Maybe getting a new watch, Raymond Weil or Tag?

[tonyb1968]

Hi guys,

So I've not really had an expensive watch before (my Protrek was like 400 quid) but I may be able to pick up a Raymond Weil Bob Marley edition or a Tag (not sure which model yet as have not made up my mind), what should I be looking for at around the 1k price range?

Thanks

[toon10]

You'll probably find there isn't a lot of love for either brand on here. I have a Raymond Weil dress watch which is really elegant but ultimately, it's a cheap quartz job and one I use rarely.

A grand should get you a decent enough watch. I'd probably go on a few watch sites and filter on your price range and get a good idea of what you can get before deciding on a specific brand. Make sure you know what movement, strap, features and style you like and go from there.

[JackReacher]

Worth looking at Oris as well, I really like them. But they also won't get much love on here as they aren't considered an investment piece, or have any sort of waiting list. This doesn't matter so much if you are buying something you really like and intend to keep a while IMO.

[AlleyCat]

I would also recommend a Christopher Ward in that budget, very lovely watches with a variety of styles/influences (Divers, Dress, Pilot, Motorsport)

[T6 vanman]

No offence OP but give yourself some time to think of the type of watch you ... really ... want.

Both RW and Tag do OK £1k watches but RW are mostly classic or dress watches, and Tag are generally sports.

I have 4 Ball watches and can recommend them and this week these people have a 50% off sale
https://secretsales.com/home-and-beauty/ball-watch...
They have a range of sports & more dress style watches

Consider ORIS & if you can stretch the budget SINN for sports style

[Jag_NE]

a grand is a funny price point if you want to buy something new. its too much for the run of the mill stuff but its too low to get something with some real prestige about it.

i would either (a) look at vintage stuff or (b) put the grand down as a deposit and get something on 0% at somewhere like goldsmiths for a relatively low monthly. 40 quid a month would get you something very nice indeed.

[Graemsay]

The Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic is due to release in September. It's got a chronometer rated movement, with a 120 hour power reserve, and which is anti-magnetic. (That can be useful if you spend time around computers.)

The US RRP is $2800, which will translate to between £1500 and £2000, and strikes me as an awful lot of watch for the money.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/baume-and-mercie...

[Brads67]

RW are lovely well made watches.

Tag are just far too chavvy.

Cristopher Ward are bloody terrible when you get them in your hand. Not well made at all. They look really cheap.

Buy the RW.

[OGR4M]

Brads67 said:

Cristopher Ward are bloody terrible when you get them in your hand. Not well made at all. They look really cheap.

That sounds like a personal vendetta to me - I had a CW trident for about a year, and I couldn’t disagree more. It didn’t feel a whole league different to the Rolex that’s on my wrist now, which cost 8 times as much.

You can definitely tell there’s a difference, I’d be worried if not, but a sturdy, good looking dive watch with a well known movement (that’s rated to twice the depth of the Rolex) for ~£600... better purchase than a quartz watch, some of which look suspiciously similar to the tags you’ve said look too chavvy...

[Voldemort]

tonyb1968 said:

what should I be looking for at around the 1k price range?

Everything.

Don't rush. Try some on. Ask if there is any discount available.
At that price point you are not going to get a (new) watch that will hold its' value. And neither will a 2nd hand one, though it will likely lose less.

I'd get one of these:

which list at £840 in automatic form but could be had for £660 as a quartz.

But you're the one who's going to have to look at it, so pick the one you like best.

Finally, we're a curious bunch so please tell us, eventually, what you decided to get.

[Graemsay]

Another option: The Tissot Ballade Powermatic.



https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-gb/shop/tissot-ba...

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/tissot-ballade-p...

It's chronometer rated, has a silicon balance spring, and costs £750. Tissot have also done really well in chronometry competitions, against much more highly regarded brands.

[TheAngryDog]

Brads67 said:

RW are lovely well made watches.

Tag are just far too chavvy.

Cristopher Ward are bloody terrible when you get them in your hand. Not well made at all. They look really cheap.

Buy the RW.

I'm sure any of that is true. Sounds a bit sour to me.

[AlasdairMc]

Voldemort said:

I'd get one of these:

.

I think it's worth considering how you think something will age, and for me those numbers will age it prematurely. It looks nice otherwise, a classic yet contemporary diver.

I do like the stuff that Longines produce, in fact the Legend Diver has always been of interest, but that already has a retro feel to it.

[CubanPete]

I'd get a Longines too.

(in fact I did...)

[toon10]

CubanPete said:

I'd get a Longines too.

(in fact I did...)

At that price point and with their heritage, Longines would be my first choice. I prefer their dressier watches. They do some lovely master collection pieces although a bit more than budget.

[andy tims]

T6 vanman said:

No offence OP but give yourself some time to think of the type of watch you ... really ... want.

Look at the wrist check / incoming threads here + spend a bit of time on Chrono24 for inspiration.

You can do better than Tag or RW. Especially RW.

[tonyb1968]

Cheers, I shall not make any rash decisions and if I can stretch to something a little more up market then I shall

[Beachbum]

I've always thought these were worth the money. Prices are in Euro's so slightly less than that in GBP
https://watches.uhrzeit.org/watches/junghans.php?r...

The Max Bill Chrono is truly a thing of beauty.

[Brads67]

OGR4M said:

That sounds like a personal vendetta to me - I had a CW trident for about a year, and I couldn’t disagree more. It didn’t feel a whole league different to the Rolex that’s on my wrist now, which cost 8 times as much.

You can definitely tell there’s a difference, I’d be worried if not, but a sturdy, good looking dive watch with a well known movement (that’s rated to twice the depth of the Rolex) for ~£600... better purchase than a quartz watch, some of which look suspiciously similar to the tags you’ve said look too chavvy...

Never owned one so neither vendetta or sour.

I was just seriously disappointed when a friend bought one and let me see it. So was he. It really was nothing like we expected and wasn`t worth keeping.

What quartz watches are you talking about ? but yes, Tag are too chavvy for me. Maybe with the exception of the Carrera calibre 5

The RW Freelancer is a great watch for the money and will stay desirable.

[gregd]

If you can run to 1,400 GBP I'd recommend this..

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/oris-chronoris-d...