural or artificial light.
The kinetic movement uses your arm movement instead. It basically takes the rotor from automatic movements, and uses it to power a quartz movement instead.
Seiko’s kinetic timepieces, such as the SRN045P2 are particularly popular, beating out the Swiss watchmakers.
Spring Drive
Spring Drive movement are basically a more advanced way of combining quartz and automatic movement.
In a spring drive movement, the watch is powered by a spring, wound up by a rotor, just like an automatic movement.
The wound up spring will release its energy, and move the watch.
In traditional automatic movement, an escapement is used to control the energy.
In Spring Drive, a combination of electronic, magnetic force and quartz crystal are used.
This resulted in spring Drive movement being more accurate than traditional automatic or quartz watches over time.
Spring Drive movement is considered the pinnacle of watch movement technology at the moment.
Seiko pioneered the spring drive technology., and is used in their luxury Grand Seiko line of watches.
By Types of Dials
Analog
Analog timepieces have a dial with hour, minute, and second hands that rotate around it.
They usually have a face with numbers or Roman numerals on it to help you tell the time.
Analog watches come in both wristwatch and pocketwatch form.
Digital
A digital watch is a watch that displays the time in numerical form, often with a LCD display.
This type of movement was first introduced in the 1970s and has since become synonymous with certain Japanese watches, for example the G-Shock.
Hybrid
Hybrid timepieces are a relatively new type of watch that combines the best features of both digital and analog watches.
They typically have a small digital display that shows the time, date, and other important information, along with traditional analog watch hands.
Hybrid watches are perfect for people who want the convenience of a digital watch, but don’t want to give up the classic look of an analog watch.
Casio G-Shock GA-2100 is an affordable example of a hybrid dial.
Chronograph
Chronograph timepieces are watches with a stopwatch function. that is started and stopped by depressing the button at the two o’clock position.
They are usually more expensive than regular watches because of the extra complication.
Chronographs are popular with athletes and people who need to time events.
Some chronograph watches can measure laps, splits, and calories burned.
Orient’s Neo 70 Panda is an example of an affordable chronograph. This watch also looks very similar to the Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ edition.
Touchscreen
There is a new type of watch dial on the market- the touchscreen dial.
This style of watch has an LCD screen that allows you to control all the features of the watch with your finger.
Touchscreen timepieces are perfect for people who want a modern look, as they are very sleek and stylish.
However, they can be difficult to use if you have large fingers, as the buttons on the screen are often very small.
Tactile
Tactile timepieces are designed for people who are blind or have low vision.
The person can touch the watch and tell the time. Some can even ‘tell’ the time through voice.
Tactile watches are also helpful for people who are learning to tell time.
There are many different kinds of tactile watches, including digital and analog watches.
By Additional Complications
Some timepieces have complications added to it, so that it can do more than just tell time.
The most basic form of complications are day and date, which we will not cover here.
But there are plenty more as well, as we can see here:
Moon Phase Dials
Many timepieces include a moon phase display, which can be quite ornate.
This feature shows the current phase of the moon, and is a popular choice for those who enjoy astronomy or astrology.
Skeleton
Skeleton watches are a unique and interesting type of watch. They have a see-through or skeletonized dial that allows you to see the inner workings of the timepieces.
Skeleton watches are usually more expensive than others because they are more complicated to make.
If you are looking for a unique and interesting watch to add to your collection, a skeleton watch is a great option. They are sure to get attention and conversation started.
Tourbillion
The tourbillion is one of the most complicated mechanisms in a timepiece, and it’s also one of the most fascinating.
A tourbillion is a device that helps to keep the timepieces in precise time by counteracting the effects of gravity. It is a small, rotating cage that contains at least one ball-bearing.
The tourbillon rotates at a high speed, and the ball-bearing helps to keep the balance wheel and escapement in correct alignment.
Watches with tourbillons are some of the most accurate watches in the world, and they’re also some of the most expensive.
However, Stührling is one watch company that tries fight this, by producing tourbillion timepieces at a low price.
Sweeping Hand Quartz
Most kinds of watches have quartz movements, which means the hands move in a ticking motion.
But there are also quartz watches with sweeping hand movements.
These timepieces have a smooth, sweeping second hand instead of the ticking motion, making them look like an automatic watch.
Sweeping hand watches are usually more expensive than quartz watches, but they are also more accurate.
Bulova Precisionist is an iconic timepieces with a sweeping second hand.
Power Reserve Indicator
A power reserve indicator tells you how much power is left in the watch’s mainspring.
This is especially useful for watches with a manual winding movement, as it lets the wearer know when it’s time to wind the watch.
GMT
GMT stands for the Greenwich Meridian Time. To calculate a location’s timezone, GMT is used.
For example, New York’s time is GMT-5, 5 hours behind Greenwich Meridian Time
A GMT watch allows you to keep track of GMT time, so you can quickly tell time at a different place.
Just look at the GMT time hand, and do the addition or subtraction as needed.
Many GMT watches also have a 24-hour hand, which can be useful for keeping track of time in a third time zone.
By Style
Field/Military
Field watches are designed to be sturdy and versatile. perfect for use in a variety of settings.
They typically have a simple, easy-to-read dial and are water resistant.
Field watches are popular among military personnel, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants a watch that can handle anything.
ALSO READ: Best Hiking Watches Under $100
Dive
Dive watches are the type of watches that are designed to be used during scuba diving. It is one of the most popular type of timepieces.
They are water-resistant and have features that help the wearer to keep track of time underwater.
Dive timepieces usually have a rotating bezel to measure dive time.
Some comes with a depth gauge, which helps the wearer to keep track of how deep they are diving.
There are also a luminescent dial, which makes the watch readable in low-light conditions.
ALSO READ: Best Dive Watches Under $100
Pilot
Pilot timepieces are designed specifically for pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
They have a number of features that make them ideal for flying, such as large dials, luminescent hands and markers, and rotating bezels.
Pilot watches also often include chronographs to measure elapsed time.
Some pilot timepieces are also equipped with radios or compasses to help pilots in the air.
The Seiko Flightmaster SNA411 is one pilot watch that is popular with many enthusiasts.
Fashion
The most popular type of watch, fashion timepieces come in all shapes and sizes. It is more of a jewellery, with little functions.
Fashion timepieces tend to copy the looks of other watch types, but are usually unable to perform the tasks the original watch does.
For example, a fashion dive watch might not be water-resistant enough to be taken for a scuba dive. The watch might also use lower-quality crystals to keep prices low.
They often have a decorative face and come in a variety of colors.
Popular fashion watches makers include Fossil, Daniel Steiger, Nixon and Vincero.
Some fashion brands also produce watches as part of the accessory/jewelry line up, such as Olivia Burton, or Bering.
ALSO READ: Fossil Watch Review
ALSO READ: Daniel Steiger Watch Review
Racing
Do you love big timepieces with bold colors and designs?
If yes, racing watches are for you.
They are perfect for racers, drivers, pilots, and anyone else who wants to feel the thrill of a fast-paced lifestyle.
They usually are large to help tell time easier, and also come with a chronograph to take lap times.
Racing timepieces often have bold designs with bright colors and lots of accessories. They are also typically very durable, so you can be sure they will last through any adventure.
Nurse
There are many different kinds of nurse timepieces on the market.
Basic nurse watch will have a 15-second window to help nurse read pulses and hear rate. Some will not be wearable on the wrist, but clipped to the uniform.
Premium nurse watches will have alarms that will sound if a patient’s heart rate or blood pressure drops below a certain level. Some even have sensors that can detect when a patient has fallen out of bed.
Nurse watches are surprisingly suitable for use in kitchen, as their small size, smooth surface and 15-second windows helps with cooking as well.
ALSO READ: Should You Wear A Watch In the Kitchen?
Wood
A wood watch is a unique type of timepiece that is made from, you guessed it, wood.
While they are not as common as other types of watches, there are a few different brands that make them.
The main benefit of owning a wood watch is that it is eco-friendly – the materials used to make them come from sustainable sources.
One downside of wood watches is that they are not as durable as other kinds of watches. They are also not water-resistant.
Pocket watches are a type of watch that is designed to be carried in a pocket.
The wants first became popular in the 16th century, and men used them commonly.
Pocket watches are typically round or oval and have a chain that attaches to a pocket buttonhole. You power the watch by winding a key or knob on the side of the watch.
Some pocket watches have a cover that protects the face of the watch and can be opened to view the time.
Pocket watches are often made of gold or silver and can be quite expensive.
Dress
Dress watches are the kinds of watches you wear with a suit. They’re elegant, simple, and understated.
The best dress watches have thin case height and thin crystals, so they can slide in and out from your shirt cuff, especially if you wear a long sleeve shirt.
They also come with a leather strap, and a white, black or cream dial.
Dress watches don’t have any extra features like a chronograph or GMT function. All they need to do is tell time, and they do it well.
Orient makes beautiful and affordable dress watches. Their Bambino line of dress watches is very popular with watch enthusiasts.
ALSO READ: How To Wear A Watch With A Long Sleeve Shirt?
Vintage
Vintage watches are well, old watches.
There are many different kinds of vintage watches, from antique pocket watches to vintage dive watches.
Vintage watches often are models that are iconic, and well sought after by collectors.
For example, the Seiko QuartzAstron is the world’s first quartz watch, released in 1969. It is iconic, and is fetching a very high price in the collectors market.
If you’re looking for a unique and stylish watch, vintage is the way to go.
Vintage watches can be expensive, but they are worth splashing your money on.
Just make sure you have a good watchmaker to maintain them.
Casual/Beater
The next type of watch on our list is the casual or beater watch.
You wear casual or beater watches for well, casual moments.
You can also wear casual or beater timepieces when you know you will dirty your hands – say when fixing your car.
They tend to be more affordable and have a simpler design than dressier watches.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish – there are plenty of great-looking casual watches out there.
These kinds of watches are usually made from stainless steel or other durable materials, so they can stand up to wear and tear.
They’re also typically water-resistant.
The most iconic of casual/beater watch is the Casio F-91W.
Concrete
Concrete is not just for construction and bone setting, apparently it has also found its way into watches.
This particular example is from 22Studio. The dial is made of concrete, with a stainless steel bezel and case and leather strap.
Luxury
There are all kinds of luxury watches on the market these days, and all offer high level of quality, craftsmanship, and style.
The most popular brands include Rolex, Cartier, and Omega. Ultra-luxurious makers include Patek Phillippe, Jaeger LeCouture, or Audemars Piguet.
Luxury watches can be quite expensive, but they are also a great investment. They often hold their value well over time, and some models even increase in value.
Luxury watches also can be a lifeline with you need cash quickly – they fetch a good price at a pawn shop.
Homage Watches
A homage watch aims to look like the original but does not cross the line into outright cloning.
This shows homage watches are basically other companies designing watches similar to the original as a way to pay homage and show respect and reverence to the original.
Therefore, homage watches are a form of flattery to the original watch. It is not done to copy or steal the limelight and recognition from the original watch.
ALSO READ: The Truth About Homage Watches
Right-Handed Watches
These are watches made for southpaws, those that are left hand dominant.
Since the general rule for watch wearing is to wear them on your non-dominant hand, some watchmakers decide to make watch to accommodate these people.
ALSO READ: On What Hand Should You Wear Your Watch?
By Functionality
ABC
The acronym ABC stands for Altimeter, Barometer, Compass. Outdoors adventurers would appreciate timepieces like this.
Built to handle the extremes, ABC watches are made to be very durable. The dials are often large to help tell time better.
The buttons or crown are often large as well. This allows easy operation even while wearing gloves.
Smartwatches
have been around for a few years now, but they’re still a relatively new technology.
While there are many different kinds of smartwatches, they all have one thing in common: they’re designed to be more than just a timepiece.
Smartwatches can do everything from track your fitness activity to send you notifications and even make phone calls.
In other words, they’re much more than just a pretty piece of jewelry.
Atomic
Atomic timepieces are not related to anything nuclear.
It’s just that they use radio waves to help tell time more accurately.
Atomic watches basically uses a quartz movement, but added an additional atomic clock that updates the watch time several times a day through radio waves.
This makes atomic watches accurate – up to one second in thousands of years.
Japanese watchmakers offers many atomic watches at an affordable price, for example the Casio Waveceptor.
Solar Atomic
Solar atomic timepieces are basically atomic watches, with additional solar functions added into it.
Seiko introduced the first Solar atomic watch in 2005. Seiko’s line of Coutura timepieces are examples of Solar Atomic watches.
Fitness
Fitness watches are designed to help you stay active and healthy.
They track your heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned, as well as other health metrics.
Fitness watches can be a great motivator to get more active, and many of them also include features like GPS tracking and music playback.
If you’re looking for a watch to help you stay fit and healthy, a fitness watch is the way to go.
Fitbit Charge 5 is an example of a fitness watch, although there are many more examples with more functionalities in the market as well.
Medical Alert
Medical alert watches are specially designed for people who have medical conditions that require constant monitoring.
These watches usually have large buttons and easy-to-read displays. They may also have features like GPS tracking, heart rate monitors, and fall detection.
Some medical alert watches can even place calls to emergency services or caregivers if the wearer needs help.
If you or a loved one has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring, a medical alert watch may be the perfect solution.
Personal Safety
You wear a personal safety watch for protection.
At its basic form, it features some sort of alarm that attracts attention of other if the wearing does not feel safe.
You can also pair your phone to these personal safety timepieces. With one press of the button, it will automatically send SMS of your location to persons you have designated.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you are not feeling too overwhelmed by all these 41 kinds of watches.
Feel free to start just by selecting a watch that you think is beautiful, and do not worry too much on functions, movements or form yet.
You will eventually develop your own sense and taste for watches as time goes.