The designer watch industry has stood at the helm of the luxury retail category over the last decade. Where else can you pay over $10,000 for an item that essentially does the same thing as an almost identical looking $5 model at your local discount store? They may look similar from a distance (and sometimes even close-up), so what is the real difference? Let's explore...

As demands on production and punctuality have increased in our daily life timekeeping has become increasingly important. Since having things happen precisely and on time is an important part of our daily life wristwatches have become a daily necessity.

In time, design houses began adding wristwatches to their product lines emblazoned with their brand's distinctive name. The Swiss, traditionally renowned as watchmakers, have tended to focus on a more exclusive, elite clientele. In turn, the Japanese have built a reputation for providing mechanical and electronic workings for these watches which are both affordable and reliable.

Watches fall into a few separate and distinct classifications. The stopwatch is a well known and much utilized instance. Anyone who participates in sports nowadays can recite his or her "personal best" times in the various runs. Mariners also need to do precise time tracking. In contemporary yacht races, it's not only the completion time that is important, but the time which has elapsed on the course before doing any tacking. Famous Formula One race car drivers are frequently shown in TV ads sporting the most up-to-date watches which claim the ability to track time accurately to a hundredth of a second.

When purchasing wristwatches, the customer might be interested primarily in a discount watch. Usually these are the aforementioned $5 models you find in your local discount store. While it is true that they are inexpensive, usually they are sealed units preventing a battery swap. So, when the battery is dead, so is your watch! permanently. Also, these units are rather plain in appearance and imbue no sense of glamour or high-fashion. These are also called 'disposable watches'.

Designer watches, conversely, are much more than just timepieces. Their functionality isn't found only in providing an owner with the right time of the day. Instead, they serve also as fashion statements for the ones fortunate enough to own them. It is like wearing Gucci or some other famous name brand. As well as bearing famous names, these watches are well known for making the owners stand out among crowds because of their sheer elegance. These wristwatches are often not only made with silver or gold, but they are also usually admired for being adorned with an amazing array of gemstones, most often diamonds--e.g., Rolex and some others.

When shopping for a designer watch, remember to compare warranty periods as part of your final decision. If buying used, do some research on the Internet to determine if the brand you are considering has a reputation for quality and longevity.

Some people enjoy giving their loved one a designer watch, either for a birthday, special occasion in their life such as an anniversary, or even as a Christmas present. These watches are also popular with employers who enjoy giving them as awards to employees for a particular achievement. No matter what the reason, designer watches are always a welcomed gift by both men and woman. Time is valuable, so why not keep track of it in the latest style?

Explore the high-fashion and glamourous world of designer watches at The Designer Watches Superstore. We showcase hundreds of the most popular name brand wristwatches at discount watch prices. Watch our videos for demos and reviews, and read more about designer watches on our blog.