Watch for the Mrs...

[DoubleSix]

Hi all, often read the threads in here (drool) but have never had cause to post. Looking to get the Mrs a watch for Christmas.

Budget not massive as she asked for loads of other stuff too, so say £300ish.

I want something versatile that she can wear daily but maybe dress up a bit if needed. I rather like classic stuff without gimics, bells and whistles.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully received! Thanks.

[marcosgt]

You're not too specific in the style you want, but I bought my wife one of these a year or so ago

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/3351572/Ti...

She wears it a lot, smart enough for a night out, but not too flash for wearing to work.

She doesn't wear yellow gold (even her rings are white gold), so I was planning on getting an all silver (colour) watch, but in the end decided the gold lifted this and, luckily, she felt the same, it's more subtle than it looks in those images.

Unless she's gardening or working at our local Nature Reserve, where she helps out, she wears it most of the time.

Of course, your Missus might find it horribly old fashioned and prefer a bright pink Baby-G? Some more guidance on style might help us narrow it down.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 23 October 11:28

[SimonMaidenhead]

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/women/view-all/ds...


There maybe a little more discount to be had.

[DoubleSix]

Thanks guys.

Sorry for being vague about style, bit clueless on the correct terms myself but definately not in the market for a pink baby-g!

I don't think she'd go for anything gold at all but notice this, on that same website:

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/8419388/Ti...

Looks nice, what do you think?

[Craikeybaby]

My girlfriend has been hinting about wanting a new watch, I have been looking at the Tissot range, as there seems to be quite a bit of choice around the £300 mark.

[DoubleSix]

SimonMaidenhead said:

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/women/view-all/ds...


There maybe a little more discount to be had.

That is nice but maybe a little mature for her (she's 30), I think a face that easily readible is also a criteria as she's on the move with her job a lot (district nurse).

Please keep 'em coming if you can.

[mikeveal]

Try this search on ebay.

You say you like classic watches. This will find watches in your price range. You may need to wade through several pages of dross to find something that you like.

But...

Second hand ladies watches have very little value. I don't wish to be unkind or snobbish, but you will not get much of a watch fro £300 new. Most likely you will be limited to a £20 quartz movement in a fashion watch case.

Whereas, if you are prepared to go vintage, you will get a very nice (ladies) watch for that money. Getting a decent gents Omega, Longines, Tudor etc. for £300 is difficult, but there are plenty of really good branded ladies watches in this price bracket.

Of course whether Mrs DoubleSix will look at your purchase as a nice vintage piece that you've loveingly selected, or as a piece of second hand tat, I'm unable to comment on - or advise you!

[DoubleSix]

I'm in the shop now. There's a nice Tissot with automatic mech for £325, is automatic far superior to quartz??

[mikeveal]

Um, no technically the quartz is superior, it is more accurate. However, Quartz watches have no soul.

The auto is a proper watch, with timekeeping from an oscillating spring. The quartz is just a lump of electronics.
HTH

[DoubleSix]

Ok,so the automatic actually contains some craftsmanship which is appealing, however, is a cheap automatic asking for trouble?

I appreciate I'm not getting an heirloom here, it's just something shiny for her to open on Christmas morn as the other gifts are a bit 'practicle'.

[mikeveal]

Mrs MikeVeal has an auto Tissot. A PR50.
I bought if for her ~10 years ago and it's still going strong. She loves it and I have to pry it from her grasp when it's time for a service.

Mechanical watches will need servicing every 5 - 10 years. If you do that, it will most likely out last you and your children. A service from a good independant will be in the region of £65.

High end quartz watches also need to be serviced, but in the price range you're looking at the movements will likely be plastic ones designed to be thrown away rather than serviced.

[DoubleSix]

Thanks Mike, appreciate the advice. I also totally get what you were saying about the vintage stuff and some of the watches on that ebay link would be my own personal preference as they have character.

Got to play this one a bit safe though

[toohuge]

Tissot is an excellent choice - very well made watches.

Citizen are good too. My wife started with a Citizen Eco-drive and loved that it never needed a battery etc. Plus they come with a 5 year warranty which is nice.

However, that was replaced after she noticed the difference between quartz and automatic

Chris

[marcosgt]

toohuge said:

Tissot is an excellent choice - very well made watches.

Citizen are good too. My wife started with a Citizen Eco-drive and loved that it never needed a battery etc. Plus they come with a 5 year warranty which is nice.

However, that was replaced after she noticed the difference between quartz and automatic

Chris

What? That automatics stop when you leave them off for a while?

As most ladies watches lack second hands, I can't imagine what difference there is to notice!

M.

[DoubleSix]

Bit lost by the last two comments...

Are you saying she swapped an automatic for a quartz?

[toasty]

Another vote for Tissot here. Very good value.

[DoubleSix]

This looks very similar to the one I saw yesterday and appears to be a but of a bargain with the discount... am I missing anything or shall I snap it up?

http://www.ticwatches.co.uk/tissot-t41-1-183-33-si...

[mikeveal]

I've never heard of TIC and I'm always suspicious of websites that don't list a business address.
So...

Who is performed on www.ticwatches.com

Domain name:
ticwatches.co.uk
Registrant:
Tic Trading Limited
Registrant type:
UK Limited Company, (Company number: 6344975)
Registrant's address:
51 CONISCLIFFE ROAD
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 7EN
United Kingdom
Registrar:
Webfusion Ltd t/a 123-reg [Tag = 123-REG]
URL: http://www.123-reg.co.uk
Relevant dates:
Registered on: 11-Apr-2007
Expiry date: 11-Apr-2015
Last updated: 04-Apr-2013
Registration status:
Registered until expiry date.
WHOIS lookup made at 12:14:54 24-Oct-2013

Looks like its a UK ltd. company, the website has been around since 11th April 2007 (my 37th birthday!).

Google streetmap is great.
http://goo.gl/maps/l27K8
Not sure if this is a residential property, or a house converted to offices.

[DoubleSix]

Yes I agree, and have done a shed load of Googling around the company, seems legit but always difficult to know for sure. My searches turned up a PH thread with someone asking about them and they got a thumbs up...

I assume it's cheap as maybe it's last years model or something because the the face is slightly different with numerals instead of numbers, or maybe this design didn't sell as well.

Using a credit card would offer some protection though right?

[mikeveal]

At that value, a credit card would offer purchase protection yes. I'd expect that with a receipt & stamped warranty card, you should be able to get warranty support from any AD or direct from Tissot.