Watch purchasing help

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shopaholic1987

shopaholic1987

O.G.
Oct 16, 2008
853
2
#1
Hello, I currently have an Emporio Armani watch and a Arts and Crafts Norway watch and I am wanting to replace them with an upmarket watch.

I am interested in the following (only my budget will allow me only one) and was wandering what my fellow TPF'ers thought of the following brands and if you own one.

Briel Ergo Swarovski Crystal
Versace Reve
Gucci Chiodo
Gucci ladies watch http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=&pid=3763
Gucci Tornabuoni watch
Longines black diamond dots dial watch http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=&pid=11968
Longines Audrey Hepburn watch http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?cid=&pid=450
Links of London Driver 12 sapphire pink small

Thanks, Louise.
 
#3
Hi. It all depends on what you are looking for.....If you would like a tank style, then ESQ has some really nice looking tank watches. Another good classic watch would be the Raymond Weill in the Tango and Parsifal lines. They're not exactly what you call "couture" or really high-end, but they have a good reputation for being reliable and well made. These are a little higher than $500 USD. Coach also has more classic designs Not all are Swiss Made as in times past, but at least they still have Swiss movements and are made by Movado. You can never go wrong with a classic design. If you are willing to pay a little more, than there are the Burberry square watches. I would go to the various web sites of some I mentioned and check them out. Then check the reference thread and see if anyone has any of those.....
 
#4
You've picked out some nice watches. My only comment is that I've been a watch fanatic for years, and own many, many watches. Most of them are cheap watches, with a few nicer ones (Concord, Tiffany, Cartier, etc). Of all the watches I've owned over the years, maybe 100 or so, the only 2 that I've had stop/break were Guccis. And they were the only Guccis I've ever owned. They only lasted a couple of years each, then just stopped keeping time. This was many years ago and I haven't bought a Gucci watch since. Maybe they've upgraded their watch 'innards' since then. I was baffled because these watches were by far not the least expensive of my collection, and even my $80 Swatch Skins have never just stopped working.
 
#6
With the pound dropping--you might be able to get local deals within the UK. In the US, lots of watch merchants aren't moving their wares.

Another way to go is to scour the web for deals on watches you might not think you could afford. Sites like Overstock.com, which ship internationally and also give you a discount if you are a first time buyer is a good place to look. You can look for coupon codes via Google or on Deals and Steals. Here's a great Swiss Army on Overstock.com for about 381 which these days is around 239 pounds:

http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...e-Dual-Time-Womens-Watch/3410719/product.html

Ashford.com has good ones too--they charge a lot for international shipping, (38 pounds) BUT if you find a watch you love with a coupon code, it might be worth it.

Good luck!
 
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#7
This may just be my own experience, but I currently own two Gucci's, and one of them is nearing it's ten year anniversary this upcoming January. It has never failed me, and for 7 years it was my every day watch. It is possible that I got lucky though.
 
#8
Well after searching old tpf posts about watch purchasing, I found a great deal on amazon.com for a skagen watch. In the UK the same watch (if available would have cost £125). I purchased one of amazon for £60 inc shipping and if I get charged customs of £20 + post office handling fee of £8 I would have still made a saving. So I am going to sell my others and keep this classic and wear all the time and only replace when its broken.:tup:

The reason I went for Skagen was because it was within my budget and the brand had great reviews on here.

Thank you for all of your help.
Shopaholic1987 x
 
#9
angelalam5 said:
This may just be my own experience, but I currently own two Gucci's, and one of them is nearing it's ten year anniversary this upcoming January. It has never failed me, and for 7 years it was my every day watch. It is possible that I got lucky though.
Click to expand...


angelalam5, my Gucci's were bought 20+ years ago, so it may very well be that they got their act together at some point. Either that, or I just happened to get hold of 2 lemons. :p But once I've gotten shafted like that by a company, especially a higher end goods company, they don't get a third chance! It's a shame because they do have some attractive watches.
 
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