At some point, checking the time on your phone stops feeling like enough. It might be a promotion, a birthday, or simply a desire to reward yourself for all the hard work with an empowering piece you will look at every day. Luckily, a proper watch doesn't have to cost a fortune, but if you want to buy something that will stay with you for years, you will need to put some thought into it. Here is what is worth knowing before you head into the stores.

This is the first choice to make, because it affects everything from the price and weight to how much attention the watch needs.

A quartz watch runs on a battery. It is very accurate, usually lighter and thinner, and costs less for the same level of finish. You can leave it in a drawer for weeks, and it will still show the right time. The only upkeep is a battery change every few years, which isn’t a big deal. 

An automatic watch is mechanical and winds itself as you move your wrist, so it needs no battery. Most will keep running for a day or two off the wrist, then stop and need to be wound and reset. Automatics tend to be heavier, thicker and a little less precise, plus they need a service every several years. What you get in return is the craftsmanship: a small machine working on your wrist, and that smooth, sweeping seconds hand.

If you want something you can grab and go, choose quartz. If you will wear it most days and care about how it is made, an automatic is worth the extra.

Think about where the watch will spend most of its time. If you are in an office, a slim watch that slides under a sleeve makes sense. If you are outdoors, at the gym or by the pool, look at water resistance: 30 metres only covers splashes, so for regular swimming choose at least 100 metres. 

The climate matters too. Sweat, humidity and direct sun are what wear leather down: they dry it out, darken it and eventually make it crack. In UAE heat that happens faster, so a steel bracelet might be the more practical choice for everyday wear, especially if you are active. That said, with regular wear no leather strap lasts forever, and you will need to replace it from time to time anyway, wherever you live. So if you simply prefer the way it looks, don't rule it out. 

Size is personal, but as a rough guide, most women's watches range from around 26 to 36 mm. On a slimmer wrist, 28 to 34 mm usually looks balanced, while 36 mm and above gives a bolder, more oversized look. It is always worth trying a watch on before buying, because two watches with the same diameter can look very different on the wrist.

If this is your only watch for a while, keep it simple. A round or rectangular case, a clean dial in a neutral shade and a small- to mid-size case rarely date. Classic shapes, such as a slim dress watch, a rectangular tank-style case, a delicate bracelet watch or a small sporty diver, have been around for decades for a reason. 

Every extra function adds thickness and cost, so choose only what you will use.

All prices are approximate, converted from official European retail prices; local prices may vary.

Price: around 1,450 AED

A 70s-inspired steel watch with an integrated bracelet, a mother-of-pearl dial and a date. With sapphire crystal and water resistance to 100 metres, it is the easiest everyday option on the list.

Price: around 2,550 AED

An accessible way into automatic watches: a 34 mm steel case, a blue dial and a date, with around 41 hours of power reserve. If it stops after a few days in a drawer, it can also be wound by hand.

Price: around 3,150 AED

A classic Swiss automatic with Roman numerals, a date and a see-through caseback that shows the movement at work. Sapphire crystal and a two-day power reserve complete it.

Price: around 5,250 AED

An icy blue sunray dial with diamond markers in a 31 mm steel case. It comes with both a steel bracelet and a blue rubber strap, so it moves easily from the office to the weekend.

Price: around 5,950 AED

A mint green dial set into a cuff-style steel bracelet covered in a clou de Paris pattern. It is as much jewellery as it is a watch, and worth trying on to check the fit.

Price: around 4,600 AED

A 30 mm gold-tone case, Roman numerals and a moonphase at 6 o'clock, on a brown leather strap. The moonphase isn't a practical function, but it is the kind of detail that makes a first watch feel special.

Price: around 5,450 AED

A round steel watch with an opaline ivory dial and a date, from a Swiss house founded in 1832. It also comes with mother-of-pearl, blue or pink dials and in a smaller 26.5 mm size.

Price: around 6,700 AED

A rectangular case inspired by a 1920s model, with a silver guilloché dial and small seconds on an alligator strap. Available in 11 variations if you would prefer a different dial or strap.

Whichever you choose, the best first watch is the one you will actually reach for every morning. Think about how you live and what you wear most, try a few on before deciding, and don't be afraid to keep it simple: a well-made, classic watch will stay with you long after the trends have moved on.