Shopping for a Men's Watch

catemeg

If you're looking for something to do this afternoon, I could use some savvy internet shoppers (or anyone with experience buying watches).

I've never bought an expensive watch before, and I'm not sure what brands are good or anything.  I'm willing to invest some money in a nice watch, but don't want to get ripped off. Any advice?

Here's the situation: BF and I would like to have something for him to have to commemorate our engagement.  We decided a very nice watch would be perfect, since it could be considered an heirloom like an engagement ring and be passed on to future generations.

His likes:
Silver, not gold.  Preferably two-toned silver.
Very simple face, no extra features like moon cycles or whatever
White dial face, preferably mother-of-pearl

Budget: $400-800

This is an idea of what his style is like:




Thanks in advance!

katanne9

My FI is a watch fiend. He loves them. His everyday workwatch is an Invicta.

It's 2 tone stainless - part brushed stainless and part polished stainless. He has a classic face with none of the extra little stuff.

I believe he spent about $400 on it.


You may also want to ask him if he wants a self winding watch or not. FI has both, but sometimes has to reset his self-winding one if he doesn't wear it for a few days.


ETA - Invicta makes great looking watches. While we were looking at wedding bands in a nice jewelry store, the consultant commented on his Rolex. (Haha)

sapphirebaby926

I bought DH a Citizen watch as a wedding gift and he really likes it.

This one is $225

http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English/detail.asp?Country=COA&Language=English&ModelNumber=BM8080-59A

This one is $325

http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English/detail.asp?Country=COA&Language=English&ModelNumber=BL1230-52A

ekathleen684

If you want to pass it down, I would try a company with a lifetime warranty. Many of the higher end brands have a 2-3 year warranty though. I bought FI this one but with a black face.



Try this site:http://watchluxus.com/
They have a huge search option.

catemeg

Thanks ladies!  Yes, self-winding would be ideal.  And Kat, that sounds like exactly what he wants.  Any idea of a model number?  I went to their website but only could find non-metal bands.

katanne9

I sent him an email seeing if he can tell me. GL

PandaBurr

Hm. I was going to suggest going to the Movado Factory Store, but it looks like the closest one to you is in Orlando. I got FI a really nice Movado watch that fits all of those criteria for like $750 after tax, and its retail was somewhere around $1700. They also carry a bunch of other brands too.

I say just go to the mall and find a watch he likes, and then look for it online at a cheaper price. I like this one

$675


http://www.neweggmall.com/Product/2002665520/product.html?cm_mmc=PCE-GoogleSearch-_-Watches-_-Watches-_-2002665520

And this one, but it's $981



http://www.watches-swiss.com/Movado-606109-Red-Label-mens-Swiss-watch-p5621.html

catemeg

Thanks Panda!  I could go up to $1000 for the right watch, but he doesn't really like Movado (I do!  But he doesn't).  He thinks it would be hard to tell the time without any numbers or dots or anything.

I love the band on the second one, though - that's perfect!

PandaBurr

Bah, what kind of man doesn't like Movado watches?? Haha. Okay, let me see what else I can dig up.

catemeg

He also doesn't like Rolex.  I don't know what's wrong with him...

And Sunbird and Sapphire, thanks!  Those are similar to what he wants, but he already has a Citizen watch which recently broke and he's talking about replacing, but I want to get him something a little more expensive that he'd never buy himself, but something he will wear throughout his life (timeless, ya know?).

PandaBurr

I really like this one, but would he like a black dial? It's $595



http://www.wonderwatches.com/item/Wittnauer_Montserrat_Mens_Diamond_Watch_10E101-3791.html

EDIT: I just reread the OP. Eh. I still like it, haha.

sapphirebaby926

Ah I gotcha - I got DH the Citizen one because he already has a really nice watch (a Breitling I think) but he wanted something more casual but was still nice looking. I'll defer to Panda on this one since I don't know much about watches and it looks like she's got some good suggestions.

catemeg

That's really nice, Panda!  I like it a lot.  I'm not sure how set he is on the white face... when we were looking at watches, he said he really liked mother-of-pearl face, which is white.  I'll have to drag him to look at watches again...

Oooooh... it has diamonds on it!  That's kind of a male version of an engagement ring, right?

PandaBurr

I'm going to say that last one is my bet; it's got diamonds on it. I'm having a hard time finding many men's watches that have a mother of pearl dial.

catemeg

Yeah, I dunno about the mother-of-pearl.  I think that one's really classic, and definitely could be an heirloom piece!  We may have found a winner!  I'm going to have him look at a few more, just to see if he's opposed to a black face watch.

Thanks!


ETA:  Just found this one from the same manufacturer with mother-of-pearl.. what do you think?
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/Wittnauer-Mens-Astor-Diamond-Bezel-Watch/4853713/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=12740056

PandaBurr

I like that one, but something about it kinda looks feminine. I dunno, what it is..

catemeg

Haha... naw, I think it could make a very nice woman's watch, too.  But he's the one who said he likes mother-of-pearl!  I didn't know that was even in his vocabulary...

I like the one Panda picked best so far, but I'd be nervous about getting one with a black face and that unique shaped dial since it's so different from the styles he's said he likes.  Ugh!  I guess I'll have to take a jump and make a decision at some point.  I can only imagine how stressed guys get making decisions about engagement rings!

myother1

Just a note: check Overstock.com!  I got DH a $650 Swiss watch for about half the price.  They don't have a HUGE selection, but the ones they do have are priced really well.

fieldielover

We got FI this Baume and Mercier, which retails for $2400 but I found online for $1400 - it is GORGEOUS in person. Self winding.

fieldielover

Go to authenticwatches.com and they have lots of discounted - they come with authenticity guarantee and provide certification.  (They buy unsold inventory from large jewelry chains.)