Don’t be afraid to invest in a big-name brand.

Taking all of that into account, do not shy away from the big-name brands. Considered the holy trinity in the watch world, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Patek Philippe have hundreds of years of impeccable watchmaking, exciting inventions, and flawless design under their belt. They know what they are doing. Going to big-name brands like these will serve well in the long term protecting, maybe even doubling, your investment. If you had bought a Rolex Submariner at retail for $5,700 in 2014, that same watch would have been worth closer to $10,000+ today.

The truth is that watches from these heritage brands will almost always retain their value, thanks to a combination of craftsmanship and recognition. And, fashion watches as well as those hideous watches that your favorite influencer loves to promote, will always depreciate… drastically. Even if it takes a few years of saving, coping with a big-name brand can be worth the investment.

How should a watch fit?

Unless you are trying to go for the Slick Rick The Ruler look, take the time to understand what watch case size looks best on you. Generally, the diameter of a men’s watch ranges from 38mm to 46mm. Anything below that range or above that range can look ridiculously small or massively large. To get started, find a tape measure and wrap it around your wrist. If your wrist is between 14cm and 18cm, get yourself a small to medium watch — 38mm-42mm is a good range. If you have a wrist larger than 18cm, you’ll want to pick up a more oversized watch, ranging between 44-46mm.

You should also consider the thickness and material of the watch. Watches can be anywhere from 7 mm to 9 mm or more, made in everything from titanium to white gold. You don’t want to be lugging around heavy timepieces all day; trust me, your arm will get tired. Familiarize yourself with how different watch materials wear on your wrist and when you can try to avoid going above 8mm in thickness.

Now that you have made it through our general crash course, it is time to take a look at some of the best watches for beginners. Including brands like Cartier, Tissot, and Seiko, all of these watches match the criteria mentioned above at varying price points.