Watches make a treasured gift during the holidays. When shopping for men’s’ watches or ladies’ watches, there are a few simple tips to follow:

Go for an established watch brand. A true watch “manufacturer” that produces their in-house ensures the highest quality. Leading Japanese watch brand SEIKO offers craftsmanship on par with top Swiss companies for a fraction of the price.

Stainless steel is always a good metal choice. It’s durable, chic and can easily go from day to night. The Couture Collection from Seiko offers both ladies’ and men’s styles in stainless steel or stainless steel with sophisticated gold-tone accents. Each piece is water resistant to 100 M.

Guys like gadgets. A chronograph that offers split-measurement capabilities and a big date display will be a hit with any guy. A chronograph has several sub-dials on the watch, so even if he does not use the functions, he’ll still look cool with his high-tech timepiece. Look for dramatic colored dials — the deep blue dial of the Couture Chronograph adds a modern edge.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. No woman can resist the sparkle of diamonds on her wrist. A few stones can take a watch from sophisticated to stunning. The ladies’ Couture watch with mother-of-pearl and diamonds is sure to please with a price tag that won’t break the bank at just $395.

Buy from an authorized watch dealer. If that Internet deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you buy from your local jeweler or a well-known department store you will get hands-on service — and you can be sure that the watch warranty will be honored by the manufacturer, in case you ever need it serviced.