Discussion
My OH has decided she would like a decent watch for Xmas
Her requirements are quite simple - it must have numerals (of any sort) and a date indicator
She wants a watch that will be accurate (her current, cheap, item loses time) and will last a number of years.
Budget is circa £350
She has therefore ruled out the typical designer labels that a girl might go for - Michael Kors, Radley, etc.
I see this as a good thing.
However, she has always wanted a Gucci watch, which I believe I can obtain within budget.
What's the crack with these in terms of quality? Is it something that will last, or a cheap piece in a nice dress?
TIA
Her requirements are quite simple - it must have numerals (of any sort) and a date indicator
She wants a watch that will be accurate (her current, cheap, item loses time) and will last a number of years.
Budget is circa £350
She has therefore ruled out the typical designer labels that a girl might go for - Michael Kors, Radley, etc.
I see this as a good thing.
However, she has always wanted a Gucci watch, which I believe I can obtain within budget.
What's the crack with these in terms of quality? Is it something that will last, or a cheap piece in a nice dress?
TIA
Hoofy said:
benny is right. Problem is that if she wants a Gucci, she wants a Gucci. It's like if she wants a baby and you buy her a hamster instead. 
hmm, I have mooted a Seiko, but she was a bit non-plussed, which isn't positive She hasn't specifically asked for a Gucci now, but I know it would be appreciated from previous conversations
I just don't want to spend triple the money, for something that's the same in terms of quality....
Muzzer79 said:
hmm, I have mooted a Seiko, but she was a bit non-plussed, which isn't positive She hasn't specifically asked for a Gucci now, but I know it would be appreciated from previous conversations
I just don't want to spend triple the money, for something that's the same in terms of quality....
To be fair, the build quality and finish on Gucci tends to be quite a bit higher than on things like Michael Kors. Whether or not it's double-the-price better is debatable, of course!
I suspect the difference is because Gucci at least pay lip service to their products being long-term possessions whereas most fashion brands actively encourage you to buy new next season so longevity is fairly well down their list of priorities.
I suspect the difference is because Gucci at least pay lip service to their products being long-term possessions whereas most fashion brands actively encourage you to buy new next season so longevity is fairly well down their list of priorities.
Just been through this with the OH. Don't mention watch brands, show her pics of styles of watches in that price bracket with prices. showed her Armami, MK, Citizen, Seiko, VW. She picked the Seiko which was a bonus as it wasn't the most expensive and as it happens Ernest Jones had it half price. Result!
Variomatic said:
To be fair, the build quality and finish on Gucci tends to be quite a bit higher than on things like Michael Kors. Whether or not it's double-the-price better is debatable, of course!
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That was my experience when I had a GF that wanted a Gucci watch. It was well finished and quite solid feeling..
Being a fashion brand I also managed to get a huge discount off a jeweller friend. I think it was in the order of 42% off.
My wife's had a Gucci watch for a few years for every day use and it's been fine.
She's not into brands but liked the look on this one and it just happened to be Gucci. I was reluctant to buy as assumed it would be a cheap watch with Gucci stamped on it but the shop manager did a good sales job and said he would stand behind any issues so I bought it.
She's not into brands but liked the look on this one and it just happened to be Gucci. I was reluctant to buy as assumed it would be a cheap watch with Gucci stamped on it but the shop manager did a good sales job and said he would stand behind any issues so I bought it.
jshell said:
I've got a Gucci watch bought for me by the wife. Days out of warranty one of the permanent links on the bracelet failed and Gucci told me to 'do one'. Cost of replacement bracelet was so much it just lies in the drawer dead.
How did it fail? They can usually be repaired quite cheaply rather than replacing the whole bracelet. Being a fashion company Gucci themselves would just throw another one on if they did anything - don't think drilling, filing and polishing is in their repertoire - but that doesn't mean it can't be done!Variomatic said:
jshell said:
I've got a Gucci watch bought for me by the wife. Days out of warranty one of the permanent links on the bracelet failed and Gucci told me to 'do one'. Cost of replacement bracelet was so much it just lies in the drawer dead.
How did it fail? They can usually be repaired quite cheaply rather than replacing the whole bracelet. Being a fashion company Gucci themselves would just throw another one on if they did anything - don't think drilling, filing and polishing is in their repertoire - but that doesn't mean it can't be done!
Ok, fixed links on that will either have a solid s/s pin pressed through then riveted before finishing (so the heads disappear) or two tapered half-pins (one from each side) which are driven in then finished in a similar way.
Either way you can usually pick up the position of the pin and punch the broken parts out - as long as you get the initial centre punch somewhere on the pin itself they tend to move enough to show the circumference, which allows you to remove with a parallel punch. If they absolutely refuse to move then they can be drilled.
Once the broken bits are out it's easy to either fit a "removable" style split pin, drill out the centre part to fit a removable pin & tube (stronger than a split pin), or fit a replacement solid rivet (no real benefit and back to square one if it fails again one day).
Certainly not something they should be pushing a complete new bracelet at you for!
Either way you can usually pick up the position of the pin and punch the broken parts out - as long as you get the initial centre punch somewhere on the pin itself they tend to move enough to show the circumference, which allows you to remove with a parallel punch. If they absolutely refuse to move then they can be drilled.
Once the broken bits are out it's easy to either fit a "removable" style split pin, drill out the centre part to fit a removable pin & tube (stronger than a split pin), or fit a replacement solid rivet (no real benefit and back to square one if it fails again one day).
Certainly not something they should be pushing a complete new bracelet at you for!
Edited by Variomatic on Sunday 25th October 18:10
Variomatic said:
Ok, fixed links on that will either have a solid s/s pin pressed through then riveted before finishing (so the heads disappear) or two tapered half-pins (one from each side) which are driven in then finished in a similar way.
Either way you can usually pick up the position of the pin and punch the broken parts out - as long as you get the initial centre punch somewhere on the pin itself they tend to move enough to show the circumference, which allows you to remove with a parallel punch. If they absolutely refuse to move then they can be drilled.
Once the broken bits are out it's easy to either fit a "removable" style split pin, drill out the centre part to fit a removable pin & tube (stronger than a split pin), or fit a replacement solid rivet (no real benefit and back to square one if it fails again one day).
Certainly not something they should be pushing a complete new bracelet at you for!
Cool, sounds good but can the new assembly be polished flush so that it becomes invisible like the other links? If so, I'd love to get something arranged for a proper repair!Either way you can usually pick up the position of the pin and punch the broken parts out - as long as you get the initial centre punch somewhere on the pin itself they tend to move enough to show the circumference, which allows you to remove with a parallel punch. If they absolutely refuse to move then they can be drilled.
Once the broken bits are out it's easy to either fit a "removable" style split pin, drill out the centre part to fit a removable pin & tube (stronger than a split pin), or fit a replacement solid rivet (no real benefit and back to square one if it fails again one day).
Certainly not something they should be pushing a complete new bracelet at you for!
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