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Got a wrist watch you love?

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FeltLikeTriing

Aug 28, 11 20:17

Post #1 of 171 (5414 views)

Got a wrist watch you love?	Quote \| Reply

So my hubby just got a job after over a year of searching (Yay!). After tightening our belts for so long to make sure we didn't run out of savings, I'd like to get him something nice, sort of as a "Congrats on the new job/I'm proud of and love you/Happy first day of work" present (hope that's not a weird thing to do). I'm thinking maybe a watch, he's always wanted a nice one. So any suggestions for a nice manly watch that is not too showy, but still looks classy; would work well as an everyday watch, maybe a little sporty, but could also go with a nice suit if need be? And not crazy expensive, I mean I'd rather not empty the entire savings this late in the game!

-----

"Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said 'one can't believe impossible things.' `I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!'"

aftereffector

Aug 28, 11 20:57

Post #2 of 171 (5401 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I have a Swiss Army Infantry that looks nice, in my opinion of course.

http://www.swissarmy.com/Timepieces/Pages/Product.aspx?category=infantry&product=24654&

It's not flashy at all, but I think it looks nice enough to dress up or down. I'd suggest a metal band with a suit though.

slowguy

Aug 28, 11 21:54

Post #3 of 171 (5381 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

How expensive is "crazy expensive"?

Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

FJB

Aug 28, 11 23:26

Post #4 of 171 (5359 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [slowguy] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I was looking at some watches in a Mall in Bangkok the other day and there are some really crazy expensive watches out there and for me that means anything north of $10,000.

IKnowEverything

Aug 29, 11 1:02

Post #5 of 171 (5343 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Omega Speedmaster - the only watch ever worn on the moon!

Pretty cool, runs about $1000-ish bucks if you can shop well.

IzzyG

Aug 29, 11 5:08

Post #6 of 171 (5312 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [IKnowEverything] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

x2 on Omegas, always a classy look. My dad gave me the Schumacher Limited Edition and I enjoy it each time I get to wear it. Tag Heuer also has a "sporty" line too. In fact, get him this one;

http://www.google.com/...amp;ved=0CIYBEPICMAk

You can find NOS for about $700 and choice of dialface colors! Oh, chronograph is the way to go w/ the additional small dials(always a classier look)

Side note: I saw my wife's OBGYN wearing a $38k Breitling. I hate him for it ;p

sphere

Aug 29, 11 5:14

Post #7 of 171 (5309 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

+1 on Swiss Army (Victorinox). Classics never go out of style.

"Reason obeys itself; ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it." - T. Paine

(This post was edited by sphere on Jan 1, 13 17:03)

ElGordo

Aug 29, 11 5:28

Post #8 of 171 (5302 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [IKnowEverything] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

IKnowEverything wrote:

Omega Speedmaster - the only watch ever worn on the moon!

Pretty cool, runs about $1000-ish bucks if you can shop well.

Please tell me where, exactly, I can buy an authentic Omega Speedmaster Professional in the U.S. for $1000. Tell me where and I will buy one today.

Beautiful, classic watch, but any one I have ever seen from a reputable used watch dealer/eBay is in the $2k ballpark. Some are significantly more.

Thoughts?
Paul

Al P Duez

Aug 29, 11 5:56

Post #9 of 171 (5284 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I bought myself an Omega Seamaster Chronograph recently -online ~$2800- and i am very pleased with it. Nice watch!

(This post was edited by Al P Duez on Aug 29, 11 5:57)

slowguy

Aug 29, 11 6:25

Post #10 of 171 (5264 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

If you stick to stainless steel, you can get nice watches like Omage or Tag for reasonable prices. You can also do some shopping at reputable online or brick and mortar vintage watch shops and find something nice, that might feel like it has a litle history to it.

I wear my Omega Seamaster all the time. It's stainless, black face, no frills, and cost me less than 2K. Fine in everyday clothes, and looks nice when dressed up. No too big, and I prefer the regular squared off links over the odd shape of the Tag metal wristbands. You could also get one with a leather band which might make it a bit more dressy if that's what he'd want.

Slowguy

(insert pithy phrase here...)

twomarks

Aug 29, 11 7:08

Post #11 of 171 (5244 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

What a great present to think of for your husband!

So many things to consider:

budget? This will be your starting point and can guide where you look for the items that match the answers to the questions below
new or used? Significant savings can be had when buying used, but you'd need to know the questions to ask and where to go/not go for places to look that would lower the chances of fraud
gold, stainless, other? Stainless will go with more things, but the gold will be more dressy as a generalization
wear everyday (you've answered this one)
battery vs. automatic? battery operated will keep "better" time, but not by much, and the automatic(self-winding) will generally mean a better finished product

I just went through this exercise and can help walk you through some pitfalls and things to consider - PM me if you'd like any more help.

twomarks

FeltLikeTriing

Aug 29, 11 7:23

Post #12 of 171 (5230 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [twomarks] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Thanks for the ideas so far! Some of these are really nice, and its just good to have a man's opinion.

As far as price, I was thinking around 1k (of course under if I can) - haha, that is what I love about ST, it keeps me humble by reminding me just how out of my league I often am. 10k?! Holy crap! Was also thinking stainless, for the versatility. Hadn't even considered battery vs automatic, will have to think about that.

-----

"Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said 'one can't believe impossible things.' `I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!'"

twomarks

Aug 29, 11 7:30

Post #13 of 171 (5226 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Oh - one more thing - it will matter how big a guy your husband is - specifically wrist size - since as the size of the watch (both diameter and height) will have to be taken into consideration. You don't need to take measurements - just small, medium, or big boned is enough to go on.

Once I have that info - I can come back quickly with a few choices for you to look at.

twomarks

Tik

Aug 29, 11 7:59

Post #14 of 171 (5208 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [twomarks] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I was in the same boat last year and while in Switzerland got sticker shock. Tag's were 3-4K. I settled on a Tissot Touch in titanium which I absolutely love. Check them out and see what you think. They will be under $1K.

tkeru408

Aug 29, 11 8:47

Post #15 of 171 (5180 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

FeltLikeTriing wrote:

10k?! Holy crap!

Isn't it hilarious what people will spend a ton of money on. I said about five years ago that when my titanium Citizen EcoDrive finally bites the dust, I won't buy another watch to replace it. All I need my watch to do is tell me what time it is and my phone does a perfectly good job of that. My Citizen--now 10 years old--is still going strong with no signs of slowing down for now.

(BTW, I'm not criticizing those who spend a lot of money on watches. Everybody's got their thing they like to spurge on and I've got mine, too; it's just not watches. For those that choose to spend lots of money on watches, more power to you.)

twomarks

Aug 29, 11 9:12

Post #16 of 171 (5169 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [tkeru408] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

You could always get him this:

http://www.luxurybazaar.com/...atinum__Leather.html

It's very understated and meets most of your criteria :)

twomarks

Stephen M

Aug 29, 11 10:39

Post #17 of 171 (5138 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Personally I'm a big fan of Oris. One of the best values in Swiss timepieces.

YaHey

Aug 29, 11 10:57

Post #18 of 171 (5125 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [Tik] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Any Swiss watch in titanium is great.

IKnowEverything

Aug 29, 11 11:19

Post #19 of 171 (5112 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [ElGordo] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Good call; turns out the one I was looking at was used, not new... so yeah, you're absolutely right; you can't get a new one for $1000.

twomarks

Aug 29, 11 11:38

Post #20 of 171 (5102 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [IKnowEverything] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

It may be tough to find one that's in good shape at $1000 as well - I could be mistaken, but from the ones I've seen, it's about $2000 for a good used one.

Any direction on where to look for one at that price?

twomarks

last tri in 83

Aug 29, 11 11:42

Post #21 of 171 (5098 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Much cheaper solution - dinner, a card and a wild romp in the hay.

_____________________________________________
To err is human, to forgive, canine

ElGordo

Aug 29, 11 11:48

Post #22 of 171 (5090 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [twomarks] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

twomarks wrote:

Sorry to pounce a bit on IKnowEverything, but a quality used Omega Speedy will run you about $2k minimum, at least based on every reputable dealer working eBay these days. Any given moment there are prob 5-10 for sale. Just follow the auctions and see where they land: that's the market price. I follow this only because when I hit a couple of goals I have I am going to get one. Getting a used one is not much different from new: the old ones have their own charm and if properly maintained the watch should outlive all of us anyway.

The idea of one being available for $1k is too good to be true.

Happy hunting,
Paul

FeltLikeTriing

Aug 29, 11 12:09

Post #23 of 171 (5069 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [twomarks] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

twomarks wrote:

You could always get him this:

http://www.luxurybazaar.com/...atinum__Leather.html

It's very understated and meets most of your criteria :)

twomarks

Haha, let's see, with "506 miniscule parts" that's only 1472.33 per part.... I suppose I could get him one of 506? :P

Also, I'd put him at a medium build.

-----

"Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said 'one can't believe impossible things.' `I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!'"

grosso27

Aug 29, 11 12:09

Post #24 of 171 (5068 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [FeltLikeTriing] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I absolutely love my Swiss Army chronograph. Money extremely well spent.

I beat the hell out of the thing, and I've been wearing it all day / every day for 5+ years now. You'd be very hard pressed to know it's not brand new.

I think it's a great entry spot into higher-end watches. You flush out all the issues of cheaper watches like soft metals, glass faces, etc....but don't pay for the bells & whistles of jewels & automatic movements of more 'luxurious' brands.

FeltLikeTriing

Aug 29, 11 12:10

Post #25 of 171 (5067 views)

Re: Got a wrist watch you love? [last tri in 83] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

last tri in 83 wrote:

Much cheaper solution - dinner, a card and a wild romp in the hay.

Yeah, but then really the only thing different from normal would be the card... I'm no slouch in the kitchen or the hay!!

-----

"Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said 'one can't believe impossible things.' `I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!'"

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