What kind of gold watch should I choose for the first time?

How should you choose a gold watch? Click here to watch the video ↓

In this article, I would like to share my thoughts on gold watches.

After reading this article, I think I might try to get a gold watch myself...

I think you will think the same way, so please stay with me until the end.

To begin with, watches are a matter of self-satisfaction, so I think it's enough to just wear the watch you like.

That said, gold watches are also great options, so it would be a bit of a waste to only collect silver watches and not consider them.

Let's think about why we have a dislike for gold.

Women tend to be attracted to sparkly things, while men tend to be more attracted to colors like silver and black.

I also think there's a preconceived notion that it's "nasty."

I don't know if it's because we are Japanese, but I think many of us tend to hold back on our assertiveness.

So, fundamentally, men have an instinct to have little awareness of gold, but there are quite a few gold models of watches.

This means that people who know the appeal of gold watches do know about it.

So what are the benefits of wearing a gold watch?

That will definitely lift your spirits.

The easiest way to understand this is that if you have something that uses gold, you feel like you have good luck...

That's what it is.

When we see something beautiful, our emotions naturally rise, and gold and diamonds are prime examples of this.

So, while it is unlikely that men are attracted to her on an instinctive level, I think they are attracted to her from a different angle, that of "power."

In other words, gold watches are in demand because they give the feeling of giving you the power of "wearing it to feel confident."

And also, it's just plain cool.

In fact, when I wear a gold watch, I find that it improves my posture and my personality just a little bit.

That said, gold watches give off a kind of nouveau riche image, which is kind of vulgar.

I'm sure there are many people who think this way.

So from here on, if you continue choosing gold watches like this, you will naturally arrive at 18K.

I will tell you the procedure.

The first pattern is to try something with a lower percentage of gold.

about it.

I don't think there is anyone who would suddenly get their hands on a watch that is made entirely of gold, from the case to the bracelet, but this is the opposite idea.

If gold is used partially, the hurdle of owning a gold watch is much lower.

The first gold watch I bought when I turned 30 was a vintage Cartier.

The dial and the sides of the case are made of wood, and wooden watches are really stylish.

So I bought it without even thinking about the gold.

If you look at Cartier watches, you can see that they use gold very skillfully, so even men can choose them without feeling out of place.

The Santos in particular is very cool and has a great balance of gold, so I highly recommend it.

The second pattern is to choose a plated watch.

That's it.

This generally applies to vintage watches, A plated watch may look all gold from the outside, but the back is made of stainless steel.

There are exceptions, such as the Mast Tank, where the back cover is also heavily plated, but because it is plated and the back cover is stainless steel, I feel that this is still a transitional period to being completely gold.

I also think it's an attractive point that you can try it out as your first gold watch.

This is because, obviously, you can purchase them at a much lower price than models made from 18K, so if you are satisfied with how it feels to you and how it feels on your wrist, I think it would be a good idea to actually purchase an 18K watch.

The third pattern is to choose a small watch in the first place.

That's it.

In this article, we will assume that the entire case is made of gold, but since the 2000s, the base case diameter has become larger, so the area it covers when worn on the wrist becomes quite large.

Unlike stainless steel, gold has a much brighter shine, so a larger case means it stands out more.

Of course, if you actually try it on your arm and it doesn't feel strange at all, then there's no problem.

Having the watch you love the most will improve the quality of your life.

However, here is my opinion for those who are hesitant to wear huge gold watches and want to gradually get used to them: even if the watch is 18K, if it is small, it won't stand out as much.

I wonder if women are better at this sort of thing.

To begin with, women don't tend to care much about size, so I get the impression that many of them wear delicate, compact watches, but when I see someone wearing a simple gold accent, I think it's elegant and beautiful.

I don't see them very often on men, but when I see someone wearing a small watch like that, I think it looks stylish.

Of course, this is a matter of preference, and men do not have the same power as mentioned above, but I'm sure there are many who would like to express this through size.

In fact, when I see people wearing big gold watches, I think they look cool, so I'm wondering which style I should aim for.

So, I think it's important to discern the individuality of the watch and incorporate it well into your fashion.

So, from here on, I'd like to introduce some gold watches that I recommend.

Mast Tank

I think the Mast Tank is one of the best value for money watches in Cartier's collections to date.

The material is pure silver 925/1000, plated with 18K gold.

Pure silver is classified as a precious metal, just like gold.

According to data from Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, the average suggested retail price has also risen steadily from 2019 to 2022, leading to the current silver price.

In 2019, it was 59.52 yen, in 2020 it was 72.69 yen, in 2021 it was 92.01 yen, and in 2022 it was 94.22 yen.

And as of March 5, 2024 (today), the price of silver is 130 yen per gram, which has risen by about 2.2 times in the five years since 2019.

Also, and this is an amazing thing, but that doesn't mean the Mast Tank is classified as a luxury aircraft.

This is what we would call a Tank Mast in the current lineup, and was positioned as a popular model.

And yet pure silver is used.

The reason Mast Tank was able to make the case out of pure silver is because they made it in the late 1970s.

If a case were made out of silver at the current exchange rate in 2024, it would be quite expensive, but it is likely that the exchange rate at the time was much cheaper than it is now, so it can be said that it was only because of that time that pure silver was used.

The Mast Tank has a pure silver base which is then plated to further reduce the price, but even from an objective modern perspective, I think it can be classified as a "mid-range aircraft."

For these reasons, we recommend the Mast Tank as your first gold watch.

Santos 100 MM & LM

The Santos 100 is the model that preceded the current Santos.

The Santos 100 was born in 2004 as a larger model from the Santos Galve series that began in the 1970s, and is exactly halfway between the Galve and the current model in size.

The MM size is 33mm and the LM size is 38.5mm.

Both are approximately 1cm thick.

The MM size was classified as ladies', but because it is thick, I think it looks quite rugged.

I feel that even the MM has a strong presence.

So, the second watch I'd like to introduce is a rugged one.

Unlike larger round watches, the square shape of this watch gives it a more solid impression.

The current Santos de Cartier is large, sturdy and cool, but the 18K model costs 2.5 million yen for the MM size and 2.9 million yen for the LM size.

The price of the Santos 100, both the MM and LM models, is rising rapidly due to inflation, but you can still get it for less than the current model, at around 1.6 million yen for the MM and 2.1 million yen for the LM.

However, there is a problem with the gold model of the Santos 100: since only a small number were made to begin with, they are not widely available on the market.

Therefore, we recommend that you also consider combination models.

For more information on the Santos 100, please see this video:

Tank Louis Cartier

The third one is the Tank Louis Cartier.

As it is a popular masterpiece, there is no need to explain it in detail, but the Tank Louis, the pinnacle of Cartier's range, has a charm that only a luxury watch can have.

First of all, what makes it different from other models is that it is made only with 18K material.

This has been a consistent rule since Tanklui was born, and that is why it reigns supreme.

It is the perfect dress watch and has been carefully crafted to match dress watches perfectly, so that it will shine beautifully on anyone who wears it.

This is the essence of Cartier; because it is originally a jewelry brand, it does not make watches, but rather creates pieces that shine most when worn by the person wearing them.

For example, women's necklaces, earrings, and rings are not made as individual objects, but rather are made with the idea of ​​how they will be worn.

Cartier doesn't send out such a message, but perhaps the reason it is the most popular brand among women is due to these intangible factors.

That's why Tank Louis, which reigns at the top of such brands, allows both men and women to naturally blend in gold and create an elegant look.

summary

To sum up, I think men may feel a little hesitant to wear a gold watch at first.

On the other hand, once you try on a gold watch, you'll think, "It's surprisingly nice," so I think it would be a shame not to keep it as an option.

Today I have explained my own method for introducing gold watches, but once you get used to gold, it becomes a candidate for consideration almost indistinguishable from silver.

It may seem like it will take a little bit of time to get used to it, but I would be happy if this article makes you think, "Well, maybe I should consider it as a possibility."