Birthday present for my wife?

[Harry Flashman]

Folks, I would like to buy my wife a watch as one of her presents for a significant birthday.

It needs to be below £5k in cost, a ladies' watch, and not a terrible investment i.e. no fashion house rubbish, but a watchmaker. Gold or rose gold better than steel, to go with her jewelry (redhead, so gold goes well with her colouring). Second hand absolutely fine.

Bonus points for anything with a dark green face - her engagement ring features an emerald, as she is not a diamonds person, so something to complement that would be great.

Any ideas?

[Harry Flashman]

SO some initial internet window shopping. And aren't ladies watches a hell of a lot cheaper than mens' ones? Given my tiny wrists, a 38mm bargain for myself may have to be found...focus, Flashman. This is about Lady F.

Surprisingly tasteful Franck Muller
https://www.chronext.co.uk/franck-muller/master-of...

The Rolex cliche, but green face! Would have to do something about that strap though. And it doesn't look like an Oysterdate to me, despite being advertised as one...and I think the Rolex thing would embarrass her.
https://www.chronext.co.uk/rolex/oysterdate/6426/V...

Very pretty. Hell, at 38mm, I'd wear it!
https://www.chronext.co.uk/girard-perregaux/olimpi...

This is very her, in terms of look - she wears fairly simple, but elegant stuff.
https://www.chronext.co.uk/blancpain/villeret/1151...

Same watch, but £1000 cheaper for the 33mm over the 38mm version.
https://www.chronext.co.uk/blancpain/villeret/1195...

Anyone know anything about this brand?
https://www.chronext.co.uk/frederique-constant/cla...

A classic, but I think I prefer the Blancpain for being a bit more niche/less well known.
https://www.chronext.co.uk/omega/de-ville/4678-31-...

[soad]

Probably best to consult her? They’re all lovely...but no sense in ending up with a watch which won’t get worn much.

[Harry Flashman]

Found a Rolex that she might like...
https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Rolex/Cellini/5109/8...

[anonymous-user]

I would suggest a used Rolex is a sensible option.

[lostkiwi]

Chanel J12?

https://www.chanel.com/en_GB/watches-jewellery/wat...

Some years ago I bought my other half z similar Tag. She won't wear anything else.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tag+heuer+ladies+a...

[Groat]

Harry Flashman said:

This is very her, in terms of look - she wears fairly simple, but elegant stuff.
https://www.chronext.co.uk/blancpain/villeret/1151...

Ma Groat has mentioned she'd like shot of her........

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/audemarspiguet/huitieme...

......and won't be discouraged by me.

(Hers is identical to the one pictured. It's a beaut, but she prefers quartz to auto)

[psi310398]

Obvious question, I suppose, but is she an habitual watch wearer? My wife dislikes carrying too much ironmongery on her person. I bought her a very expensive Swiss watch several years ago in similar circumstances and she never wears it. Come to think of it, I bought her a very good (French) watch 35 years ago that she never wears either. (She uses her phone to keep time.)

On reflection, I should perhaps have bought her a piece of jewellery instead. Might she prefer a piece of complementary jewellery more?

[nikaiyo2]

Lol tread with care

Apparently the nice new watch to accompany her old Frank Muller (21st birthday gift) was the MK watch in Ernest Jones window we were looking at and not the Cartier acquired at significant cost, that now languishes in the safe. Whilst an MK gets worn frequently

IWC do some lovely ladies watch’s that are really stylish without being overtly showy.

[AJB88]

Tudor as an alternative to Rolex?

They do quite a few womens models.

[Barchettaman]

My wife has decided she loves my Vostok Amphibian. She calls it her ‘Russian spy diver’s watch’.

It was only €50 from Moscow so quids in.

I did put it on a nice leather band for her though.

Maybe one to consider?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

You can get some interesting versions of the old Cellinis that look to go with her tastes as you’ve posted so far, but be aware they’re manual wind and not waterproof.

[seadragon]

Look on chrono24. You can search by watch type, dial colour etc etc. I have used it a few times to buy and sell

[Dicky Knee]

The Blancpain Villeret is a beautiful watch. I was close to buying one when I was living in HK in the late 1980s but didn't. I'll add that to my list of regrets.

I don't know if you have seen one in the flesh but they have a boutique in New Bond Street.

I would put it on one of these (or similar):

https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/green...

It would look spectacular.

As a slightly left field option bearing in mind you want elegant and proper watch making:

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/jaegerlecoultre/reverso...

And do the same thing with the strap. They also make one in a smaller size.

And very brave of you to buy without checking with Mrs Flashman. Mrs Knee would have ended up with a Rolex Datejust if I had made the choice but lucky I checked as she really didn't like it.

Edited by Dicky Knee on Tuesday 22 October 09:56

[So]

Harry Flashman said:

Folks, I would like to buy my wife a watch as one of her presents for a significant birthday.

It needs to be below £5k in cost, a ladies' watch, and not a terrible investment i.e. no fashion house rubbish, but a watchmaker. Gold or rose gold better than steel, to go with her jewelry (redhead, so gold goes well with her colouring). Second hand absolutely fine.

Bonus points for anything with a dark green face - her engagement ring features an emerald, as she is not a diamonds person, so something to complement that would be great.

Any ideas?

Depends upon the woman in question. If she is a slight little thing I might go Cartier. If she is more sturdy I might choose Rolex. Maybe a midsize or even a men’s.

[Harry Flashman]

Thanks chaps! Some good suggestions there.

Lady F is tall, but not sturdy (good word!), so oversize watch would not work. That JLC Reverso looks great for her, for example. Her jewelry tends to be slim, rather than chunky.

[So]

Harry Flashman said:

Thanks chaps! Some good suggestions there.

Lady F is tall, but not sturdy (good word!), so oversize watch would not work. That JLC Reverso looks great for her, for example. Her jewelry tends to be slim, rather than chunky.

Also keep in mind that whilst you may appreciate the beauty of a mechanical watch, the good lady might think it a proper faff to have to wind and set one. I personally don’t like quartz watches for anything but cheapo, but ladies often prefer them.

[seadragon]

some random ones from chrono24, various styles

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/chopard/imperiale--id12...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/mauricelacroix/le-class...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/bulgari/serpenti--id109...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling/j-class-solid...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/frederiqueconstant/coun...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/chopard/happy-fish-2785...

[EJH]

This might be a little too large for brief at 34mm (and is certainly larger than the rather lovely Reverso mentioned earlier) but how about something like this (noting that other case materials can be rather less expensive than rose gold):

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/jaegerlecoultre/master-...

[The_Doc]

Is the watch for her?
is it for you to give to her?
is it for you to give to her, and be seen standing next to her wearing it?

Is it for her to dangle, walking into the gym?

Or has she chosen one she likes the look of?

I mean no offence, but I wear a watch that costs £x,xxx.00 and my wife couldn't give a toss, and is happy wearing one that looks nice to her and cost her £20.

Ditto a car I bought with 400hp and an engine in the back. I couldn't get her to drive it