Please help - clueless watch purchase imminent!!

[T-bagger]

Hi All

First time for me in the watch forum and i've 2 points to make before I plead for your valued assistance:

- I know very little about watches other than I know what I like
- I'm a lucky guy

So as a 10yr anniversary present my wife wants to replace my cheap and ageing Sekonda with something a little 'nicer'. Now I've never previously been interested in watches but now I have up to £2000 to spend and don't want to buy a load of rubbish with a swanky name!

So I need your knowledge and recommendations for a watch:

Up to £2k max
Leather strap - really like brown
Traditional analogue face with uncluttered appearance
Date display but little else needed
Automatic movement
Will be worn daily and often with to work (very smart formal dress)
Light face

Quite like the Longines Master/Frederique Constantine Classics/ really love the clean lines of the Nomos range too

Any experience, thoughts or advice are very welcome.

Thanks in advance

[Quinny]

Does it have to be new??

Either way £2k should easily be enough to get a nice watch that you can wear and admire for many years.... But if you're prepared to go "pre worn" you'll get more for your money...

Whilst you're browsing, take a look at Stowa & Sinn.... Stowa in particular may appeal to your tastes, but Sinn has a very big range also....

[War Pig]

Jurghans

http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/junghans-...

Tissot Visodate. Well under budget, but fits the bill and I think looks better than many more of more expensive makes dressy watches.

http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/tissot-wa...

[CardShark]

If you haven't already done so then you'll do well to to try a whole load out, so much better than just looking through a jeweller's window and you'll get a much better feel for what you do and don't like - though you seem to have a fair idea already. All of the brands mentioned so far will serve you well though Nomos probably stands out more than the others due to its manufacture status, Stowa have one or two similar models though they're even more difficult to try before you buy!

[PJ S]

The Frederique Constant Manufacture is a better option, especially if you want something nice to look at when you take the watch off...



http://blog.frederique-constant.com/frederique-con...
http://www.gmtminusfive.com/frederique-constant-sl...


....but you'd be daft to ignore the Pequignet Rue Royale as a serious alternative.



http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/141304-the-cheapest-...
http://forumamontres.forumactif.com/t167721-revue-...
https://www.chrono24.com/en/pequignet/rue-royale-g...

[CardShark]

Ah yes, the very same FC that you mentioned in this thread -

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?325818-Frede...

Lovely looking thing indeed.

[Dicky Knee]

I just bought an Oris Artix for my son's 18th-lovely watch. Also have a look at their Artelier range. I would also look at Hamilton Jazzmaster and Longines Conquest.

[Miguel Alvarez]

PJ S said:

The Frederique Constant Manufacture is a better option, especially if you want something nice to look at when you take the watch off...

That is stunning.

[T-bagger]

Thanks for the replies and advice guys - very much appreciated. The Frederique Constant Moonphase is a nice looking thing and an inhouse manufactured movement is the very thing that makes some of the Nomos stuff stand out.

Will be trying on the Nomos Orion and Tangente on Saturday and will see what Ernest Jones have in FC wise.

Keep the suggestions coming please! I'm starting to wonder if I'm not enjoying the research and chase for a watch as much as I do when car shopping....

[CardShark]

There's little doubt about getting a thrill from the chase, just ask my bank manager

[marcosgt]

I looked at one the Longines Master Collection watches at the weekend (a Chrono with a moonphase, so too fussy for you, I suspect) and I was very impressed by the quality of the watch even at the manufacturers list price (around £2k).

The plain three hander they do in the same range (About £1400 I believe) would be very tempting if I was in your shoes, but there are a lot of watches (even new, list price) that will fit your requirements.

Longines are a brand on the up in the Swatch group hierarchy, but they're probably the best VFM too at the moment.

M

[Craikeybaby]

I'm a fan of the Nomos Orion, my fiance bought me one as an engagement present and it is a lovely watch. However, I don't wear it every day, maybe once a week. Ive got the 38mm version, and even that is smaller than a lot of other watches on the market, which I see as a good thing, but may not suit you. The leather on the Nomos straps is meant to last longer than normal leather watch straps, which may be a consideration if you are planning to wear it as a daily. Although I think that they only come in black as standard.

Other brands to look at in your price range, which I looked at before deciding on the Nomos are Oris (I have one as my daily), Longines, TIssot, Hamilton and Sinn.

[T-bagger]

Hi All

So, purchase made. I spent all day today in looking at Longines and Nomos; trying loads on, noticing the details and debating price, then I saw the one. Admittedly it stretched the budget, but I got £350 off through hard negotiation.

I give you the Tag Heuer Carrera Heritage



I'm very, very happy with it!

[yeti]

T-bagger said:

I give you the Tag Heuer Carrera Heritage

Speechless.

Why bother asking for advice?

[Dan_1981]

[Quinny]

To be fair that TAG is quite nice and is certainly in keeping with the styles that seemed to appeal to him...

[Smelly Sox]

yeti said:

Speechless.

Why bother asking for advice?

Harsh...but...

[CardShark]

yeti said:

T-bagger said:

I give you the Tag Heuer Carrera Heritage

Speechless.

Why bother asking for advice?

No-one recommended TAG, but then no-one advised to steer clear either.

[yeti]

CardShark said:

No-one recommended TAG, but then no-one advised to steer clear either.

True, true.

Enjoy OP, what you like is what's important.

Give us a shout when one of the hands fall off and we'll send you to ecain63. Or it fills with water.

Or you Google Heuer Carrera and realise that the 'heritage' line used is guff.

[yeti]

Quinny said:

To be fair that TAG is quite nice and is certainly in keeping with the styles that seemed to appeal to him...

It's a good looker for sure.

Tiny movement syndrome and mis-naming'itis is the diagnosis though.