Women's watches intelligence needed...

[Regular Guy]

Hi girls (especially),

I'd like to get my wife both an attractive and functional watch.

Frankly, she's asked for it, so I need to get it. Also, she got me a nice watch not too long ago, so it's definitely my turn.

Price range: $500 tops, or down to $100, but $300 might be a target.

Functionality would be nice to have. Really, both my wife and I have stood by Timex, and we really like to be able to push the button and have a light turn on to see this at night. But...we'll forego that, because frankly, I think you'll have to, to spend upwards of $100 for a watch that will work just as well (what can I say?).

Also, if the watch came from a mall store with folks there in retail who know how to clean her engagement ring, that would be another plus.

Otherwise, something attractive is the target.

Thanks in advance for your store advice and/or model advice.

Ira Z.

 

[Tanzigrrl]

I have a $450 Movado and I love it. I actually got it less for that because I bought it on Overstock. It's a great value for that price range and they're cool and elegant and very timeless.

 

[Lula]

Hi, Regular Guy --
In that price range, I'd recommend:
Movado
Tissot
Citizen
Bulova
Skaagen
Seiko

All of the above brands are available at most large department stores and are reliable and come in a variety of styles. Of the list above, for a quartz watch with great style, I'd check out Skaagen watches. For a workhorse, and a little less fashion (more function), look at Bulova, Citizen, and Seiko. Tissot and Movado make some beautiful watches. Look at the women's Ballade by Tissot for a classy, elegant watch in the $500 - $600 range (may be a little more pricey, but the Ballade has a great feel to it and its styling is timeless).

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I love Skaagen watches. I have two, one is titanium and the other steel. Gorgeous style and reliable.

 

[ilovethiswebsite]

I highly recommend Tissot in that price range.

 

[Octavia]

Does she want something delicate or substantial? I recently got a Citizen chronograph and it's awesome. The diamonds aren't top quality, but I love the hefty size and the functionality. This is my second Citizen (dropped the other and cracked the crystal ) and I'll never go back to a battery-powered watch -- the Eco-drive is awesome. I got my watch on sale, but it's usually in the $500 range; most of their watches are in the $200-400 range.

 

[turtledazzle]

Does she want something delicate or substantial? I recently got a Citizen chronograph and it's awesome. The diamonds aren't top quality, but I love the hefty size and the functionality. This is my second Citizen (dropped the other and cracked the crystal ) and I'll never go back to a battery-powered watch -- the Eco-drive is awesome. I got my watch on sale, but it's usually in the $500 range; most of their watches are in the $200-400 range.

Ditto. My husband got me a Citizen Eco-drive a few years ago for Christmas, and I still love it. Not having to replace batteries is sooo nice. He ordered it online, but we looked at them at Macy's when deciding what to get. It was around $300.

 

[manderz]

I have 2 citizen eco drives, and I love them!! They're super comfortable, and I love not having to worry about a battery.

 

[iLander]

Check out your local Costco. They have some great watches and if she EVER has a problem she can return it. They have some great brands with prices ranging from $200 to over $3000 (cartier!).

 

[luv2sparkle]

I have 4 Citizen eco-drives and a bunch of watches sitting in my closet that the batteries are dead. I never seem to get them
replaced. I have two crotons waiting for batteries.

I wish more high end watches would come light powered, that have great diamonds. That is my only problem with citizen, their diamonds
are crap. They have some higher end watches now, but they all have a round face, and I prefer a square one.

I love not having to change the battery as well. Costo has a couple great citizens and I bought one from Overstock.com for about a
hundred bucks. It is the watch I wear now. It has no stones.

 

[ksinger]

In that price range I would check out Wittenaur and Hamilton, both nice venerable brands that not everyone will be wearing. Wittenaurs are fancier in general, while Hamiltons are classic everyday workhorses with retro style. The classic Hamilton Ventura (the smaller one) should be under 500. And the Hamilton Women's Jazz Master Model#: H32221155, is currently around 200. It's about the perfect size at 28mm - not too big or too small. Unless your wife is into really large watches (ie- likes to wear yours) I wouldn't go over about 34mm and would keep it between 22 and 30. Just my opinion. But for an everyday watch the last thing you want is to be fiddling with it all the time, and large watches can be distracting. That said, I love to occasionally wear my husband's 38mm Hamilton. Great looking watch.

Watches are WAY fun, and I'd love to spend more on them.....