First big watch purchase - choice of 3 watches.

[metbandit1]

Im looking at my first big purchase to start of my collection.

I already have a citizen eco drive as my daily but would like to spend a bit more brass on a dress/special occasion watch.
And a bit of an investment too.

Watch 1:
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/TAG-Heuer-Aquaracer-Ch...

Watch 2:
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Breitling-Colt-44-Mens...

Watch 3:
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Omega-Seamaster-300M-G...

[westberks]

i'd go for the Omega of the three you've put up all day long; probably with a black face (blue is nice though)

none are really investment watches but i'd guess the Omega has the best chance of retaining value.

at that price point there is a lot of other stuff to choose from, so the usual advice applies, get on Chrono24 and have a hunt around. unless you are shopping with clubcard vouchers or similar, go preowned or via Dom at Hacketts (or similar for discounted price) to minimise the initial hit.

happy shopping.

[Kirk280]

None of them are 'investment' watches. Try them on and buy the one that you like the most.

[RichB]

I don't see any of those as dressy. I always think that shiny metal bracelets & bezels shout for attention and distract the eye from the suit, tie and shoes. I always prefer a leather strap for a dress watch.

[yeti]

With respect, if you're looking at buying brand new, every one of those will have halved in value in a year. They will not get that value back, possibly ever. 'Investment' needs to be either unusually rare, limited edition or vintage.

None of them are dressy, they're knock-about, good quality divers but if that's what you want, cool.

Please check out the preowned prices of these watches online and you could have two of them for your money. Or something much better...

[coldsnap]

I think to the general population, (me, i'm no watch buff) any of those 3 watches would be a very nice watch to have and suitable for all occasions. You will pay a premium for a new watch, just the way it is. Personally i prefer the Tag design but thats just to my taste.
Having said that i would agree with the above in that 2nd hand is the way to go.

[bozzy101]

I've got an Omega Seamaster which I'm really pleased with. I wear it every day whether I'm at work, going to the gym or just sat around. The only thing I wish I'd got though was the co-axial version rather than the quartz.

[RichB]

coldsnap said:

I think to the general population, (me, I'm no watch buff) any of those 3 watches would be a very nice watch to have and suitable for all occasions...

But you don't have to be a watch buff to have taste. When someone says "dressy" I assume they mean to wear with a lounge suit of perhaps black tie. You wouldn't wear a sports watch with a DJ in the same way you wouldn't wear a dress watch in the gym.

[westberks]

RichB said:

ut you don't have to be a watch buff to have taste. When someone says "dressy" I assume they mean to wear with a lounge suit of perhaps black tie. You wouldn't wear a sports watch with a DJ in the same way you wouldn't wear a dress watch in the gym.

add the Omega moonwatch to the list and that can go on a strap, is slightly less in your face than the other divers, recognised as a timeless classic, and compared to a lot of the new stuff is pretty good value. imho

i think what is defined as dressy needs to be clarified as for some it might just be a first 'premium' branded watch in a non G-Shock style and for others a simple dress watch as you have described.

[RobCh]

westberks said:

RichB said:

ut you don't have to be a watch buff to have taste. When someone says "dressy" I assume they mean to wear with a lounge suit of perhaps black tie. You wouldn't wear a sports watch with a DJ in the same way you wouldn't wear a dress watch in the gym.

add the Omega moonwatch to the list and that can go on a strap, is slightly less in your face than the other divers, recognised as a timeless classic, and compared to a lot of the new stuff is pretty good value. imho

i think what is defined as dressy needs to be clarified as for some it might just be a first 'premium' branded watch in a non G-Shock style and for others a simple dress watch as you have described.

An Omega Speedmaster would be my choice. Restrained and classic enough to do smart formal, works on a strap or a bracelet, lots available.

[Glideman]

+1 for the Omega moonwatch, best chance of keeping some money come resale. Tag are a bit crap to be honest, maybe look at a cheaper second hand Rolex if you want any money back.

[mrdemon]

I would go seamaster, I have 2 and love both.
My white face has a SS bezel and works well dressy, my black face smpc just kicks arse all other times.
Its the do it all watch imo

Iconicwatches do them for a big saving. And the smpc are rare 2nd hand and go for quite a bit .

Not really into watches for investments myself, it's a luxury item which can last you your lifetime.
Now that's an investment :-)

Edited by mrdemon on Sunday 22 December 22:15

[coldsnap]

Glideman said:

+1 for the Omega moonwatch, best chance of keeping some money come resale. Tag are a bit crap to be honest, maybe look at a cheaper second hand Rolex if you want any money back.

You had a bad experience with a Tag purchase?

[Miguel Alvarez]

Agree with all said above. If I was buying one of those 3 I'd pick the Breitling only for the reason that out of all of them I think that one will look nice on both the metal bracelet and a leather strap.

If you're not that rigid I'd look at an Omega Moon watch or a Tag Heuer Carerra. Nicer watches IMHO but you do lose out on water resistance if that's a key factor.

[bozzy101]

As a left field choice, have you looked on watches.co.uk? There's a great choice of pre owned on there, including some lovely vintage watches. Just found this which looks (IMO) lovely and is from circa 1967! I think its good value at £2,495.

http://www.watches.co.uk/watch/15176s/rolex-vintag...

[michael gould]

yeti said:

With respect, if you're looking at buying brand new, every one of those will have halved in value in a year. They will not get that value back, possibly ever. 'Investment' needs to be either unusually rare, limited edition or vintage.

None of them are dressy, they're knock-about, good quality divers but if that's what you want, cool.

Please check out the preowned prices of these watches online and you could have two of them for your money. Or something much better...

I would go a little further than Yeti......your effectively buying £800 watches but paying over £2000 for them......They all contain £150 movements and although handsome watches are hardly horology masterpieces.

In the words of my old headmaster "you can do better"

[andy tims]

Without wanting to be rude the 3 watches selected are crushing un-original.

Have a look on Chrono 24 to get an idea of what your budget can get you pre-owned.

[Stuart70]

I have a Seamaster which I bought second hand; I was at a black tie dinner last week and it was still on my wrist.

I was appalled that they let me in; though to be fair they had a team running around after me all evening shouting "chav" - ah well - it may have been my off the peg DJ that caused the commotion and not the watch though?....

[dave87]

RobCh said:

An Omega Speedmaster would be my choice. Restrained and classic enough to do smart formal, works on a strap or a bracelet, lots available.

Exactly the choice I made, particularly this one:

http://www.omegawatches.com/collection/speedmaster...

I preferred the blue, and according to the jewellers that adjusted it for me, a lot rarer (in their experience) than the other colours.

[Siscar]

If you are after an investment then take note of what others think. But otherwise just buy what you like, there are a lot of watches out there that people rate that I think look either horrendous or ordinary , but it doesn't matter, personal choice of the person buying it is all that matters.