Buying a watch - good price?

You might also consider Rolex Stainless & Gold. Women LOVE these watches and they will last virtually forever. To buy an exceptional one at a rock-bottom price, go to Capetown Diamond website. These guys are pros and have no-nonsense prices. Plan on $2500-ish for a perfect one. I bought both my wife's stainless & gold rolex and my Rolex GMT Master II from them. Good luck.

 

Mike,

I would say go with Movado since that is the cheapest on your list.


In a realistic term, I wouldn't give a gf any present that is so expensive. I spend no more than 200 dollars per year on one gift either for bday or xams. I think even that is too much. Remember when she breaks up with you, you will not get any of that back. Investing/saving 500 bucks will do much better for you in the long run. If she was your wife, I wouldn't have said anything. Take it for whats its worth, less than a messican peso.

 

movados are kinda cheapy I think. they break easily. I always liked Ebel for women with the pearl face.

 

I have to go along with this advice. Heck, get her a FAKE Rolex. If and when she breaks up, let her say "I'm keeping my Rolex." To which you can reply... "Oh shut up and go back to the cracker jack box that you came out of...the same place that crappy watch of yours came from."

 

I'd personally go with the Tag. The Cartier is too much, and Movados just don't do it for me. All of this IMHO.

It looks like the prices you've found are pretty good, I'd be surprised if you can beat them.

 

SRT Mike,
Many factors should be considered for a gift for your GF (that's fun part but also could back-fire later, too) Since I love shopping & watches, I would enjoy gift shopping!

Anyway, w/ 3 choices you put up, Cartier seems to be the best choice, especially Santos as it is their classic model. One thing to consider: Santos are mostly automatic, so quartz may be not appreciated as much. Don't be offended, I just wanted to state my concern. It's like buying Rolex quartz, and getting a comment as fake by some ignorant people.....

Gucci has very decent designed watches under $1,000, and so does Hermes. I also like Bvlgari for ladies' watch.

Some watches sold at Coach are not bad, especially price, especially for leather strap watches.

 

I will not weigh in on whether you should buy an expensive present for your girlfriend. Only you can make that decision. I can, however, give you some advice on the watches you mentioned: the movado is not really a serious watch among collectors ( oh, there may be some old ones that are, but that's different), the Cartier is pricey, and the movement is of no particular interest, its the design, as jewelry, but at the budget you are talking about, pure stainless is not necessarily that fashionable; the Cartiers depreciate, even the expensive ones, because, again, its not a heavy duty collector's watch; the Tag may have been the best buy at one time but they are ubiquitous. Here's my suggestion: Rado- makes a watch that is a little offbeat- ceramic black that is virtually indestructible, band, and all; its sleek, elegant, sort of a serious watch among collectors, though not expensive, more like collecting Citroens- quirky, but its reliable, the company has been around quite along time, and it is a timeless design. On question- do you (and will she) like the aesthetic?
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Good choice, seemed to be very popular when I was in Hong Kong last year. Saw their ads all over the place.

 

I've found that a lot of girls are starting to wear men's watches. I am considering getting my girlfriend a Rolex Explorer or Submariner. If you buy her a men's watch, you can borrow it on occasion

 

YOu should look at the Rado for yourself, then. I am currently wearing a PANERAI GMT, very nice; my dress watch is the Cartier Chrono- the one with the fairly elongated face and multiple dials in mixed gold and steel; have a couple Rolexes; not into watch collecting enough to buy everything i like. I like some of the IWC watches- they seem to be reasonable for their complications. If you like slim, and elegent, the Pateks (at least the older ones) the Audemars, etc. Also think about used high quality watches from a good source, with warranty.

 

Damn, Bill's wearing my watch. I'm dying for a Panerai! If Yoshi will just ever get through with his, I'll take it off his hands. He has too many watches anyway. I bought an Oris TT1 Divers Regulator last month on a whim, it's my new favorite watch until I get the Panerai.

Mike, a female coworker has a Baume and Mercier Catwalk, it's a nice watch. Not sure if it's the style you want, but a good price and a good brand.

 

As this is a Ferrari site, I would suggest an Italian watch. I really like the Locman line which are moderately priced. See www.locman.it . There are many US dealers that can get them.

 

Speaking of entry level watches, anyone have any experience with watches from Fortis and Oris? I think they were somewhat popluar a long while ago, but dosen't seem to be in fashion any longer.

I esp. like the military look of the Fortis and its lower price point, but wasn't sure if it was well made. (stuff from sinn and bell&ross is a bit much from me, but that's the look I like.)

 

Anyone care to weigh in on ORIS watches?

 

It just dawned on me, what may be a good choice. A Pequinet. I bought this for my wife a couple of years ago. The cool thing about it is the interchangeable bands. It's very cool how she changes the look (like the Gucci that was very popular 15 years ago). The case it comes in is nice and it is well within your desired range.

Just a thought.

DL

 

I bought an Oris a month ago, I'm converted. I've considered buying a second one, I like this one so much. I also have a Tag Kirium Chrono and an Omega Speedmaster. They both cost the same or more than the Oris, but I really like the Oris better. Buy one, don't wait.

 

I've had an Oris black-face tank watch for a couple of years. Like the styling. The dealer told me Rolex & oris share the same movements. Anyone know this to be true or not?

Since the topic is watches, what are your opinions on the Roger Dubuis watch that's getting advertised alot in Forza and other magazines? Personally, I think it looks kind of hideous!

KevFla

 

Jimpo you truly live large - the Ferraris, the bling rings, the watches. Yet you still have time to share your posts. How do you manage it?

 

Mike, I was in the watch market a few months ago

Not sure where you are, but a gucci can be purchased in downtown los angeles jewelers district for about 1/2 the cost you would pay retail. Pay cash and you could avoid sales tax. Brand new in the box from a watch store. not a copy.

Tags are available to at about 40% off.

Shop around, as in my case, I went to a jewelry store in newport and found a price about 15% off list. I hesitated because it was a bit more than I planned. Then, when I decided to go for it, they didnt have it in stock. Once they received a shipment from new york, the price went up about 12% for the new year. I later came across another authorized dealer in West L.A. that has the exact same watch and would have sold it to me for 20+% off the retail price at that time. Now its 20+% off the new retail price. So if your going to authorized dealers keep in mind that they will vary in pricing.

 

It's all an illusion. If I really lived large, I'd have that Panerai and a 355 Spider. Besides, you have a Ferrari, a bling ring and a watch! And your Ferrari is newer than mine.

I think you can buy any watch at a pretty significant discount if you shop around. I bought a Rolex for my wife at about a 30% discount from an authorized dealer. (Thanks again Yoshi!). I also bought my Oris from a dealer, and got nearly a 30% discount from them. Just be prepared to buy when you ask them to discount it, they take buyers a lot more seriously than shoppers.