What to buy - under £1k budget

[CalNaughtonJnr]

I am due to tie the knot in November and 'er indoors has decided my fingers are too long and skinny for a wedding ring! I am now trying to steer her towards the idea of a 'nice' watch instead - budget of between £500 and £1k. No real preferences but TAG perhaps a bit too obvious?

[Barchettaman]

Well, what sort of style do you like?

Divers
Aviator
Dress

Automatic/quartz?

Keen on a leather band, or prefer stainless steel?

Japanese/Swiss/other?

New/used?

Apart from Tag (which I personally think are very nice) any other brands do it for you?

What about matching his n hers?

[UnclePat]

Barchettaman is correct, it's hard to advise without more detail of your preferences.

However, I'm going to ignore that and say anyway what I normally say in such scenarios, and recommend the German brand, Stowa.

Assuming you don't wish to go second-hand to increase your bang-for-buck, or for such a personally sentimental item, then I think a Stowa Marine would look fetchingly smart & classy on your wedding day, and could be had for just over £900 brand-new: https://www.stowa.de/en/Marine+Klassik+40+silver+d...

I appreciate Stowa have zero brand cachet with the 'man on the street', but there's really rather a lot of nice touches that elevate it way beyond most bog-standard watches at this price point, including any TAG Heuer you could negotiate to buy at a close RRP (not that I have anything against TAG Heuer):

- dial made of solid 925/000 sterling silver
- handmade rotor
- heat-blued hands that change colour with the light
- 'Top' grade Swiss Made ETA 2824-2 movement - a solid, nicely decorated, reliable & accurate movement at this price point
- hand-finished case with display back

For circa £60 more they can even engrave the movement rotor with a special message to commemorate your big day.

Plus Stowa have a history of making Marine Observation watches in this style going back 80-years (give or take a change of ownership), and have excellent customer service. Dealing direct over the internet means you're cutting-out a hefty whack of Authorised Dealer margin too - this watch punches above its weight in my opinion.

[lostkiwi]

With a little haggling you should be able to get a Mühle Glasshütte 29er. Fantastic quality of finishing, elegant and with a customised Swiss movement it's a great piece of kit.

[ZesPak]

CalNaughtonJnr said:

I am due to tie the knot in November and 'er indoors has decided my fingers are too long and skinny for a wedding ring! I am now trying to steer her towards the idea of a 'nice' watch instead - budget of between £500 and £1k. No real preferences but TAG perhaps a bit too obvious?

My money would be on this in a second if I had to pick a one at this time:

https://www.magrette.com/shop/2454551953488?in=369...

[Sheetmaself]

Agree with the post a few above about Stowa really well made watches that you can personalise for little extra. They aren’t a popular choice As they do pretty much no promotion of their product but once you have had one on your wrist you will recommend others to get one.

[bingybongy]

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/oce...

[Barchettaman]

OP, all the suggestions you have had so far are absolutely fantastic and represent excellent value for money.

You need to come back to us and give us an idea of what direction you want to go in. There are some seriously knowledgeable people on this forum who will give you terrific advice.

[CalNaughtonJnr]

Many thanks for all the replies so far - something in the Diver style appeals and Blue would fit in with the wedding colours

I have no preference over any particular brand but interested know if there are any makers in particular that are at the sweet spot within our potential budget?

[funinhounslow]

Longines.

A long established Swiss manufacturer. I have the previous version of this and it's wonderful. A touch over your price range but I'm sure you could haggle a bit especially if you tell them why you're buying it...

Longines Hydroconquest

https://www.longines.com/watches/hydroconquest/l3-...

[Barchettaman]

Yep, the Longines is a seriously classy piece of kit.

I just looked at one, went with a Seiko Prospex in the end (also recommended).

The standard Longines Conquest, without the dive bezel, is also worth a look. They do a lovely blue faced Conquest GMT, just over budget.

Oris do a blue faced divers watch - possibly over budget though.

[Greendubber]

funinhounslow said:

Longines.

A long established Swiss manufacturer. I have the previous version of this and it's wonderful. A touch over your price range but I'm sure you could haggle a bit especially if you tell them why you're buying it...

Longines Hydroconquest

https://www.longines.com/watches/hydroconquest/l3-...

Lovely watches. I've had a black one for a few weeks and it's cracking. I got mine for under £1k with a 10% discount code for signing up to a news letter with Ernest Jones.

I had a look at the blue one too, it's really nice in the flesh.

[ZesPak]

All good and well, but do they do a bronze one within budget?

[Wilts_jeff]

ZesPak said:

All good and well, but do they do a bronze one within budget?

Did someone mention bronze?

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/watches/dive/c60...

I have a couple of CW watches and they are fantastic value. The customer service however......

[romeodelta]

Greendubber said:

funinhounslow said:

Longines.

A long established Swiss manufacturer. I have the previous version of this and it's wonderful. A touch over your price range but I'm sure you could haggle a bit especially if you tell them why you're buying it...

Longines Hydroconquest

https://www.longines.com/watches/hydroconquest/l3-...

Lovely watches. I've had a black one for a few weeks and it's cracking. I got mine for under £1k with a 10% discount code for signing up to a news letter with Ernest Jones.

I had a look at the blue one too, it's really nice in the flesh.

These guys are correct.

I have the blue one too and the dial is amazing in the flesh.

Great heritage and quality and punches well above it's price point in my opinion.

[CalNaughtonJnr]

Many thanks once again - I have actually been looking at the Blue Longines Hydroconquest so one of these might be a winner!

[Ninjin]

I would take a look at Mido. Under the radar brand in the UK but owned by the swatch group (as is Longines). Amazing value.

https://www.midowatches.com/uk/swiss-watches-colle...

look to achieve 20-30% off list price.

Edited by Ninjin on Thursday 18th April 10:59

[Barchettaman]

Good call on the Mido. The brand has some serious history behind it too, smallest automatic ever made in the 60s, that kind of thing.

Their better automatics use the 80 hr power reserve movement as found In Tissots, which is quite an impressive achievement at that price point.

The Longines though, with its higher brand profile, would definitely provoke more recognition, if that’s a criteria.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 18th April 12:04

[ZesPak]

Wilts_jeff said:

Did someone mention bronze?

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/watches/dive/c60...

I have a couple of CW watches and they are fantastic value. The customer service however......

I like that! Looks more elegant than the Magrette but less distinctive, you win some you lose some .

funinhounslow said:

Longines.

A long established Swiss manufacturer. I have the previous version of this and it's wonderful. A touch over your price range but I'm sure you could haggle a bit especially if you tell them why you're buying it...

Longines Hydroconquest

https://www.longines.com/watches/hydroconquest/l3-...

Classy!

[lostkiwi]

ZesPak said:

Wilts_jeff said:

Did someone mention bronze?

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/watches/dive/c60...

I have a couple of CW watches and they are fantastic value. The customer service however......

I like that! Looks more elegant than the Magrette but less distinctive, you win some you lose some .

funinhounslow said:

Longines.

A long established Swiss manufacturer. I have the previous version of this and it's wonderful. A touch over your price range but I'm sure you could haggle a bit especially if you tell them why you're buying it...

Longines Hydroconquest

https://www.longines.com/watches/hydroconquest/l3-...

Classy!

Now I prefer the Magrette myself. The CW has a bit much Rolex Yachtmaster about the bezel (and I'm not a fan of that either).

This on the otherhand is lovely. Just a shame it's out of budget.
https://www.christopherward.eu/c65-trident-bronze-...