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respectable watch?

waterlilly

waterlilly

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
955
I know nothing about watches, never spent more the $50 on one and haven''t worn one for years.

I need to start wearing one at work and want to get a nice one - but not a several hundred or thousand dollar nice one. I don''t want any sparkles or bright colors. Leaning towards a larger size, but not flavor flav large
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Is there a good place to buy used watches other than ebay? Would love to get an older or vintage one...

Also - pics of your watches are most welcome!

Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Honestly? I''d suggest you check out Fossil. If you want to stay below the $100 mark, they have a nice selection. I have one pretty fake-antiquey piece from them that a watch-shop dude mistook for a Breguet when I went in to have the battery replaced (and, no, he''s not one of the frightening maul-shop employees). They''re pretty, and, better yet, servicable.

If you want something a little more long-lasting, I''d recommend a Tag Heuer watch, but that''ll take you into the several hundred dollar territory, at the least.
 
Date: 5/6/2010 8:37:59 AM
Author: Circe
Honestly? I''d suggest you check out Fossil. If you want to stay below the $100 mark, they have a nice selection. I have one pretty fake-antiquey piece from them that a watch-shop dude mistook for a Breguet when I went in to have the battery replaced (and, no, he''s not one of the frightening maul-shop employees). They''re pretty, and, better yet, servicable.

If you want something a little more long-lasting, I''d recommend a Tag Heuer watch, but that''ll take you into the several hundred dollar territory, at the least.
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I agree Fossil is nice and good priced. Right now i have a silver Kenneth Cole Reaction watch that i love...not too expensive either and i get lots of compliments on it. It''s a nice dressy business type watch!

Of course i have a soft spot for Tags though but thats up there in price for sure!!
 
Kenneth Cole and Anne Klein watches are nice.
 
I have bought a couple Croton''s that I love and an Invicta from shopnbc for about 100.
 
I got a Movado for 300$ from an outlet (retailed at 1k+) and I love it death, wore it so much that I broke the strap in under a year! Oops.

Anyways, they sell watches around the 100$ mark, especially if you go to an outlet or a BJs/Sams. They tend to be stylish, and are a respectable and well recognized brand.
 
I had a Citizens watch that I loved, it was the Eco-Drive kind that doesn''t require a battery. Unfortunately, I dropped it on the tile floor in the bathroom when I was putting it on one day and shattered the face. I haven''t worn a watch since, but I''d definitely get another one of those if I did. They''re a little pricier, though, I think they start around $150 and go up from there.
 
Date: 5/6/2010 12:41:46 PM
Author: Octavia
I had a Citizens watch that I loved, it was the Eco-Drive kind that doesn''t require a battery. Unfortunately, I dropped it on the tile floor in the bathroom when I was putting it on one day and shattered the face. I haven''t worn a watch since, but I''d definitely get another one of those if I did. They''re a little pricier, though, I think they start around $150 and go up from there.
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I was thinking Citizen too (in which case I would have suggested looking at Joma Shop), but then I realized she''s looking for vintage watches.

For a relatively inexpensive vintage watch, I''d look for an Elgin. Maybe check out Ruby Lane.
 
Date: 5/6/2010 1:54:54 PM
Author: KittyGolightly
Date: 5/6/2010 12:41:46 PM

Author: Octavia

I had a Citizens watch that I loved, it was the Eco-Drive kind that doesn''t require a battery. Unfortunately, I dropped it on the tile floor in the bathroom when I was putting it on one day and shattered the face. I haven''t worn a watch since, but I''d definitely get another one of those if I did. They''re a little pricier, though, I think they start around $150 and go up from there.
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I was thinking Citizen too (in which case I would have suggested looking at Joma Shop), but then I realized she''s looking for vintage watches.


For a relatively inexpensive vintage watch, I''d look for an Elgin. Maybe check out Ruby Lane.
Click to expand...

Whoops, missed that part! I guess I should read more carefully.
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Yeah, Citizen doesn''t really make any vintage-y watches, they tend to be pretty modern-looking. No suggestions on used watches, but hopefully one of the other suggestions will work out for you!
 
Date: 5/6/2010 9:22:51 AM
Author: mary poppins
Kenneth Cole and Anne Klein watches are nice.
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I second those, and their prices are $80-$150. THey last forever, and you can find some nice understated designs.
 
Thanks all!

Not totally set on a vintage...will def. look into all suggested, yay - a new project!
 
I had a Fossil watch I liked in college; broke w/in about three years but was pretty and worked great til then
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. I love vintage watches and if you want one, and want to avoid ebay, local antique malls and pawn shops might be a good place to check. I prefer to buy in person because watches are complicated to describe online. You can test to see if it keeps time in person; that's important! I like Bulova, Hamilton and Elgin, though of course there's a lot of other brands that are just as good. I like the older ones (usually 1920s-1930s) ones that have the blued steel hands, those are pretty. You can definitely find some lovely ones that are pretty reasonably priced. For the lower end ones (like under, say, $100ish) I like ones that don't have any stones but have *great* engraving and have 14K cases... the bands are usually not 14K though, for that price range, which is fine... the bands are often mismatched anyway and can be replaced. You can definitely find some like that in that price range if you're patient.

One caveat: if you want a vintage watch you better have fairly small wrists. 6 to 6 1/2 inches. Or find one with a band you can change. Most vintage watches are in the 6 to 6 1/2in range. 7 is rare. It is *painful* watching people try on old watches- like Cinderella's sisters
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they're kinda slow movers for that reason in the smaller sizes. The nice thing about looking for the lower end vintage watches is that the bands are usually nothing special, without precious stones or made of precious metals- so you can alter them to fit more easily and with lots less guilt.
 
I love my Fossil watch. It''s not so expensive and it looks good to me! I have been complimented on it several times.

BBO_watch1.jpg
 
I have a couple Fossil and Relic (a branch of Fossil) watches. The Relic ones are often vintage-ish-looking. Fossil has tons of outlets--you should check if there''s one around your area. I also have a Michael by Michael Kors watch that was inexpensive but still pretty.
 
Also, check out Zodiac watches. They are swiss made and are sold at Nordstrom. Good deals can be found on ebay.
 
I love my watch. It is my favorite watch of all time. It''s nothing fancy (I''d love a diamond dress up watch for rare occasions) but it fits my every criteria. I wanted it to be waterproof, have indiglo, have a fully articulated dial with a second hand and be very easy to read. It''s stainless with a white face and black numbers. It''s plain enough that I can wear it dressed up or down. I wear it ALL THE TIME - even in the shower or when I swim. It is the most useful tool I have next to my iphone lol And I still think it looks really nice. It''s a Timex and it keeps on ticking!!! lol
 
I''m also a Citizen fan, and I recommend the Eco Drives because there''s not battery to replace. I''d post pictures, but I don''t think you''d care much about guy watches.
 
If you like Swiss Quartz movement, I HIGHLY recommend Tissot or Breil watches. They aren't mainstream in America but both are extremely popular in Europe. They are very well made and classy. I get compliments on my watches all the time. My husband also has a Tissot we bought in Switzerland and it is stunning! You can probably find both in the U.S. Just look up retailers on their website. One thing to keep in mind is that you can always bargain prices on mid-range to high-end watches. For example, my Tissot retailed at over 600$ but my husband got it for 300$.
 
Date: 5/6/2010 9:22:51 AM
Author: mary poppins
Kenneth Cole and Anne Klein watches are nice.
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For good buys on these brands go to Rosses or TJMAXX...You dont have to pay retail for these brands.I own a few Pulsars that have been really good watches(made by Seiko brand and have several styles under $100...$59-$99)I have one 25 year old pulsar that wont give up!
 
If wearing a watch to convey an impression, Rolex is the most recognized name, much like Steinway in pianos.

This is even though you can spend much less to get a fine piano or watch and there are several that are much better made.

Everyone recognizes a Rolex.
 
I have a really nice Invicta as well as a gorgeous Renato. Well priced, not too flashy, good watches.
 
I second fossil as well as a good inexpensive watch brand. Also, I would recommend Micheal Kors and Guess.

Fossil recently acquired the MIchele watch company and also makes watches for a few other brands including MK and Emporio Armani, so they should be a pretty reputable company.
 
Date: 5/8/2010 5:40:49 PM
Author: kenny
If wearing a watch to convey an impression, Rolex is the most recognized name, much like Steinway in pianos.


This is even though you can spend much less to get a fine piano or watch and there are several that are much better made.


Everyone recognizes a Rolex.
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Yes, everyone recognizes a Rolex, and also, to some extent, Tag Heuer. But they are not the best watch "values" out there, nor are they the best made watches.

Vintage LeCoultre and Omega watches (which are quite inexpensive in the ladies' versions) are true classics that represent the finest in watch making skills. Vintage Bulovas, Hamiltons, Longines, and Elgins are also reasonably priced and well-respected names in vintage watches. Many vintage watches are mechanical, which means you need to wind them!

If you are interested in owning a vintage mechanical watch, this means you need to develop a good relationship with a local watchmaker, to keep them cleaned and oiled and running properly. If you''d prefer a quartz watch, I'd look at Tissot, Raymond Weil, Michael Kors, Skaagen, Citizen, Bulova, etc., and yes, Timex, and choose a style you like. I wouldn't spend more than $500 on a quartz watch.

Tissot, and other brands, make what's called an automatic watch, which is a mechanical watch that does not need to be wound by hand (self-winding). These are more expensive, but you can get a nice automatic watch for between $500 and $1,000 (and higher, depending on the brand, and the complexity of the watch). The Tissot Ballade III is a great watch that is made in both quartz and automatic versions. It is a classic design that is sporty enough to wear for casual, but also professional looking.

Check out Finer Times
and Wannabuyawatch to get some ideas of what vintage watches cost.

ETA: With your budget, I'd look at this vintage Bulova: ladies' Bulova
 
Date: 5/7/2010 2:23:43 PM
Author: pennquaker09
I'm also a Citizen fan, and I recommend the Eco Drives because there's not battery to replace. I'd post pictures, but I don't think you'd care much about guy watches.
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I got my husband a really fun citizen watch for our 15th anniversary. He'd mentioned he wanted to go away from digital and get a grown up watch - but he's such a geek... I got him one that looks analog but has extra dials to do all the same things he did before. He loves it.

ETA - this watch is waterproof and has the self winding feature as well, I love the simplicity of my timex but I admit the citizen watches can be really cool.
 
A bit more expensive, but a timeless classic you''ll be able to wear forever is a Seiko. I love mine, wear it everyday!
 
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