To choose your first watch, work through five things in order:

1. Budget
2. How you will use it
3. Movement
4. Case size
5. Water resistance

Get those right and you will end up with a watch that suits you and lasts.

This guide takes you through each step in plain language, with no jargon left unexplained.

The short answer: buy from an authorised dealer that sources stock through the official South African distributor for each brand, offers the manufacturer warranty, has a real physical presence and after-sales support, and provides secure payment and a clear returns policy. The Watch Boutique meets each of these, but the checklist below works for assessing any retailer.