Considering mens obsession for watches, choosing a watch for a guy is not easy. From Breil watches to Rolex the key is to discover his favorite brand and the type of watch which will work for him, whether its a Kinetic, Chronograph or mechanical watch.

Designer watches are gaining in popularity as more fashion houses are introducing collections of both ladies and gents watches. Calvin Klein, Diesal, Philip Oakley and D&G are just some of the contemporary watch ranges being launched by designer labels.

When choosing a watch as gift for a man firstly look at his personality. Is he shy or outspoken? Would he prefer a watch that is noticeable and makes a statement or a more practical timepiece? Ask yourself is he sporty and take a look at his wardrobe. Would he wear his new watch to work or would he make better use of a more casual style. By asking a few simple questions you should be able to deduce what timepiece would make the ideal gift for your man.

The Swiss have always been renowned for their fine craftsmanship and innovative timepieces. Their roots in watchmaking date back to the 16th century when reforms banned the wearing of jewellery forcing craftsman to turn their attention to watchmaking.

It was the Swiss invention of the first quartz watch that revolutionised the watch industry in the 60's however, the Swiss did not capitilise on this opportunity instead focusing their energies on the development of mechanical watches instead. The Swiss recognised their error and began to embrace new technology helping to create the dynamic state of the art industry watchmaking is today.

From Seiko Watches to Pulsar many major watch companies use Swiss mechanisms in their timepieces. At present Switzerland is the largest exporters of watches and their components in the world making them the global leader of the watch industry.

Women are constantly trying to keep up with the latest trends and fashions. The same goes for watches as the right watch can add a sense of style or glamour to any outfit. In today's market many watch companies, such as Breil watches, offer affordable and fashionable timepieces.

Fashion statement watches need only to be functional. Quite often they are just an accessory to an outfit and it is their style and look that is important and not their technical features. Many of the famous fashion labels have a  n impressive range of watches including Juicy Couture and Bvlgari.
A casual everyday watch however, needs to be functional and is used to tell time. In today's fast pacing world, a working women requires a reliable and sturdy watch which not only performs well but exudes personality too. Unlike men most women prefer not to be dazzled by technology, easy to read, functional watches are popular.

For the sporty woman a water resistant and durable watch is a must. Features such as speedometers, stop watches and odometers are essential. If its an easily maintained watch you are after a quartz watch is ideal as it only requires servicing every 3-5 years and the battery is long lasting.

Choosing a watch for a man nowadays is like picking out jewellery for a woman, it comes down to taste. Men are renowned for being quite obsessive about their watches, seeing them as a reflection of their personality and status.

Men like to own the latest must have watch complete with the new technological gizmos and gadgets on the market. Chronograph, Quartz and kinetic watches in particular are popular. For the fashion conscious man many of the trendy brands have watches ranges, such as Ducati and D&G. A good classic timepiece is a wise investment and all the major watch companies, from Seiko watches to Rolex, offer great ranges of contemporary watches.

Sports watches are very popular at the moment. They offer a good range of features and functions to satisfy the need of the modern sports enthusiast, including speedometers and stop watches. Sports watches are water resistant and extremely durable. Like women, nowadays men own several watches to suit any occasion.

Seiko watches have recently announced the launch of a limited edition range of Astro Boy watches. Unfortunately these quality timepieces are only available to buy in Japan.

Astro Boy is an incredibly popular cartoon comic character first published in Japan in 1952. Since then Astro boy has played an important role in Japanese pop culture. The fact that Seiko are dedicating a watch to him shows the extent of Astro Boys popularity in Japan. This high end watch has a Seiko Caliber 8L38 automatic movement and is encased in a Galante style case.

This impressive timepiece retails for $5,150 and Seiko is only releasing a 150 of these collectable watches. Demand for this watch is expected to be high so buying an Astro Boy watch might be a wise investment for the future.

In today's world of competitive prices watches are becoming a disposable product. More of us are finding we can afford various watches to suit different occasions.

From Breil watches to Breitlings, watches play an important role in today's fast pacing world. A durable watch with an inbuilt stopwatch is essential at the gym. A quality and impressive timepiece is a must in the office. A casual day watch that fun and fashionable works well at home and for nights out a luxurious watch can add a hint of elegance to any outfit.

Its important to choose the right watch to suit a particular occasion. The style and whats fashionable needs to be taken into account to give the right impression. There is an impressive range of watches and brands on the market and the only difficulty is choosing the right one for you.

Pendant watches for women are a popular and fun way of telling the time and are available in gold, silver and pewter.

The pendant watch is worn on a chain around the neck. The front of the pendant opens like a pocket watch to display the watch face. Pendant watches make great gifts and engraving a personal message on the door makes it special. They are worn on a detachable chain so the watch can be kept separately if required.

Pendant watches have been worn by women for decades, Vintage examples from companies such as Seiko watches are still available to buy. Pendant watches are also worn by children with both Hello Kitty and Disney having a range.

Pocket watches have been used as a form of telling the time for centuries. They can traced back as far as the 1600's and are still in use today.

Pocket watches are designed to fit in a pocket and to prevent them falling out they are attached to fob chain which in turn is secured to a belt loop of waistcoat. Early pocket watches only had hour hands with the minute hand being introduced in the 17th century.

The spread of the railroad in the late 19th century led to an increase in the popularity of pocket watches. Pocket watches use a wind up mechanism though initially early model required a special key. With the advent of wristwatches from companies such as Breil watches, Seiko and Rolex pocket watches are now less popular but they are still being made.

The worlds largest clock has been built in the holy city of Mecca. Located on the top of the largest sky scraper in Saudi Arabia, it started ticking on August 12th to coincide with the start of Ramadan.

The clocks bears an uncanny resemblance to Big Ben and its face can be seen up to 16 miles away due to the use of illumination of thousands of lights. Muslims hope that the clock will eventually replace Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as the worlds central time. Muslim clerics consider “Mecca time is the true global meridian”.

From Breil watches to Pulsar all watches and clocks around the world use GMT. This historical tradition was established 126 years ago. During the summer months in the UK the time is one hour ahead of GMT in order to gain more sunlight but time reverts back to GMT in the winter.

In 1983 Seiko watches introduced the TV watch. This revolutionary timepiece comprised of a display screen showing the time and a liquid crystal display on which the TV shows were viewed.

This unique timepiece won Seiko a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest TV. This was technology at its finest and nowadays it is a sort after collectors item. The screen receiving the TV images consisted of a blue/grey liquid crystal and the watch had a TV receiver built into its design. The wearer was required to wear headphones.

The inbuilt receiver required two batteries thereby making the watch rather bulky. However in its time the Seiko TV watch was a pioneering piece of technology. Many celebrities were pictured wearing the Seiko TV watch including Roger Moore in Octopussy and Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show.

It has recently been announced that the world's oldest mechanically wound clock is to be modernised.

The world famous clock at Wells Cathedral in Somerset has been set by hand and wound for over 600 years, keeping up with time honoured tradition. Unfortunately since the “Keeper of the Great Clock at Wells” has announced his retirement no replacement can not be found. Three times a week the Keeper, Paul Fisher, has been turning three 250kg weights which takes up to an hour at a time. Reluctantly the decision has been taken to fit an electric motor.

Mechanical clocks, like their watch counterparts, have been used for centuries. Despite the advent of new technology, they are still popular today with over 13% of all watches sold being mechanical. From Breil watches to Tag Heuer, all the major watch companies offer a range of mechanical watches. 

The well known brand of Ducati watches is relatively new to the market. They began life in 2007 and have performed exceptionally well in such a short space of time. Based on the world renown Ducati motorbikes this iconic watch brand is going from strength to strength.

Ducati watches symbolise the technical and mechanical finesse of Ducati bikes, with tire tread watch straps through to sporting Ducati racing colours. These stylish timepieces, like their contemporaries, such as Seiko watches and Pulsar, use  revolutionary Swiss movements, which further enhances Ducati's  reputation for quality and reliable timepieces.

Ducati offer a stunning collection of unique watches representing the edginess of the Ducati motorbike brand. These popular timepieces are designed using the latest cutting edge technology and designs.

By the 1960's the American watch industry was at an all time low. Despite surviving through the Depression years and two World wars, USA found they could no longer compete with cheap labour markets around the world. Countries, such as Hong Kong, were constantly undercutting prices in the USA which led to many businesses failing.

It took the introduction of the quartz watch in 1969 to gave the watchmaking industry in USA the kick start it needed to recover from its slump and get it back into business again. The development of the quartz watch led to the Americans developing a successful electronics programs for the space industry and the military.

All watch companies worldwide from Breil watches to Rolex have had their ups and downs. Successful competition or similar watch designs at competitive prices can all have an impact on the success of a watch company. The recent global economic crisis impacted the watch industry but they are now showing signs of recovery.

Japanese owned Seiko watches have always been well known for their cutting edge technology. Seiko have been responsible for a series of world first products which have helped change the future of timekeeping.

In 1969 Seiko introduced to the world the first quartz watch which revolutionised the world of timepieces. In 1973 they developed the first LCD digital watch which they followed in 1975 with a multifunctional digital watch. In 1982 Seiko entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the worlds smallest TV.

1988 saw Seiko launch the AGS quartz watch which later developed into the Kinetic watch. This was followed two years later with first computerised divers watch. In 1998 Seiko watches brought out both the Perpetual calendar and Seiko Thermic timepieces. The noughties saw the introduction of the Spring Drive Chronograph and the Spacewalk watch especially designed for use in space. 2010 Seiko watches introduced the first EPD watch.

Calculator watches were first launched onto the market in 1975 by Pulsar and Hewlett Packard. Not only did these innovative watches tell the time and date they had a calculator keypad incorporated into the face of the watch.

Other watch companies, such as Citizen and Casio started to produce these popular novelty timepieces. Calculator watches started being mass produced in the 1980's as demand for high tech gadgets increased. They were increasingly being seen as a must have fashion accessory. Sales of calculator watches were influenced when celebrities like Sting andTom Hanks, were photographed wearing them.

Calculator watches are still available to buy today. Their features have been  modified to include dual time, an auto calender, an alarm and a stopwatch. When new technology is made available all the major watch companies from Breil watches to Rolex design new timepieces in order to keep up with demand for precision technology.

Seiko watches was first launched onto the market in 1924. Always at the forefront of cutting edge technology, Seiko watches have maintained a reputation for innovative and reliable timepieces ever since.

Seiko watches have received numerous awards by their contemporaries to celebrate their technologically advanced timepieces. In 1980 and 1990 Seiko was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix at Prix de la ville de Geneve. In 2000 they received the honour of the watch of the Year with their Sportura range of Kinetic Chronograph watches.
 The Seiko Spring Drive won awards in 2005 and 2006 and the Spring Drive Chronograph was awarded Watch of the Year in 2008.

Along with numerous awards to recognise their achievements, Seiko watches have also won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1983 their name entered the this hallowed book for the world's smallest TV.

The wristwatch is a revolutionary invention. It allows the wearer to view the time conveniently and easily. From Breil watches to Tag Heuer all the major watch companies are constantly redesigning and incorporating up to the minute technology in their designs.

Wristwatches originally were powered by a winding spring mechanism. With the advent of new technology battery powered watches have become increasingly popular. Recently Kinetic watches have been launched where the watch is powered by the movement of its wearer.

Digital watches, Chronographs, Spring Drive and Alarm watches are all examples of today's modern and fashionable watches. Figures show that only 13% of watches sold today are mechanical watches. However, as society shifts today's Eco- friendly technology watches, such as Kinetic and solar powered watches could be serious competition to battery watches.

A digital watch is a watch that incorporates both a quartz movement and electricity through the use of a battery. The time is displayed on an LED display screen.

The first battery powered watch was developed by The Hamilton Watch Company of Pennsylvania in 1957. After many updates and changes they produced the world's first digital watch in 1972. In 1973 Seiko watches launched the first LCD (liquid crystal display) watch this was followed by a multi-functional watch in 1975.

At this time calculators were also being developed incorporating the LCD screen. All the major watch companies, such as Timex, Casio and Seiko all launched a series of digital watches in the 1980's when they were extremely popular. Digital watches are still available to buy today but with so many new technological advances in watchmaking they are no longer as fashionable as they once were.

Like all your possessions if you treat them with care they will serve you well. If you have invested in a watch, especially a high quality one, you must take the time to take care of this intricate timepiece.

Your watch should be serviced on a regular basis. Like a car it needs a tune up on occasion. If your watch is water resistant always ensure you adhere to the makers guidelines as to its depths ratings. Taking your watch into a swimming pool, even if it is water resistant, should be avoided as chlorine can cause erosion.

Even if you watch is shock resistant be careful not to drop your timepiece or use it in extreme temperatures as condensation can form within the watch. A reflective film can be applied to the watch face to prevent glare as can an anti scratch resistant film. All good watchmakers from Breil watches to Rolex will provide instructions on caring for your watch. If you take good care of your watch you will find it will keep good time.

There is an array of accessories to compliment whatever type or brand of watch you own. From watch straps to buckles, roll cases to batteries, when a watch needs repairing or you just want to add little changes, watch accessories are invaluable.

It can be very disappointing to have to get your watch repaired or adjusted. All the major watch companies from Breil watches to Rolex offer this service or you can go to a reputable high street watch repairer who will have all the accessories that are required for most major brands. It is suggested by manufacturers that you should get your watch serviced every so often to keep your timepieces in good condition.

If you just want to enhance your valued timepiece how about a new watch strap for a fresh new look for your watch. A silver or gold bracelet can add a touch of glamour or a bright rubber strap can add a splash of colour and an element of fun to your watch.

One of the leading Japanese manufacturers of watches is Seiko watches. From the introduction of the first pocket watch in Japan in 1895 they have continued to excel at watchmaking bringing some of the latest up to minute technological  timepieces on the market today.

Japanese watchmakers have invested a great deal of time and effort into perfecting their watches. Companies such as Casio, Citizen, Pulsar and Seiko have all produced many innovative designs. Perhaps one of the most significant watch the Japanese have developed is the Seiko Aston, the world's first quartz watch.

The Japanese recognised early on that sales would benefit from mass production. The larger the volumes the more competitive the prices. However, as time has gone by the Japanese can no longer produce watches so cheaply as competition from other countries, such as Hong Kong has increased.

From Breil watches through to Rolex we all like to own a quality timepiece that reflects our personality and style. Novelty watches and clocks are an alternative and fun way to tell the time.

How about a backwards clock to brighten up your day, once you have got to grips with the backward turning hands. A Binary watch tells the time through the use of a series of lights and projection clocks are quirky as they as they shine the time on the wall.

Novelty fun watches make great gifts for all occasions. With interchangeable straps in different colours you can have a different look for everyday of the week.

Seiko watches have been the official timekeepers for many sporting events around the globe from Formula One racing to the Olympic Games.

Following the development of Seiko watches quartz technology they were first asked to be the official timekeeper of the Tokyo Games in 1964. Seiko were asked to repeat the honour in 1978, 1982 and at the 1986 Olympic games in Mexico. Seiko have also gone on to be the official timer of the 1990 World Cup and the Winter Olympics in 1991,94,98 and 2002 Games in Salt lake City.

Omega Watches, part of Seiko Corporation, were the official timekeepers of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and have been credited with creating the first photo-flash camera. Other timekeepers include Swatch, Heuer and Longines.

Celebrities and their images have endorsed watches for decades. The glamour and style they exude, whether its an actor or sportsman, reflect on the watch brand they put their name to.

Tag Heuer have enlisted a number of celebrities over the years to endorse their wristwatches. These include the golfer Tiger Woods, actor Brad Pitt,  racing driver Lewis Hamilton and the actress Uma Thurman. Well known Hollywood celebrities Meg Ryan and Keifer Sutherland have headed campaigns for Baume-et Mercier.

This is not a new marketing tactic. Celebrities have been used for many years to promote and advertise many consumer goods, such as cigarettes and alcohol. A 2005/6 campaign by Longines used the golden oldie favorites Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn. In recent years Breil watches have employed Charlize Theron and Edward Norton to be the face of their timepieces.

With ever changing technology, watchmakers from Seiko watches through to Rolex are focusing on designing awe inspiring timepieces to fit in with the modern world and its demands.

Watches no longer need to be big and brash to be noticed. A delicate and intricate watch is much more desirable. With the advent of new and exciting technology many watch companies are focusing on sleek and innovative designs.

The Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical, The Urwesk 202 and the Armin Blue Chip Skeleton are examples of the shape of the future of modern watches. Using unique materials, such as crystals and carbon, allows watchmakers to experiment with their designs to create futuristic timepieces.

A watch is a timepiece that is generally worn on the wrist but originally men wore pocket watches and women wore their watches around the neck on a chain. It is thought the first watch was invented in 16th century Tudor England and due to its large size was worn as a medallion.

It is thought that the principle of watches was originally based on Leonardo Da Vinci's famous sketch of  a clock. The first recognised wristwatch was thought to be invented by Patek Phillipe with Cartier playing a role in creating the first commercial wristwatches. The first mass produced watches were made during the WW1 for the armed forces by Girard-Perregaux.

Famous wristwatches include the Omega Speedmaster which was worn by NASA astronauts in space and the Rolex Oyster worn by Sir Edmund Hilary when he climbed Mount Everest. Watchmakers today, from Seiko watches through to Breil watches are constantly redesigning and improving present day timepieces.

The most famous secret agent of all time, 007 James bond was renowned for his style and panache. He was also well known for his super cool gadgets and watches which were at his disposal.

James Bond was the star of over 22 films beginning with Dr No in 1962. He always sported the latest technologically advanced watches with brands including Breitling, Rolex, Omega Seamaster and Seiko watches.

Seiko watches incorporate the latest technology available in their watch designs. The highly acclaimed Gadget show on Channel 5 recently reviewed with great interest Seiko's Electronic Ink watch. The team were impressed by the watches ability to display information clearly so that it can be viewed from any angle due to its wide display feature. 

Chronograph watches are renowned for their accurate timekeeping and stopwatch facility. There are a wide range of Chronograph watches on the market from luxury Versace to trendy Breil watches.

There are two types of Chronograph watches. Digital chronograph use a single display to show time and stopwatch functions. An analog-digital chronograph have separate displays. Breil watches, for example, offer a comprehensive range of chronograph watches. From a Gents Tribe Chronograph through to the exquisite Breil Ladies Eros Chronograph watch.

The words 'Chrono' and 'Graph' are translated from Greek meaning time and writing. Chronograph watches or stopwatches as there were generally known, were first invented by the Frenchman Rieussec in 1821. In 1910 there were first developed into wristwatches.

Kinetic watches are unique in that they are powered by the movement of their wearer. As the individuals wrist moves it generates a magnetic charge which is then turned into electricity.

This exciting concept is renowned for its energy saving capabilities as kinetic watches will never need a battery change or winding up. With advancements in technology kinetic watches can now store power for up to four years and have the ability to sense when there is no movement, thereby putting itself into a sleep mode which results in the saving of more energy.

Seiko watches are perhaps the leading watchmaker of kinetic watches. They first introduced their landmark watch at the Basel Fair in 1968 and have gone on to perfect and improve their range of kinetic watches ever since. 1998 saw the launch of their Auto relay watch followed by the Ultimate Kinetic Chronograph watch. In 2007 Seiko watches introduced their latest kinetic model, the Kinetic Direct Drive which keeps accurate time and allows the wearer to generate his own power. This is acheived not only through  body movement but also by winding the crown.

Originally pocket and early wristwatches were powered by a spring movement. But with advances in technology electronic, solar powered and kinetic watches have bee developed to keep up with the demands of the modern world.

Traditional mechanical watches originally required the wearer to turn a special key to wind up the mechanism daily. Nowadays mechanical watches have a small knob that requires turning and can be powered up to 40 hours. Electronic watches require a battery to provide the power, which can last up to several years. Water resistant watches, such as Seiko watches Divers watch need to be water resistant to ensure the battery remains dry.

The most common form of watch batteries are silver-oxide and lithium batteries. Solar powered batteries can be used, however they require long hours of exposure to the sun. Solar powered watches themselves are powered by a photovoltaic cell which is placed in the face of the watch which in turn powers the battery. Kinetic watches are powered through the movement of the body and energy can be stored for up to 6 months.

Breil watches are renowned world over for their classic Italian style and innovative range of timepieces. Breil's original and fashionable styles reflect the image every modern watch wearer wishes to portray.

Whether you are attending a social event, a family affair or a business meeting there is a Breil watch to suit every occasion and pocket. Breil distinctive range of classic and contemporary timepieces will suit any taste. The Milano, Eros and Mediterraneo are superb examples of sophistication with a contemporary twist.

Breil Eros range for women add a hint of bling with a classic Italian design. The tiny diamonds and sapphires used to adorn the watches will add glamour to any occasion. The distinctive design of Breil Ducati for men is a timeless classic incorporating advanced modern technology that will appeal to any man.
 

A growing trend among celebrity A-listers and the Hollywood set is to be an ambassador to a particular product. Not only does this result in a particularly lucrative deal for the celebrity but it is a planned move to promote their profile.

Many of the sports brands use celebrities to promote their sportswear and equipment. The same applies to the watch industry. Charlize Theron and Edward Norton are the face of the Italian watch designer Breil watches. Image is all important in the watch industry and it is necessary to select a celebrity who will promote a specific image the company wish to portray.

Interestingly during the period of time the celebrity is the face of a particular brand they are strictly bound by a contract. Edward Norton, for example, is only to be seen wearing a Breil watch during his contracted period. Wearing a competitors watch could lead to a possible law suit.

 

With young people nowadays having sizable disposable income, fashion companies and watch retailers are focusing on the consumers of the future.

Recent research suggests that during the recent recession the spending power of 16-24 year olds has been the backbone of the fashion market. Watch companies from Seiko watches through to Ted baker have focused recent watch designs to appeal to the younger end of the consumer spectrum.

There are numerous choices of children's watches available catering to the latest trends and fashions. Ben 10, transformers and Bob the Builder are all  popular watches and timeless classics, such as, Timex still have a strong market presence.

Nowadays living in such an image conscious society, watches are being considered as important fashion accessories. They are often worn to compliment an outfit or just to impress friends and colleagues.

With high end luxury watch sales growing annually brands, such as Rolex, Omega and Breil watches are often being chosen for the image and style they portray and not always for their technological advances. Watch companies are buying into this demand for fashionable timepieces with brands such as Tag Heuer launching a range of weekend and golf watches and Dior introducing watches with interchangeable straps to suit every occasion.

Women in particular often purchase a watch to accessorise with their wardrobe or just to look elegant and stylish. A watch often reflects the wearers personality, can boost their confidence and help them stand out from the crowd.

When it comes to the development of up to the minute technology, the Japanese are renowned worldwide for their original and innovative designs  and creations.

The Japanese are also leading designers in watchmaking. Seiko watches, for example, have recently introduced the futuristic E-ink concept with the launch of the Active Matrix E-Ink watch earlier this year. This intriguing design boasts a display with 80,000 pixels for clear and sharp images. Using four shades of gray allows for a high resolution screen.

Japan is well known globally for its achievements in the fields of technology and electronic products. Successful Japanese companies include Fuji, Canon, Epson, Toshiba and Sony. The Japanese have also made important and significant contributions in aeronautics, medical research and the automotive industry.

With the summer period well underway many of us are looking forward to packing our bags and heading to destinations abroad. Advice from insurance experts is not to take expensive watches on holiday with you as they are often targets for pickpockets.

Travel experts suggest that you should leave your expensive or sentimental  timepieces, such as your favorite Rolex or Seiko watches, at home. Luxury watches often attract the attention of thieves in far flung destinations, so commonsense should prevail. Invest in a cheap functional and durable watch that if you lose you won't be upset

Whilst abroad take the opportunity to check out the bargain watches available. Often you can find your favorite brands at low prices in other countries and quite often luxury watches can be cheaper especially if the exchange rate is favorable.

It has recently been announced that Madonna is to appear in a series of ads for the world famous fashion label D&G in order to launch their new range of Autumn and Winter clothing.

D&G are also renowned watchmakers with their unique and attractive range of timepieces reflecting the companies trademark of versatility and glamour. Their inspirational range of cosmopolitan watches are fashionable and popular worldwide.

D&G have an extensive and impressive range of both men and ladies watches that are a firm favorite with Hollywood stars and the rich and famous. Many watch companies have well known actors and actresses to promote their timepieces, for example, Breil watches have Ed Norton and Charlize Theron representing them.

The recent global economic crisis affected all the major watch companies from Seiko watches through to Breil watches, however recently released figures suggest that the watch market is picking up.

Imports of Swiss watches, to the UAE in particular, have seen a 24% rise in comparison to the same time period last year. This reflects the fact that the confidence of the consumer is returning to the watch market as more individuals are buying watches, in particular luxury watches.

The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry supports these findings and suggests that the international watch market is recovering from the recent economic events. They said that “The recovery in watch imports is very evident” and went on to add that “Forecasts for the year 2010 points to significant growth”.

The Japanese watchmakers, Seiko watches, introduced their first divers watch onto the market in 1965. They have gone on to improve and perfect their professional divers watches ever since always, using the latest up to the minute technology.

Engineers at Seiko are renowned for their development and persistence in creating  the specific watches. The Professional Diver's 600m watch, complete with a titanium case, allowed watches to be used at great depths for the first time. This watch laid the ground work for future divers watches. In 1976 Seiko introduced an automatic divers watch.

In 1990 Seiko launched a new computerized divers watch called the Scubamaster. This was followed in 2000 by the Automatic Divers watch 200m SKX series. With advances in technology this was followed in 2005 by the Spring Drive Diver's watch being one of Seiko's toughest and resistant watches to date.

Initially when deciding on a watch there are various factors that need to be considered it order to pick the right watch for you and your lifestyle.

If you are particularly sporty, a robust waterproof watch might be ideal for you. There are various sports and divers watches on the market, from Seiko watches through to Breil watches, all the major watch companies offer a competitive range. Do you need a casual watch, a dress watch or just one to impress your friends and colleagues? The price tag is also an influencing factor. There are many value for money watches to choose from and an extensive range of watches in various price brackets.

You can choose from mechanical watches, which require traditional winding to battery or solar powered watches which are more low maintenance. The watch strap is an important consideration regarding its comfort and look. The watch face needs to clear, functional and easy to read. Most importantly what ever style or design you choose you have to like it as you are the one wearing it!

All renowned watchmakers, from Seiko watches through to Breil watches, have a high end watch they are proud of. However, some watch companies really push the boat out and have designed and marketed some very expensive and prestigious timepieces.

The Technica Skeleton Chronograph, for example, has a price tag of $850,000. This splendid piece of watchmaking is available in a platinum case and its has chronograph features. The limited edition Classical Billionaire Tour-billion boasts a price tag ranging from $325,000 to £998,00. This beautiful watch is decorated with over 850 diamonds and is manually wound.

Hublots Big Bang Chronograph is valued at over $1 million. This exclusive timepiece is totally covered in diamonds with only the hands being visible. The double faced Tour de I'lle costs $1.5 million and only seven have ever been made. This elegant watch features a perpetual calender, 18-c gold dial and an alligator watch strap.