Jewelry Watches

For some privileged people, a great watch does more than just tell you what time it is. Some look for timepieces that offer a variety of features, regardless of whether its features are more useful than others. The more complicated the features are, the more expensive the watch gets, the better it is to wear around the wrist. Some regard a great watch for its bling factor, like the number of diamonds it's encrusted with. The more diamonds there are, the better it is to wear and display.

But for many watch connoisseurs and collectors, watches that deserve to belong among the top of the line category are those that not only offer all those features. A great watch must also work as an accessory along with a person's wardrobe ensemble as well his or her lifestyle.

Jewelry watches, apart from its perceived function of telling time, must also serve to fill the following needs:

• As a durable collectible timepiece and an heirloom that may be handed down from generation

  to generation.
• As a work of art that speaks of how exquisite its beauty and technical craftsmanship is.

Among chronophiles and those just starting to collect jewelry watches, the best buys always come from

the most trusted brands, never mind if these brands do not have the most expensive pieces or the most popular lines.

A survey recently conducted by a consumer board showed that established brands like Cartier, Rolex, Omega still lead the market. Other choices include jewelry watches from Franck Muller, Harry Winston, Panerai and Piaget. Consumers today prefer timepieces to be both aesthetically pleasing and technically innovative, combining the essence of a jewelry watch and a sports watch. And while most jewerly watches sell for more than $1000, there is now an expanding demand by consumers for an entry-level timepiece

that could retail for about $300 to $700. The makers of these elaborate timepieces are accommodating

such a challenge.

Companies like Rolex, most referred to as the Rolls Royce of expensive timepieces, has began introducing limited edition series to answer to the growing need of consumers. Cartier, a popular jewelry watch brand

for women, also came out with their own limited edition, the Roadster (for women). Harry Winston is trying to balance the current demand from today's consumers between its more upscale markets. It came out

with an everyday jewelry watch that retails a lot less than its normal range (about $6,000), but at the

same time, it also introduced a line for its billionaire patrons (about $20,000).

With the rise in the demand, new players are expected to enter the market. Louis Vuitton, more famously known for its designer bags, has been creating and retailing jewlery watches a couple of years back and

is holding ground against more established brands. Gucci, who initially staggered into the jewelry watches market, is now bouncing back and regaining its rightful place (Gucci jewelry watches sell for about $1000 above). Ferragamo and Burberry, also familiar expensive brand names, will pretty soon join the crowd and will introduce their own line.

With its increasing popularity, the number of choices now available and the changes in its price range, one can conclude that extravagant jewelry watches indeed come as a priceless accessory which many can now afford to have, if not save up for it.