Watch for my 21st

[arryb]

I was 21 last May and have decided that I'd like to buy a watch with some of the birthday money I received. I'm in love with the tag heuer carrera but unfortunately that's out of my price range for now I'm looking to spend approximately £600 but I'm not very clued up on decent watches so I'm very open to suggestions. And also looking for suggestions on how/where to get discounts.

Attached for inspiration of what I love so something similar would be awesome.


Thanks in advance!

[BigAlinEmbra]

Stick the £600 in a savings account just now.
Turn down one night a month on the lash and put the money you would have spent on beer and floozies into said savings account.
Buy your carrera next year.

If you buy a cheap copy of what you do really want, you'll just spend the next x number of years wishing you hadn't spent the £600 on a watch you didn't really want.

[arryb]

I think I'd see the carrera as a "special occasions" watch and this watch will probably be for everyday use. Your plan sounds good - but I'm a student and saving money (although I'm hoping to have a part time job this year) isn't too easy. Have given it some thought and rest assured, if I don't like the suggestions, I won't be getting one.

[bloater27]

If you keep an eye out you can sometimes get a new omega speedmaster reduced for around the £600 mark, in the sales.

[cyberface]

bloater27 said:

If you keep an eye out you can sometimes get a new omega speedmaster reduced for around the £600 mark, in the sales.

Or a second hand one. I have a limited edition yr 2000 Schumacher special, which IMO has a better movement than the TAG, which only cost me £900 when I bought it brand new... surely these watches are available around the £600 mark?

For illustration, said watch looks like this, so it's similar in design and concept (no date though):

[paulpsz008]

Where would you find such a watch second hand??

Edited by paulpsz008 on Thursday 10th July 21:51

[cyberface]

paulpsz008 said:

cyberface said:

which only cost me £900 when I bought it brand new... surely these watches are available around the £600 mark?

Where would you find such a watch??

Get a time machine and go back to Burrell's in Tunbridge Wells in 2001.

Or, given that Omega made a limited edition of the same watch every time Schumi won the world championship, there will be second hand ones available from the usual suspects. I got superb service from watches.co.uk for my Breguet so I'd try there, but there are plenty of other traders. Note that I didn't buy the watch for the Schumi connection - but because I loved the design. Some of the subsequent Schumi ltd editions weren't as well designed or were a bit garish. A standard speedmaster automatic shouldn't cost any more than the limited eds. Unless mine is actually worth something now.

One thing to point out - John @ watches.co.uk put my Omega on his fancy tick-tock machine to show me how the Breguet movement was more accurate / less in need of service (I haven't serviced the Omega since I bought it).... and we were both flabbergasted to see that they performed identically on the machine. Good movement in that Omega, that's why I'm keeping it

[Freddie von Rost]

cyberface said:

paulpsz008 said:

cyberface said:

which only cost me £900 when I bought it brand new... surely these watches are available around the £600 mark?

Where would you find such a watch??

Get a time machine and go back to Burrell's in Tunbridge Wells in 2001.

Or, given that Omega made a limited edition of the same watch every time Schumi won the world championship, there will be second hand ones available from the usual suspects. I got superb service from watches.co.uk for my Breguet so I'd try there, but there are plenty of other traders. Note that I didn't buy the watch for the Schumi connection - but because I loved the design. Some of the subsequent Schumi ltd editions weren't as well designed or were a bit garish. A standard speedmaster automatic shouldn't cost any more than the limited eds. Unless mine is actually worth something now.

One thing to point out - John @ watches.co.uk put my Omega on his fancy tick-tock machine to show me how the Breguet movement was more accurate / less in need of service (I haven't serviced the Omega since I bought it).... and we were both flabbergasted to see that they performed identically on the machine. Good movement in that Omega, that's why I'm keeping it

Alternatively, how about:





Speedmaster Reduced Automatic. About £850. Try Blowers or The Swiss Watch Company. Save up a few quid and wear the real thing.

[cannedheat]

Freddie von Rost said:

cyberface said:

paulpsz008 said:

cyberface said:

which only cost me £900 when I bought it brand new... surely these watches are available around the £600 mark?

Where would you find such a watch??

Get a time machine and go back to Burrell's in Tunbridge Wells in 2001.

Or, given that Omega made a limited edition of the same watch every time Schumi won the world championship, there will be second hand ones available from the usual suspects. I got superb service from watches.co.uk for my Breguet so I'd try there, but there are plenty of other traders. Note that I didn't buy the watch for the Schumi connection - but because I loved the design. Some of the subsequent Schumi ltd editions weren't as well designed or were a bit garish. A standard speedmaster automatic shouldn't cost any more than the limited eds. Unless mine is actually worth something now.

One thing to point out - John @ watches.co.uk put my Omega on his fancy tick-tock machine to show me how the Breguet movement was more accurate / less in need of service (I haven't serviced the Omega since I bought it).... and we were both flabbergasted to see that they performed identically on the machine. Good movement in that Omega, that's why I'm keeping it

Alternatively, how about:





Speedmaster Reduced Automatic. About £850. Try Blowers or The Swiss Watch Company. Save up a few quid and wear the real thing.

Good call. I had one of those as my first decent watch...chopped it in 6 months later though for a Snoopy Speedy.

[Freddie von Rost]

cannedheat said:

Freddie von Rost said:

cyberface said:

paulpsz008 said:

cyberface said:

which only cost me £900 when I bought it brand new... surely these watches are available around the £600 mark?

Where would you find such a watch??

Get a time machine and go back to Burrell's in Tunbridge Wells in 2001.

Or, given that Omega made a limited edition of the same watch every time Schumi won the world championship, there will be second hand ones available from the usual suspects. I got superb service from watches.co.uk for my Breguet so I'd try there, but there are plenty of other traders. Note that I didn't buy the watch for the Schumi connection - but because I loved the design. Some of the subsequent Schumi ltd editions weren't as well designed or were a bit garish. A standard speedmaster automatic shouldn't cost any more than the limited eds. Unless mine is actually worth something now.

One thing to point out - John @ watches.co.uk put my Omega on his fancy tick-tock machine to show me how the Breguet movement was more accurate / less in need of service (I haven't serviced the Omega since I bought it).... and we were both flabbergasted to see that they performed identically on the machine. Good movement in that Omega, that's why I'm keeping it

Alternatively, how about:





Speedmaster Reduced Automatic. About £850. Try Blowers or The Swiss Watch Company. Save up a few quid and wear the real thing.

Good call. I had one of those as my first decent watch...chopped it in 6 months later though for a Snoopy Speedy.

The Reduced Speedie is perfect if you are lazy and think that winding your watch is frightfully tedious.

[carter711]

For £600 i would be looking at Stowa or Oris, you won't get a chronograph for that though.
I am not a big fan of Tag, it may sound petty but i don't like their advertisements and i think they are overpriced.

[Seb d]

Sinn anybody?

[baz1950]

Seb d said:

Sinn anybody?

I've been known to, though i try to behave better now in maturity

Plenty of options here, Sinn, Stow, Glycine, etc away from the main stream therefore 'rarer' and arguably better value for money.
I'm not a Tag fan either, though i have no reason to dislike them.

What about the Tag clearance boutique in Bicester, assuming it's still there?

Edited by baz1950 on Friday 11th July 09:36

[Lippy]

i was in a similar situation a few months back, don't get too caught up with getting a Tag for 600 it will likely be a quartz, which is cool, but as I was advised from here you pay massively for the name and not the quality of the watch.

I ended up getting an automatic Tag Aquaracer for much less than the price of the UK quartz price, however I was on honeymoon in Mauritius.

That Tag does look lovely, but I would look at other options from Sinn, Oris or if second hand is an option have a look at

www.chronomaster.co.uk - was going for a Sinn Flieger from them, but ran out of budget

or this website is cool

www.heuerboy.com - although I've not dealt with directly

Good luck - don't rush in!

Edited by Lippy on Friday 11th July 10:41

[arryb]

Any more for any more?

[markomah]

One more vote for a Glycine - Neil at Chronomaster is currently offering this for the right side of £500.

I treated myself to one a couple of months ago, to tide me over while my IWC was away for servicing. I love the looks and the build quality is fantastic (other than the strap which, on mine at any rate, doesn't feel of the same quality as the rest of the watch but that's easily replaced). Decent movement in it - I'd give it some consideration if I were you.

Jura watches have the full Glycine range if you want to look at more...

[BRGS]

Well just to let you know, i have that TAG Carrera CV2010. It is a great watch built as well as anything you will find, at least as good as my Rolex. If you want a chrono auto then don't get anyhting else as you will just be disappointed with it later. In the meantime get something cheaper like a Seiko and wait till you can afford what you want. I am sure you can pick that TAG up for less than list.

[TheStoat]

Yep, I'm sat here looking at that very watch and I negotiated a price with no hassle I'm not saying I beat the price from America but I got what I wanted. It's worth visiting more than one dealer to see who offers the biggest reduction. Tell the dealer that you are there to buy in cash for the right price (but do back that up with real money). Talk to each dealer for more than 5 minutes and show them that you're serious and have researched the watch and alternatives. You'll get a better response from any dealer that way, just as the more you talk to someone the better you get to know them. If the dealer looks concerned when you ask about the price just tell them they don't have to decide on the spot and it's fine to chat to their boss etc. Be friendly and the worst that can happen is someone tells you they still want list price for the watch, no harm done

I'd also say that I agree with previous suggestions for alternative watches. There are some *really* nice alternatives at a fraction of the price. I'd also agree with the suggestion of just tightening the belt for a while, living like a monk and then getting the TAG you want first time around... if your heart is set on it and seeing other watches in the metal doesn't change that then hold on until you can afford it. Above all though have fun trying on lots of different watches

[grandmasterflash]

Carrera gets my vote.

Bought one last year and it's a stunning piece of kit. Make sure you get a perforated strap for the watch as it totally changes the look

[princeperch]

to the OP - have you tried that TAG chrono on?

I fancied one similar 3 yrs ago and tried one on and it dwarfed my wrists. I would say my wrists are average in size but it was far too big.

I went for a monza instead.

Edited by princeperch on Saturday 19th July 15:06