A good watch does more than just tell the time. It is supposed to give the wearer class and enhance his style. It’s a fashion statement. And this applies to both men and women. Your watch is as important as your handbag or as appropriate as a tie’s pattern. Despite the prevalence of clock equipped phones and other electronic gadgets, the popularity of watches hasn’t declined much. Bimal Patel, a Kigali businessman who has been a watch dealer for over 20 years, says watches are prominent accessories that could greatly change how people perceive you. "When you wear a nice watch that matches well with your outfit, some people will see you as sophisticated and others will see it as a symbol of status.”He says that there are some ‘big’ brands like Rolex, Phillip Persio and Cartier, which are likely to draw more attention to the wearer than smaller brands. "However, one should be careful during purchase as they have imitations which could make you look like a wannabe,” he warns.Choosing a watch is a task on its own. There are lots of things to consider – things like style, features and suitability to your personality. There are sports watches for people with an active lifestyle that have features like water resistance and navigation (compass).Then there are luxury watches. "A luxury watch is for those who prefer to wear watches just for purposes of making a fashion statement,” Rashid says.Rashid advices that a buyer should consider things like water resistance, battery life and whether or not the watch has to be winded – automatic or manual – before purchasing it. In Kigali a good, affordable watch goes for between Rwf9,000 and Rwf35,000.