Can't decide: Rolex vs Cartier watch

[JeanGranger]

Hello! To celebrate a professional achievement, I would like to buy myself my first very nice watch. I have been deliberating for months, however, and cannot decide. This watch will serve as my 365 days a year daily watch (I wore my two previous watches, one at a time, for more than a decade each). So it has to be able to withstand daily wear. My style is also very casual and minimalist: I use my hands quite a lot between work and raising children as well. I've fallen in love with two watches but I can't decide. I like the durability of the Rolex and it seems as discreet as a Rolex can get. I also like the Cartier tanks (particularly on leather straps) bc I don't ever really see it around and it has a very quiet sophistication in my eyes.


Which do you like best?

Option 1) Rolex 31mm datejust with smooth bezel and oyster bracelet, black or white dial. This seems like the most durable and practical decision but I worry about its accuracy bc I know people with rolexes and their watches seem to always gain or lose time all the time and they're constantly resetting it even though they wear their watches daily.

Option 2) Cartier tank solo, stainless steel, size small (the ss seems low maintenance and practical)

Option 3) Cartier tank louis, small (id order a black alligator strap with it). If thenstrap wears out with wear, I'll just replace it.

Option 4) Cartier tank louis, LARGE, with date (id also order a black alligator strap with it). The date is very practical.

I've attached photos for reference.

Thank you!

Do you like this style? It’s cute and classic imho

 

[dieguteteufelin]

All the options you are looking at are lovely, however, I’d focus on the stainless steel options if I was in your shoes since they coordinate better with your current jewelry. For a second watch I’d be much less worried about coordinating and all for more options.

 

[sdkitty]

Thank you for your advice! A family member, an avid watch collector, keeps telling me the small tank is the most versatile, classic, and the way to go as well ("even though it's a quartz watch", lol)

And yes, I agree, it feels great to reward myself in this way. My jewelry collection is very small (like, really tiny) and each piece is in it for the daily long haul and marks a momentous occasion.

I made this decision a few years ago. I felt if I was going to spend thousands on a watch, I wanted a "real" watch (Rolex), not quartz. I agree the Cartier is more jewelry and you're paying for the name. But with Rolex, not only do you have to worry about keeping accurate time, you have to spend money on maintenance. I took mine to a local watch guy who was recommended on the Rolex forum. He was less expensive than sending to Rolex or taking to an authorized jewelry store. But still over $500. When you buy the watch, you think five years is a long time away but then the times comes and it's another expense. What I paid in maintenance would pay for a Movado or something similar.
Anyway either the Cartier or Rolex are classic and you can wear for years. I think I prefer the black dial on the Rolex. White is timeless but a bit bland to me. I got a pink dial (salmon colored really) and it's hard to read.