Buying Ladies Watches....Help!

spartan1979 · Post by **spartan1979** » September 23, 2008 2:58 pm

My dear wife mentioned that she'd like a new watch for her birthday. I have no idea what brands to buy or even where to get a reasonable deal. I was thinking about spending around $300. I know I could go to a jeweler, but I always feel like I'm overpaying there. Does anybody know what kind of markups jewelers have on watches? Or suggestions for brands and places to go?

Thanks.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » September 23, 2008 3:08 pm

Don't know about your wife, but I like any watch I own to be water resistent as I'm not likely to take my watch off/on before rinsing dishes, watering the plants outside or helping the keet with water.

I also like a water proof watch for when we go swimming.

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » September 23, 2008 3:11 pm

I used chronograph.com to buy a grey-market Seiko for DH. The prices were within dollars of everywhere else, and the service was phenomenal. They shipped the watch within 8 hours of my order.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » September 23, 2008 3:11 pm

Bulova makes a good, elegant, reliable watch that will fall into that price range.

Oddly enough, they used to carry them at JC Penney's and you could get them on sale frequently.

Here's a link to Amazon's Bulova Women's section for reference:

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1222197129/ ... A379282011

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » September 23, 2008 3:13 pm

Really it depends - fashion/everyday/designer/dress/heirloom? So many styles so many choices. When my wife gives me the open ended I want a new watch line, I just find a Seiko in your price range. Her Movado was purchased in the Caribbean. Hmmm...you might want to try St Martin for some nice deals.

I'm not getting off as easy for the next watch, she found a Hamilton that she really likes.

Post by **SMLCHNG** » September 23, 2008 3:15 pm

E got me a watch like this for Christmas, and got it at Sam's Club... You'll have to ask him what the price was.

I also think Sears has good value to price.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » September 23, 2008 3:17 pm

SMLCHNG wrote:E got me a watch like this for Christmas, and got it at Sam's Club... You'll have to ask him what the price was. I also think Sears has good value to price.

Nice BULOVA Penny!

pbans · Post by **pbans** » September 23, 2008 3:22 pm

We sell bulovas at the shop......I haven't had one come back yet.
The markup on watches is not as high as other jewelry.....

I'm kind of a watch fanatic......I've lost count of how many I have....my bulovas are my favorites.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » September 23, 2008 3:38 pm

I've been around the jewelry industry the majority of my life. Uncle owned a jewelery store, married a jeweler and worked in a store myself. The majority of jewelers triple key. Meaning whatever their cost they multiply it by 3 and that's the sticker price - unless the person setting the price is kinda hung over and in a bad mood. Not that I would do anything like that

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » September 23, 2008 4:01 pm

In the words of Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!"

Whenever your wife gives you a very vague gift idea, be very careful, she's testing you.

Your best bet is to take her to the store and let her pick it out herself, or just give her flowers.

spartan1979 · Post by **spartan1979** » September 23, 2008 4:17 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:In the words of Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!"

Whenever your wife gives you a very vague gift idea, be very careful, she's testing you.

Your best bet is to take her to the store and let her pick it out herself, or just give her flowers.

For my wife, "a new watch" is very specific. That's as goods as it gets. She doesn't test me (as far as I know). After 27 years, she's given up.

spartan1979 · Post by **spartan1979** » September 23, 2008 4:24 pm

Why I have trouble with this stuff - part II.

So, I checked one of the sites recommended above and found a watch I like for $355. First they want to know the size. Size? Watches have sizes? I'm lucky I know her t-shirt size. That's one problem with buying a watch on-line. Brick and mortar jewelers will re-size it for you after the purchase. Many will even if you didn't buy it there, but that feels wrong to me.

Then I do a search for the same model and I find prices from $160 on up. Some of the sites do have the word "replica" in them. But other cheap sites don't. A high price could still be a replica, you're just getting ripped off for more. How do you know?

dawgfan · Post by **dawgfan** » September 23, 2008 4:25 pm

I bought my wife this watch about 6 months ago and she gets so many compliments about it and she just loves it because she can wear it everyday with anything.

http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English ... EW8142-59A

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » September 23, 2008 4:34 pm

spartan1979 wrote:Why I have trouble with this stuff - part II.

So, I checked one of the sites recommended above and found a watch I like for $355. First they want to know the size. Size? Watches have sizes? I'm lucky I know her t-shirt size. That's one problem with buying a watch on-line. Brick and mortar jewelers will re-size it for you after the purchase. Many will even if you didn't buy it there, but that feels wrong to me.

Then I do a search for the same model and I find prices from $160 on up. Some of the sites do have the word "replica" in them. But other cheap sites don't. A high price could still be a replica, you're just getting ripped off for more. How do you know?

Find one or two you like. Take them to Penny's, Sears or Sams to see if they A) carry that model or B) can order that model and of course C) beat the price.

Bricks and mortar! I'm with you, I was just giving that amazon site as a reference.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » September 23, 2008 4:59 pm

spartan1979 wrote:Why I have trouble with this stuff - part II.

So, I checked one of the sites recommended above and found a watch I like for $355. First they want to know the size. Size? Watches have sizes? I'm lucky I know her t-shirt size. That's one problem with buying a watch on-line. Brick and mortar jewelers will re-size it for you after the purchase. Many will even if you didn't buy it there, but that feels wrong to me.

Then I do a search for the same model and I find prices from $160 on up. Some of the sites do have the word "replica" in them. But other cheap sites don't. A high price could still be a replica, you're just getting ripped off for more. How do you know?

You could always pay a B&M jeweler to resize it for ya, if you feel guilty.

Check resellerratings.com and/or bbb.org to see if the websites are sketchy. And if you're buying from a new (to you) website, use a credit card as opposed to a debit card, as you have much more protection.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » September 23, 2008 5:02 pm

I didn't even know people still wore watches.

Afternoon Golfer · Post by **Afternoon Golfer** » September 23, 2008 5:08 pm

Swiss Army makes a fantastic watch. Reliable, batteries last forever, classic style, reasonably priced. http://www.swissarmy.com/Timepieces/Pag ... timepieces& Swiss Army is also widely sold at jewelers and many large dept strores so if you buy online from their site you can get it sized easily. Word of warning, do not buy a watch online unless it is directly from the maker. Way to many fakes out there.

OttoCal · Post by **OttoCal** » September 23, 2008 5:57 pm

I like my citizen eco drive watch, doesn't need a battery.

The stores will size them (which means take out a link).

Check to see if she wears more gold, or silver jewelery or a combination and try to get a watch to coordinate. I wear both, so I have a silver watch with gold tone accents. I'll try to find a pic of the one I got this year- it is a little dressy, but not too much.

OK, sorry I am being a lazybones, here is the link, not the picture:

http://www.citizenwatch.com/COA/English ... EW8464-52D

Not waterproof though.

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » September 23, 2008 8:09 pm

I bought wifey-poo a TAG Heuer a few years back from Costco....Nice watch and it is waterproof......

freaky4tiki · Post by **freaky4tiki** » September 23, 2008 8:24 pm

i have a Skagen that i've worn almost every day for 8 years. it has metal moving parts rather than plastic. a great (and pretty) watch for the money.