A watch can be a perfect gift, or a total dud if you don’t do your homework. Sure, it’s a great idea and yells “expensive” but none of that matters if the timekeeper you picked doesn’t do anything for your giftee. Plus, terms like quartz, magnetized, and anti-shock just made it harder.

If you’re buying for an occasion, like a shower or graduation, purchase a little more on the pricey side. A good investment timepiece will last for years, and remember, you’d just be shelling out the cash for them, anyway, so why not give them something they can hold onto? Just keep a price range in mind when you head to the shops and start with your lowest budget number, and work your way up, no matter what the salesperson tries to tell you. To combat pushy counter people,

look up some terms. You don’t want to get blindsided with a really expensive water resistant watch if your person is only wearing it in SoCal where it never rains.

And when it comes down to the look and style, keep it simple. Stick with a link watch, and try silver. You wouldn’t want to break the bank on a trend piece that gets one or two wearings and a half hearted thank you note. Links can also be resized, making them a great choice for someone with a slightly bigger or smaller wrist than average. Purchase an extra link or two; getting them taken off is better than gifting a watch that is too tiny.

Before boxing up your timekeeper, set the clock to the correct time and date. It’s just a little something extra, but how happy will your giftee be when they slap that great watch on their wrist? Don’t forget to include a gift receipt, also. On the off chance that you don’t pick what they want, they can always exchange it for a style better suited.

For more information on watch trends, check out timexstyle.com

Products reviewed in this post may have been sent to TBF Group, LLC directly from brand/retailer. THIS DOES NOT IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF OUR REVIEW