I think in this price range you should go for Patek, it's more prestigous as a watch brand over Choppard. However I do like Choppard Happy for jewerly as other posters have mentioned.
Help... Chopard Happy Sport OR Patek Twenty~4
- Thread starter DaynaLouisLoo
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Thanks all for your comments!
Really appreciate it becoz I'm really a watch newbie... and can do without a watch for days
shameless. I think my only real watch is an Omega Constellation that's 10 yrs old and I've not touched it for 5 years 
Anyway, I think its time to start... but yes I do have a budget so a Patek mechanical will be tough for the moment.
I've been researching & visiting stores and I kinda like the idea of an automatic watch now and complications. I think its down to this GP Small Chronograph. I like the
-automatic winding
-skeleton design
-see-through back
-diamond bezel
I would like leather strap for a change and should be able to wear this daily. GP is a reputable brand right? I hope I wont go wrong with a GP.
BTW, I saw the Milus Merea Triretrograde at the store today... oh gosh i was so smittened by the 3 dancing second hands and its not expensive. But I realized its probably becoz they don't manufacture their own movements like Patek, Vacheron, AP & GP do.
I've attached the images for your viewing still.
I hope I can find my first real watch by the end of June.
Really appreciate it becoz I'm really a watch newbie... and can do without a watch for days
shameless. I think my only real watch is an Omega Constellation that's 10 yrs old and I've not touched it for 5 years Anyway, I think its time to start... but yes I do have a budget so a Patek mechanical will be tough for the moment.
I've been researching & visiting stores and I kinda like the idea of an automatic watch now and complications. I think its down to this GP Small Chronograph. I like the
-automatic winding
-skeleton design
-see-through back
-diamond bezel
I would like leather strap for a change and should be able to wear this daily. GP is a reputable brand right? I hope I wont go wrong with a GP.
BTW, I saw the Milus Merea Triretrograde at the store today... oh gosh i was so smittened by the 3 dancing second hands and its not expensive. But I realized its probably becoz they don't manufacture their own movements like Patek, Vacheron, AP & GP do.
I've attached the images for your viewing still.
I hope I can find my first real watch by the end of June.
Attachments
My thoughts (2 cents) :
As your first watch, a classic piece would be apt. Personally I'm for watch movements i.e. mechanical watches (self-winding or automatic, i.e. non-quartz) since one is already paying a certain price. I like the designs on Patek's women watches but alas they are quartz. If you're looking for a classy piece that would go from day to evening (dressier), I think the Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Duo is a great investment. For slightly less than the price of the Patek 24, you get an in house movement with a classic art-deco style on one face (for daily) and diamonds embedded on the other (evening).
Another good thing about the JLC watch is you could change the strap. Get the stainless steel one now and buy a leather/satin strap as add-on (cost more if you do it the other way round). You could have 4 watches (different looks) in one!
As your first watch, a classic piece would be apt. Personally I'm for watch movements i.e. mechanical watches (self-winding or automatic, i.e. non-quartz) since one is already paying a certain price. I like the designs on Patek's women watches but alas they are quartz. If you're looking for a classy piece that would go from day to evening (dressier), I think the Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Duo is a great investment. For slightly less than the price of the Patek 24, you get an in house movement with a classic art-deco style on one face (for daily) and diamonds embedded on the other (evening).
Another good thing about the JLC watch is you could change the strap. Get the stainless steel one now and buy a leather/satin strap as add-on (cost more if you do it the other way round). You could have 4 watches (different looks) in one!
i like all your choices actually so I am no help....chopard is a bit young and sporty whereas patek is classic. just go with the one that you desperately can't live without and get another one later.
it's like choosing orange or apple; they are so different, which makes it harder to choose.
it's like choosing orange or apple; they are so different, which makes it harder to choose.
Not all are quartz. There are also some women's Patek designs that are purely mechanical such as certain Calatrava models, complicated ones, and others. I do agree to also have a look at Jaeger-LeCoultre and I also suggest Blancpain.
DaynaLouisLoo - You can also try and look through the whole catalog of watches from Patek, Chophard, Jaeger-Lecoultre, Blancpain, IWC and other watchmakers just to see the whole spectrum since you're investing a bit already.
hi ms piggy >> you're quite right, Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Duo is a lovely one and actually a good investment, more affordable than the Patek 24 & its mechanical. My gal friend has one and hence I'm trying not to get the same brand so we can swap watches sometimes.
hi golconda >> its great to hear tt you find Patek Twenty 4 the most comfortable... comfort is quite important to me, I wanna make sure its something I would wear often and without hassle. I was surprised tt Twenty 4 stainless steel is very light weight when I tried it. I tried the Chopard with white gold bracelet and its beautiful!!! but out of my range. But its also very heavy... and I think I will cry when it gets scratched.
hi catabie >> i like your advise to get the one i desperately cannot live without -- so that shd be Patek for me. Though i'm kinda new to watches, an elegant lady at work told me about the Patek story 10 yrs ago at my first job and i thought it'd be cool if i could have one one day.
hi La Vanguardia >> my budget is ard the range of a Patek 24 Stainless Steel so i think the Patek mechanical is out for me for the moment. I'll chk again though when i visit the shop this Sunday.
now that i'm near making a decision, i think brand/history is more important than style. Personally, my top 3 brands are Patek, Vacheron & Audemars Piguet and for my price range its
-Patek 24 SS (but with some bling!) - quartz
-Vacheron 1972 (but a very very simple one, zero diamonds) - quartz
-Audemars Piguet Millenary (a little too young looking for me) - mechanical
Girard Perregaux brand is a 4th for me and the Small Chronograph is lovely & mechanical but I'm afraid it may not suit all occasions.
Of all the watches I'm mentioned, Patek 24 SS is the lowest price so its almost a pity not to get it. So currently I'm leaning towards Patek 24, I actually dont mind tt it is Quartz. When I'm more into watches and dont mind parting more $$$ for watches, then I'll get more bling from Chopard & mechanical ones.
oh well, I shall sleep on it some more.
Thanks for listening!
so we can swap watches sometimes.hi golconda >> its great to hear tt you find Patek Twenty 4 the most comfortable... comfort is quite important to me, I wanna make sure its something I would wear often and without hassle. I was surprised tt Twenty 4 stainless steel is very light weight when I tried it. I tried the Chopard with white gold bracelet and its beautiful!!! but out of my range. But its also very heavy... and I think I will cry when it gets scratched.
hi catabie >> i like your advise to get the one i desperately cannot live without -- so that shd be Patek for me. Though i'm kinda new to watches, an elegant lady at work told me about the Patek story 10 yrs ago at my first job and i thought it'd be cool if i could have one one day.
hi La Vanguardia >> my budget is ard the range of a Patek 24 Stainless Steel so i think the Patek mechanical is out for me for the moment. I'll chk again though when i visit the shop this Sunday.
now that i'm near making a decision, i think brand/history is more important than style. Personally, my top 3 brands are Patek, Vacheron & Audemars Piguet and for my price range its
-Patek 24 SS (but with some bling!) - quartz
-Vacheron 1972 (but a very very simple one, zero diamonds) - quartz
-Audemars Piguet Millenary (a little too young looking for me) - mechanical
Girard Perregaux brand is a 4th for me and the Small Chronograph is lovely & mechanical but I'm afraid it may not suit all occasions.
Of all the watches I'm mentioned, Patek 24 SS is the lowest price so its almost a pity not to get it. So currently I'm leaning towards Patek 24, I actually dont mind tt it is Quartz. When I'm more into watches and dont mind parting more $$$ for watches, then I'll get more bling from Chopard & mechanical ones.
oh well, I shall sleep on it some more.
Thanks for listening!