Invest in time, buy a quality watch.

A watch is the most ultimate fashion accessory. It can be a status symbol, a goody or an inheritance. If you decide to invest in time, be aware; not all watches are worth your hard earned money. With this list you’ll invest in a model that will make your son and your grandson very happy.

1. If you decide to buy a watch go for one of the top brands. If you don’t know the brands check the sites of auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s. These sites also offer e-catalogues that notify you when there’s an interesting auction that fits your needs (and budget). Go with brands like Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piquet, Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, zenith or Girard-Perregaux and you’ll most likely have a winner.

2. Go for a classic model! Trendy is great now but what if you still want to wear it in 10 or 20 years? In time you may want to give it to your son and what use it to him if he’s not wearing it. Further more, a classic watch looks great with a suit, a polo and even a T-shirt. Forget trendy, go for classic!

3. When you buy an antique or second hand watch, always ask for the original box and purchase papers.

4. When it says “Limited Edition”, don’t trust it. Quality watches aren’t produced in big numbers anyway.

5. Go for a clock with a mechanical inner work. Nothing can beat the nostalgic sentiment of a clock that’s handcrafted.

6. Be careful where you buy your clock. Only buy it from an official dealer appointed by the manufacturer. And when you buy it at a (well-known) auction house always ask for a certificate of origin.

7. Never buy it at e-bay or some other crappy site. If you want to buy it online than only buy it at auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

8. Gold and platinum watches are not better than steel, only cheaper.

What is the price of a quality watch?

For the beginner: You can already buy a classical and stylish watch with a nice mechanical inner work for about $1.500 / €1.100.

A special piece: Thinking of buying a unique and special piece, than you’ll need to bring with you about $3.500 – $5.000 / €2.000 – €3.500.

Inheritance: The buying is getting serious with about $10.000 – $50.000 / €7.500 – €35.000.

Bill Gates: When you buy yours for something like $100.000 – $300.000 / €65.000 – €250.000 and you decide to sell it afterwards you might even make some money with it.

Here are some good investments that I found at Christie’s.

PATEK PHILIPPE. A FINE 18K GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES

Estimated at 60,000 – 80,000 U.S. dollars

nickel-finished lever movement stamped with the seal of Geneve, 24 jewels, gyromax balance, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, silvered matte dial with applied baton numerals, apertures for day and month, three subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds combined with 24 hours, 30 minute register combined with leap year cycle and date combined with sector for phases of the moon, circular water-resistant type case with down-turned fluted lugs, sapphire crystal display screw back, case, dial and movement signed, with an 18k gold Patek Philippe buckle

Accompanied by Patek Philippe cardboard slipcase, wood presentation box, setting pin, solid 18k gold case back, leather envelope, certificate and instructions.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX. A FINE AND UNIQUE 18K WHITE GOLD TRIBLE-BRIDGE TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH

Estimated at 45,000 – 60,000 U.S. dollars

Signed Girard-Perregaux, Tourbillon, Pièce Unique, circa 1998. With nickel-finished lever movement decoratively engraved throughout, 46 jewels, the one-minute tourbillon carriage with mono-metallic compensation balance, all beneath three golden bridges, black matte dial with applied Breguet numerals, three engine-turned subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour registers, circular polished case with down-turned lugs and brushed bezel, the sapphire crystal display back secured by seven screws, case, dial and movement signed, with an 18k white gold Girard-Perregaux deployant clasp

Accompanied by Girard-Perregaux cardboard slipcase, presentation box, guarantee card and instructions.

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER COSMOGRAPH, "PAUL NEWMAN DAYTONA", CASE NO. 3485381, REF. 6263, CIRCA 1973

Estimated at 50,000 – 80,000 U.S. dollars

Signed Rolex, Oyster Cosmograph, "Paul Newman Daytona", Case No. 3485381, Ref. 6263, circa 1973

Cal. 727 nickel-finished lever movement, 17 jewels, mono-metallic compensation balance, adjusted to 3 positions, cream matte dial with square silvered numerals, luminescent accents and hands, three black engine-turned subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour registers, outer black ring with white fifths of a second divisions, tonneau water-resistant-type case with black bezel calibrated for units per hour, screw back, screw-down crown and pushers, case, dial and movement signed, with a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and deployant clasp

Accompanied by Rolex cardboard slipcase, green leather-covered box, guarantee and instructions.

Don’t worry though prices begin at $1000.