First, pick up the watch.

Look at the front of the watch. This is where the hands are, if it has any. There may be many hands. 

Look at what shape they are, what colour they are how long and thin or fat or pointy they are.

Behind the hands is the dial. What colour is the dial? Or is there no dial and just mechanical parts? Has the dial got numbers on it, or markers for the hours? Or minutes?

Does the dial have writing on it? In one place or a few? Does the dial have a pattern on it? Is the pattern painted on, or is the pattern from the material it’s made from? Are the dial and hands easy to read? Or not?

Does the dial have other markings around the edge? Are the lines with them?

There are many different possibilities to what these can be and what they are used for.

Are there other little dials with hands? These are called sub-dials. They can represent a variety of things, but one is often used to show the seconds passing. There can sometimes be as many as four of these on a watch face.

They are used to display additional information other than the time to the watch wearer.

Is there a separate number in a little box? If so this will be the date window. On different watches it is in different places, there is no right place for it to be.

How many hands are there coming out from the centre? One? Two? Three? Four?

Do any seem to stay still until you push a button (more on buttons later). The hands have other uses that show information even though they might not be obvious.

Sometimes they require activation using a button, or pusher, on the side of the case somewhere.

The case is the body of the watch, the part that contains all of the mechanisms and the dial and hands and is fronted with a piece of glass or sapphire to protect them.

Sometimes the back of the case and even the sides are see through too. What shape is the case? Is it round or circular? Maybe square or rectangular, is it oval or a shape you cant quite describe?

Does it have a little wheel on one side or the top? This is called the crown. It is the oldest and most usual way of winding a watch so it has power, and setting the time. 

Are there any other buttons or crowns? How many? What side are they on? Does anything happen if you push them? What happens if you push them twice? Anything? Some may work in a sequence.

Does the case have a strap attached? Or a bracelet? A bracelet is made of links, and those links shape the bracelet around your wrist.

Or there are straps, made of all different kinds of material. Both straps and bracelets come together at the buckle or clasp, which connects the two side so the watch can be worn.

What is the fixing mechanism, is it simple to understand or complex and fiddly? Are there any logos on the clasp or buckle or bracelet?

Now look at the whole piece.

Do the colours of the different parts match? Do the materials used match? Has the case got different finishes or shiny parts on it? Has the strap got a pattern on it? Is the material of the strap somehow complementary to the case?

Do the colours all match? Do they not? Does it matter? How big is it? Does it feel big in your hands? 

How about when you place it over your wrist? How about when your close the strap or bracelet?

Does it feel light or heavy or fine? Does it feel comfortable? What does it look like on your wrist and is that somehow different to when it’s not on your wrist?

Pause for a moment. How does it make you feel?

Congratulations! You have enjoyed spending time with a watch. Please join us to do it again sometime.