What watch for £400?

[Twincharged]

My missus has generously offered to buy me a watch around the £400 mark (can be a bit more if necessary). What options are available? I'm not really an expert on watches, but I know what I like! Pictures would be good if possible, I know very little about watches so model codes will only confuse me.

[lowdrag]

Give us more info please. A dress watch, a chronometer, a divers watch, a big size watch, a simple everlasting watch, quartz or automatic? What you have posted so far gives us nothing to go on.

[Twincharged]

I'd like it to be nice to look at, chronometer would be a nice addition but not essential. A smallish watch would be good, as I only have thin wrists. I don't think I'd wear it everyday, maybe once a week, but nothing too fragile as I'm not the most careful person ever. Automatic would be prefereable but not essential. I'm also not really into "watches with a badge", as I always get the feeling armani/boss/ etc spend not so much on the movement and then stick their badge on to make up the price.

[tertius]

As you rightly surmise Armani, Boss and the like don't make watches they supply badges.

For your budget I would suggest you look at:

New:

Oris: www.oris.ch (very, very nice watches, far better than the price suggests)

Ollech & Wajs: try www.chronomaster.co.uk or www.rlt watches.co.uk (you'll need to remove the space here, the PH rudity sensor is set to high ...

RLT: www.rlt watches.co.uk (ditto re. the space ...)

Timefactors: www.timefactors.co.uk

Just possibly Stowa will come in under budget: www.stowa.de

Used:

Sinn: www.sinn.de or www.chronomaster.co.uk (possibly these will be a little on the large side)

Or any number of vintage watches will come in under budget if you don't mind that. Vintage also tend to be a little smaller.

Personally I'd be looking at Oris.

(PS A chronometer is simply a watch that meets COSC standards of accuracy, it may be that a chronograph was what was meant ...)

[Twincharged]

I like the look of quite a few of those, Oris and Stowa in particular. Do you have any advice on where is best to purchase such watches from? I imagine high street retailers will be good as I can try them on, but will they have huge mark ups?

[tertius]

Twincharged said:

I like the look of quite a few of those, Oris and Stowa in particular. Do you have any advice on where is best to purchase such watches from? I imagine high street retailers will be good as I can try them on, but will they have huge mark ups?

Well Oris you can find easily, as Goldsmiths and the like stock them. Yes, they will have a markup, they have to make a living after all, but I imagine they may be willing to do a deal. Obviously its not a terrifically expensive watch so you probably won't be looking at a huge reduction.

Stowa is more difficult, they don't have a UK AD I don't think. You can buy direct from the website, but this will be sight unseen. I have a Stowa Marine Original and really rate it, though from what you have said it may be a little on the large side for you.

[jules_s]

I tend to agree about the 'badge' thing here...I really dont see any difference in quality between a £100 quartz watch and a £500+ watch.

I've got one of these....cost about £300 (iirc)



But prefer wearing this...cost about £80 (iirc)



Ive got skiny wrists too...and they both look fine, if a tad 'big'

[Hunttheshunt]

Ahem....my Seiko Sportura in the classifieds

[glazbagun]

Another vote for Oris at that price point- I've worn my Big Crown daily for ten years now & TBH, have never felt the need to replace it in all that time, despite being drawn to all things shiny in shop windows. Theres some very good seikos at that price, too, though I dont know how dressy they are.

[lowdrag]

From what I've read on this forum Ollech and Wajs watches are not too recommended at the moment due to relaibility problems, but I'd certainly go with either Oris, Stowa or Seiko but the above suggestion of a Sinn second hand is the best idea for style, functionality and reliability I reckon.

[Clintster]

in this price range I'd go for Oris

[sparkyhx]

I really like these

http://www.rlt watches.co.uk/acatalog/Grovana.html


http://www.the watchforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19362

homage to rolex but actually bigger, which suits me. And well under budget.
swiss movement, 300m water resist, sapphire crystal - absolute bargain.

[mel]

There's one seller in particular (can't remember his name but the ads are very distinctive) on ebay who shift loads of vintage Omegas dependant on your year of birth you could find a really really nice seamaster for around that money, my mrs bought one for me and it's just a piece of art, I will admit that it keeps ste time unless kept in a winder or worn all the time, it also steams up in the shower, and is a bit fragile but it's still lovely.

[Watch-Collector]

You could always save a bit more and buy a very good Rolex Oyster Precision or an early ish Auto Oyster date on a steel band.
They can be had for around £600-800 , wont loose too much and if in good nick will last a long time !
Watch-Collector

[sonnyb]

You could get two or three very nice looking Casio Waveceptors for your budget. Don't scoff, they look good and they are more accurate than any of the above.

[A S P]

Again, I've had an Oris BC3 for the last 10 yrs or so and I'm really happy with it. No problems, still looks great and I also have small wrists so didn't want a larger sized watch. I think it's a subtle watch but still gets comments.

[glazbagun]

A S P said:

Again, I've had an Oris BC3 for the last 10 yrs or so and I'm really happy with it. No problems, still looks great and I also have small wrists so didn't want a larger sized watch. I think it's a subtle watch but still gets comments.

A nice side effect of having a watch for so long is that the novelty has totally worn of for you, so when someone else comments on it its a pleasant surprise, unlike when you first buy it & tend to always be aware of it.

[cavie]

Our postman has just dropped one of these off for me - http://www.riedenschild.com/english/html/1121-deta... - and first impressions are pretty good. Looks good, and feels solid and well put together.

I got it from RLT at half price, making it quite comparable to other watches I was considering for daily wear (Grovana, Seiko etc.) Unfortunately they're now out of stock (I ordered yesterday so probably got the last one!), but still have the orange face at the same price.

[gun12b]

try this link.http://watchismo.blogspot.com/2006/10/motorities-dunhill-petrolhead.html its nice a bit different.

Edited by gun12b on Thursday 28th February 05:16