The designer watch trade has been a major bastion of luxurious retail merchandise in the past ten years. For what other item can you shell out more than $10,000 to buy something that does exactly the same job as a virtual clone costing $5 at your neighborhood discount outlet? They look pretty much alike, both far away and close up, so why are they so different? Let's look into this further....

Timekeeping has become progressively more important in everyday life as demands on production and punctuality have increased. Since the industrial revolution there has been a shift in focus to having things happen precisely and on time. In time, wristwatches became a daily necessity.

Eventually, design houses added wristwatches in their line of products with their brand's name emblazoned upon it. Traditionally, the Swiss are renowned as watchmakers. However, they are focused on a more exclusive, upper-market clientele. As it turned, the Japanese have earned a reputation for producing reliable and affordable mechanical and electronic workings for these timepieces.

Watches fall into a few separate and distinct classifications. The stopwatch is a well known and much utilized instance. Anyone who participates in sports nowadays can recite his or her "personal best" times in the various runs. Mariners also need to do precise time tracking. In contemporary yacht races, it's not only the completion time that is important, but the time which has elapsed on the course before doing any tacking. Famous Formula One race car drivers are frequently shown in TV ads sporting the most up-to-date watches which claim the ability to track time accurately to a hundredth of a second.

When looking to buy wristwatches, consumers are often in search of a discount watch. These are usually the $5 model you find at the local five-and-dime. These are inexpensive, true, but usually are sealed to prevent battery swaps. When the battery is dead, so is the watch. These are also rather plain and boring products; they are sometimes called "disposable watches" due to their nature.

Designer watches on the other hand, are more than just a timepiece. Their functionality is not found in solely providing the owner with the accurate time of day. Rather, they also serve as a fashion statement for those lucky enough to own one. It's akin to wearing Gucci or another famous name brand. In addition to bearing famous names, these watches are known for making their owner stand out in a crowd due to their sheer elegance. These wristwatches are usually not only made with gold or silver, but are also often admired for being adorned with a dazzling array of gemstones, often diamonds (e.g., Rolex and others).

When shopping for a designer watch, remember to compare warranty periods as part of your final decision. If buying used, do some research on the Internet to determine if the brand you are considering has a reputation for quality and longevity.

There are those who like to give someone dear a designer watch as a birthday gift, for a special event, or as part of the gift-giving during the end-of-year holidays. Such watches have gained popularity as well with bosses who present them to workers as bonuses for specific accomplishments. Regardless of the reason, a designer watch always delights its recipient, male or female. Since your time is worth so much, you might as well track it stylishly.

Explore the high-fashion and glamourous world of designer watches at The Designer Watches Superstore. We showcase hundreds of the most popular name brand wristwatches at discount watch prices. Watch our videos for demos and reviews, and read more about designer watches on our blog.