Originally published in Potentials magazine, December 2006
Effective motivational merchandise reflects the lifestyle of the recipient, so it makes sense that today's active, health-conscious workforce is gaining interest in sporty watches.
Sports styles should be included in any well-rounded selection of motivational timepieces. These watches fall into two general categories, quartz or mechanical, says James Feldman, president of Chicago–based James Feldman Associates. Quartz watches work electronically, while mechanical timepieces rely on springs and gears to keep time. Mechanical sports watches cost far more than their quartz counterparts.
Sporty quartz watches have seen a boost in popularity, thanks to rapidly dropping prices and increasing functionality. "Inexpensive sports watches are so much better today than they were a few years ago," Feldman explains. "As prices have come down, functionalities have gone up. [Merchandisers offer] running watches that can track your pace and heart rate, diving watches that tell how deep you are and how long you've been under, and climbing watches with altimeters."
While inexpensive quartz sports watches have mass appeal, sporty mechanical timepieces have enduring meaning, Feldman says. "Traditionally, the sign of success at a car dealership has been the Rolex Submariner. It's a big, heavy, mechanical watch that costs between $4,000 and $6,000 in silver, and up to $20,000 in gold."
An Active Choice
As a reward, sports watches have a special status value, advertising the wearer's active lifestyle. "If you're wearing a dive watch, people will think you're a scuba diver. If you're wearing a watch with an altimeter, they'll think you're a mountain climber," Feldman says.
Companies like the fact that sporty timepieces encourage and reward physical activity and good health. Arnold Light, founder of The Light Group, a White Plains, N.Y.– based incentive house, managed a corporate sales meeting for a health care company where 200 sports watches were presented to attendees. The timepieces had moderate monetary value, as they cost Light's client just $125 each, but the sporty wristwatches conveyed an encouraging signal to participants.
"By giving out sports watches to attendees, the management was actually encouraging the sales force to be active," says Light. "The watches became a motivation to become healthy and stay healthy, and attendees appreciated the appropriately themed timepieces. People liked the watches a lot."
Luxury Meets Lifestyle
As their popularity among consumers grow, sportier wristwatch styles are migrating into luxury brands, and experts say that an upscale watch can have an sporty vibe without relying on a rubber strap or an LCD display. As Allyson Krichman, senior director of fulfillment at Rymax in Pinebrook, N.J., says, "It's not about sporty meaning a rubber watch. We think of a sporty timepiece as having a little bit of an edge to it."
Mainly seen in men's watches, multiple-dial designs give luxury watches a sportier feel, Krichman says. "And stainless steel bracelets definitely create sportier looks, both for women's and men's watches."
Multiple functions can also give wristwatches a sportier look, says Joe Zanone Jr., senior vice president at Mahwah, N.J.–based Movado Group Inc., and the extra functions can have special utilities for activities on incentive trips. "For instance, a compass watch is a great gift when companies take their incentive qualifiers out on hiking trips or send them on teambuilding activities like scavenger hunts," he says. "For beach incentives, diving watches are an obvious choice."
Zanone points out that sporty styles can be found on timepieces at all price points, including the very high end. "For ladies, we can do something a little more sporty but we dress it up with diamonds," he says. "The new SE Movado Collection for ladies comes with a diamond bezel."
Whether an active competitor, or just an active benchwarmer, adding several sporty watch options to your merchandise selection is a great way to get more participants in the game. Here are eight great timepieces that will have of your performers racing to the finish line.
1. Seiko Sportura Analog Digital
This wristwatch has a creative design that employs an analog display and a digital LCD display on a single face. The hour, minute and second hands tell time, and the LCD behind the hands has chronograph functions. Water-resistant to 100 meters. $595; www.seikousa.com
2. Timex Ironman Triathlon Bodylink
The Timex Ironman Triathlon Bodylink is a sports watch system that's designed for serious athletic use. This water-resistant, rubber watch features an easy-to-read LCD display that indicates the wearer's heart rate, speed, distance and altitude and has chronograph functions. $300; www.timex.com
3. Movado SE
This timepiece exemplifies the way sports styles are taking hold in luxury watch designs. The SE stands for Sports Edition, and this Movado has been refined with a sleek, new, sporty silhouette and aerodynamic contours. Crafted from stainless steel, this elegant watch features a black museum dial. $1,995; www.movadoincentives.com
4. Bulova Marine Star
The Bulova Marine Star has a clean, efficient design that makes it a classic choice. This chronograph features a blue sun-ray dial with 24-karat-gold, ion-plated accents, and a stainless-steel case and bracelet. Water-resistant to 100 meters. $399; www.bulovaspecialmarkets.com
5. Tag Heuer Aquaracer
Tag Heuer's Aquaracer is a classy option for the water sports enthusiast. It provides the functionality and accuracy that all water sports demand and is water-resistant to 300 meters. Features include split-time chronograph functions and a double bezel. $1,095; www.tourneaucorporatesales.com
6. Citizen Eco-Drive Calibre 2100
The Eco-Drive Calibre 2100 features a power reserve meter, a non-reflective crystal, engraved screw-back case and a screw-down crown. Water-resistant to 200 meters, this sports watch never needs a battery. It's powered by any kind of light, and runs and recharges continuously. $500; www.citizenwatch.com
7. Breitling Avenger Seawolf
This divers watch from Breitling is water-resistant to 10,000 feet. While it's unlikely your recipient would ever take it that deep, it's a cool technological feat worth bragging about. This watch is made of titanium. $2,575; www.tourneaucorporatesales.com
8. Tourneau Safari Sport 1950 Flyer Big Date
This striking wristwatch, with its supersized, 42-millimeter face, takes the dial frenzy to a new level. The stainless steel case houses a traditional three-hand dial, a date window and three chronograph dials. The multiple dials give it a retro feel, like something Hemingway would wear when he chased lions in Africa. $995; www.tourneaucorporatesales.com
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