As a precision mechanical timekeeping instrument and decorative item, a mechanical watch must possess both practicality and decorativeness. A high-quality watch is accurate, easy to use, finely crafted, and aesthetically pleasing. A fully wound watch can run continuously for 36 hours or more, is durable, and some watches also have waterproof, shockproof, and anti-magnetic properties.

The following points should be noted when selecting a mechanical watch:

I. Appearance.

Visually inspect the case, face, and hands for any pitting, scratches, ensure the plating is bright and consistent in color, and that the back cover is tightly sealed.

II. Winding.

The winding should feel smooth and without any noise. Except for automatic watches which may have slippage after fully winding, the mainspring of a general watch should be able to be fully wound without slippage.

III. Sound.

After fully winding the watch, listen to the sound of the watch. It should be clear, uniform, and without any noise, and should not change with changes in direction.

IV. Starting Performance.

Slowly rotate the crown to wind the mainspring, while observing the second hand. Generally, the fewer rotations of the crown needed to start the second hand, the better the starting performance of the watch.

V. Hand Setting.

The hand setting should feel comfortable; neither too tight nor too loose. The hour and minute hands should be coordinated (when the hour hand points to 3, 6, 9, or 12, the minute hand should not deviate from the 12 mark by more than ±4 divisions), and the hour, minute, and second hands should not touch each other.

VI. Timekeeping Accuracy.

This requires instrumental measurement. Some large stores offer this service for customers; you can ask the salesperson to test the timekeeping accuracy and positional error when purchasing.

VII. Distinguishing Genuine from Counterfeit Mechanical Watches.

Counterfeit watches are generally sold through unofficial channels. Their characteristics are: using attractive appearance as bait, while using inferior plastic movements, roughly made "crude" movements, or movements with poor processing precision and assembly quality, posing as domestic or imported famous watches. They have large timekeeping errors and short lifespans.

Identifying counterfeit watches requires considerable experience, and it is difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish their authenticity. To avoid buying counterfeit watches, consumers should carefully identify the trademarks when purchasing. They can also identify authenticity based on some model features (such as the crown sealing device, date setting device, back cover sealing structure, etc.). It is advisable to choose models from brands with better quality and readily available repair parts.