Is owning a watch the same as owning jewelry, and are they considered jewelry? well there are some differences, and in this updated 2021 guide we show you.
Many watch enthusiasts like to think of watches as exciting functional pieces jewelry especially for men to splurg extra money on themselves. Like woman who spend copius of money on gold or silver braceletts, ear rings, necklaces and etc, a mans go to piece is an expensive watch.
Nevertheless, many people are still yet to come to terms with the fact that watches are considered jewelry accessories. And they aren’t entirely wrong since a watch has a unique and functional element to it.
So to answer your question regarding whether watches are considered jewelry, the answer is yes, especially if you consider a piece of jewelry as any personal ornament that you wear to enhance your look and personality.
Now that we have provided you with a bit of background, it’s time to delve into more details. In today’s post, we will consider if all watches are jewelry. We will also look at some timepieces that don’t have the required criteria to be called jewelry watches.
And to settle all of the arguments about whether watches are jewelry or not, we will look at some brands that are considered jewelry watches as well as some others that may fall into a bit of a grey area.
Table of Contents
Do all watches meet the jewelry criteria?
Like we mentioned earlier, a watch can be considered a piece of jewelry if it enhances your look and personality. Nevertheless, this isn’t the only criterion that makes a watch to be considered a jewelry accessory. And that’s because for an item to qualify as jewelry, it needs to contain precious jewels or metals.
This brings about a bit of a grey area for watches, especially if you consider that not all watches are built out of these materials. Most watches on the market today are made from stainless steel, synthetic, or leather materials. So if you follow the definition above, you’ll agree that stainless steel and leather watches do not meet the criteria to be called jewelry watches.
Besides materials used to build them, the purpose of a watch also plays a significant role in determining whether a timepiece is considered jewelry. Also, keep in mind that some people only put on a timepiece because it feels convenient. So if the sole reason you have a watch on your wrist is to tell time and the timepiece doesn’t feature any kind of metals or jewels, then it doesn’t meet the criteria to be called a piece of jewelry.
Which watch brand meets the jewelry criteria?
Now that you have an idea or two on what jewelry really means, it’s time to take you through a list of watches that fulfill the jewelry criteria. From our definition of jewelry so far, you’ll agree that it is a bit subjective when it comes to watches. So to give you an idea about which watch brands meet the jewelry criteria, we have put together two lists.
The first list is made up of watches from cheaper brands. Even though these watches don’t feature any kind of precious metals or jewels, they are considered to be jewelry watches, especially if you think that jewelry doesn’t need to have any kind of precious materials.
The second list features mid-range to high-grade brands that are widely considered to be jewelry. And just so you know, these watch brands fulfill both criteria to be called jewelry watches: They enhance your look and style as well as feature high-quality precious materials.
Take a look at our first list:
- Nixon
- Hamilton
- Daniel Wellington
- Timex
- Michael Kors
- Seiko
- Citizen
- Fossil
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Stuhrling
Here is our second list, which features watch brands that meet all the criteria to be called jewelry and are mostly Swiss made brands:
- Rolex
- Blancpain
- Patek Philippe
- Omega
- Panerai
- Tag Heuer
- Montblanc
- Audemars Piguet
- Chopard
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Lange and Sohne
- Ulysse Nardin
- Girard-Perregaux
Let us also add that some unique categories of watches will always be considered jewelry in this age and time, even though they aren’t really all that functional. The pocket watch is a great example. These days, many people no longer use pocket watches, and people who do mainly use them to complement a certain outfit. To this end, pocket watches meet the criteria to be called jewelry.
Do smartwatches meet the jewelry criteria?
While smartwatches are increasingly becoming a watch of choice for people with an active lifestyle, these watches aren’t considered jewelry, and you’ll understand why soon. For starters, smartwatches aren’t bought because they enhance your look or personality, which is the main purpose of jewelry. So because smartwatches don’t tick this box, they aren’t considered to be a piece of jewelry.
And just so you know, most people wear smartwatches because of their functionality. Since smartwatches have functionalities like internet access, Bluetooth connection, sensors, and other great apps, they are considered a functional accessory rather than jewelry.
Also, there is an insurance part to the smartwatch jewelry criteria. The thing is, most insurance companies don’t consider smartwatches as jewelry; rather, they categorize them as electronic devices. To insurance companies, smartwatches are in the same category as phones.
Frequently asked questions
Does a timepiece meet the jewelry criteria for insurance?
Whether a timepiece is considered jewelry for insurance entirely depends on the insurance company you opt for and their policy. And the reason is that you aren’t likely to come across single jewelry insurance. Plus, most insurance companies have varying rules in this regard. Also, keep in mind that these rules aren’t the same across different countries and states.
Another thing you should be aware of is that cheap policies don’t cover watches, so it’s always great to opt for more expensive policies.
If you’re interested in learning if your watch fulfills the jewelry criteria of your insurance company, contacting them will be a great idea.
Does a watch insurance policy cover smartwatches?
Smartwatches are gaining massive attention, but with all that comes questions we have never had to consider in the past. While smartwatches meet all the requirements to be called a watch, they don’t meet the criteria to be considered a piece of jewelry. Simply put, smartwatches are more of electronic devices. More so, insurance policies for electronic devices are pretty different from jewelry insurance.
While smartwatches can be insured as a piece of functional electronic accessory, they don’t fulfill the criteria to be insured as jewelry.
Are smartwatches considered a piece of jewelry?
Smartwatches may be perfect for people with an active lifestyle, but smartwatches don’t come close when it comes to fulfilling the jewelry criteria. For a watch to meet the jewelry criteria, it has to enhance your personality and style while also featuring some type of precious material. Looking at this definition, you’ll agree that smartwatches don’t fulfill the criteria to be called a piece of jewelry.
