Recommendations for a nice lady's watch

[WICOUNSEL]

Hello fellow BFers! As the title says, looking for recs.

I'm generally familiar with men's offerings. Been having a hard time finding a watch that ticks all the right boxes for my wife.

She isn't big on jewelry, but the watch is, in a way, decoration for her, so needs to be nice. At the same time, realistically, she won't appreciate certain things often considered "nice," explained further below.

She is currently wearing a Citizen Eco-Drive, quartz movement, 29mm case, Swarovsky crystals on the bezel, polished stainless steel bracelet, deployment clasp, mineral crystal.

In many ways this is an ideal set up for her, but for the mineral crystal.

She often takes her watch off for hours at a time when typing at the office, or may not wear it every day, so automatics are out. She won't take the time to reset it all the time, she would just stop wearing it.

Included in the pics is her old Swatch which she wore for many years, just for perspective.
She would probably go larger than that one nowadays for ease of reading.

Depending on the watch size overall (and weight) she is probably looking at 29-39mm case, something easy to care for, sapphire crystal. No gold, no (or minimal) jewels. Silver tones. She's picky about the clasp, nothing with sharp/crisp edges. $100-$10,000, though more realistically, absent a great back story, she would probably be happiest with something under a few thousand so she doesn't have to worry about it as much.

She is really happy with her Citizen aside from the scratched crystal, I wouldn't mind putting her in something a bit nicer. But she likes clean, simple, easy to care for understated beauty.

Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Piso Mojado]

On Amazon, go to Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry/Women/Watches/Wrist Watches. Next, select these filters: 30mm to 34mm/analog/quartz. Next, select Seiko. Next, open another tab on your browser, go to Amazon, do all the above except the last, and set the brand filter to Citizen. Then ask your wife to pick what she likes. Based on your photos, she will find some good ones under $300 if she can accept a mineral glass crystal. With your other specifications, there are not a lot of sapphire crystals out there.

Go to eBay and see if anyone beats Amazon's price. Don't be afraid of Singapore and Hong Kong dealers with thousands of customers, 98% satisfied. Don't order from Hong Kong or anywhere in China the week after Chinese Lunar New Year (February 5 in 2019).

Don't expect the bracelet to be anything but a throwaway. Hirsch makes Duke straps in all women's sizes and in many colors. They are inexpensive and the women's sizes look and feel better than the men's. If you want to pay a little more for something water resistant, Di-Modell makes those in the common women's sizes.

To show you what I'm talking about, here are two I bought my wife some years back.



Seiko SXA097P1 and SXA099P1, sapphire crystals but 24mm and too small for you. They are out of production but you can still find them on eBay. Here's SXA097P1 right out of the box.





No micro-adustment holes in the buckle means you probably can't get a good fit. Rather than wasting my time trying to fit the thing or find a better 12mm buckle, I just replaced it with a 14mm Duke strap. Looks much better IMO. But if it's going to get wet, I recommend this instead:

https://di-modell.com/product_info.php?osCsid=5c75ccb57eb3517d88e2d4f3143963a5&products_id=3707

It survived 51 minutes in our Maytag washer, cold cycle.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

if she can accept a mineral glass crystal. With your other specifications, there are not a lot of sapphire crystals out there.

Thank you for the time of the well considered response.

This has been the main issue. She needs the sapphire. She is hard on watch crystals.

It is a tough search. Tried doing as you suggested tonight. Went to Amazon, picked out a few she might like. Did the same on Joma Shop. Spent hours searching (on top of all the time spent previously).

Reviewing with her, found one Citizen that is a maybe, couple Tissots that are strong maybes, couple Baum + Mercier maybes.

The only one I showed her that ticked all the boxes for her isn't available right now from a US seller. Sinn 434. Looks like they are available from Germany though...At least she is showing some interest in something finally

 

[Grouch]

Tudor Heritage Black Bay 36mm?

 

[WICOUNSEL]

Yeah, few of them caught my eye as possibly interesting her, but all automatic. If I get her an automatic, it will end up on her dresser. We even discussed a date window, a very handy feature in my opinion. But she says she won't use it because she won't reset it as needed and that means she will never know if she can trust it and will just check the date in other ways when she needs it. So the watch just needs to function without her winding/adjusting anything ever.

At least she is realistic about what she will and won't do.

 

[Scott321]

Watches are very personal, especially if they are worn as an accessory instead of a necessity.

For smaller, thinner watches under $1000, how about Movado, Gucci, or Raymond Weil? Movado is stylish but more minimalistic, Gucci has more lavish designs, and Raymond Weil is more traditional. You should be able to find them all locally to see if she likes any in person.

My favorite watch (Men's) is my Citizen Eco-Drive... but it's more because I haven't had to worry about changing the battery in the last 20 years.

 

[SharpieB]

A woman’s Non-automatic Omega Seamaster will last for generations and around $1500USD.

I have a men’s automatic Seamaster and I have worn it almost every day for over 20 years. Better watch than the 3 Rolexes I had prior to it.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

Watches are very personal, especially if they are worn as an accessory instead of a necessity.

Agreed. That is why I am making her pick before I buy anything. Not even going to try to guess. Though I may nudge her in certain directions...

For smaller, thinner watches under $1000, how about Movado, Gucci, or Raymond Weil? Movado is stylish but more minimalistic, Gucci has more lavish designs, and Raymond Weil is more traditional. You should be able to find them all locally to see if she likes any in person.

Movado and Gucci not her thing. Looked through the Raymond Weil, nothing jumped out at her. We don't go to jewelry stores ever (she's not a jewelry type of person), but we have seen samplings of all three in person I believe at Costco.

My favorite watch (Men's) is my Citizen Eco-Drive... but it's more because I haven't had to worry about changing the battery in the last 20 years.

She's loves her Citizen pictured above, but for the crystal. I think part of the reason she likes the Sinn 434 is the similarity to the Citizen. Unfortunately, batteries will become a necessity again for her. Haven't had to touch this Citizen yet.

A woman’s Non-automatic Omega Seamaster will last for generations and around $1500USD.

I have a men’s automatic Seamaster and I have worn it almost every day for over 20 years. Better watch than the 3 Rolexes I had prior to it.

I didn't know they made a non automatic version. Seamaster is my favorite Omega. Will have to run it past her.

 

[SharpieB]

Agreed. That is why I am making her pick before I buy anything. Not even going to try to guess. Though I may nudge her in certain directions...



Movado and Gucci not her thing. Looked through the Raymond Weil, nothing jumped out at her. We don't go to jewelry stores ever (she's not a jewelry type of person), but we have seen samplings of all three in person I believe at Costco.



She's loves her Citizen pictured above, but for the crystal. I think part of the reason she likes the Sinn 434 is the similarity to the Citizen. Unfortunately, batteries will become a necessity again for her. Haven't had to touch this Citizen yet.



I didn't know they made a non automatic version. Seamaster is my favorite Omega. Will have to run it past her.

Absolutely. Much cheaper than the auto as well. I think the one I saw was $2000CAD at the Omega Store in Calgary or Vancouver. About $1470USD. The woman’s Seamaster looks great IMO.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

As suspected, while she appreciates the value of a sapphire crystal, the idea of getting an "expensive" watch has not taken hold yet.

Found a Citizen very similar to the one she has and loves but with a dark blue dial and a sapphire crystal. Also, apparently just a few too many Swarovski crystals on the face. She felt it was over done. Pretty cheap too.

Going to try a Tissot that was cheap enough she thought it worth trying.

These are still on the table, but she needs to think more about what exactly she wants, look, etc. The Sinns would be special order so no returns. She may wait for a trip to Germany to look at those before buying. Watchbuys did offer competitive pricing on them though. The Omega I suspect we may be able to find locally to inspect.

Thanks for all the insights! Will be interesting to see where this leads for her.

 

[Rupestris]

Take a look at Shinola.

 

[leghog]

Have her look at the Omega Constellation.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

Take a look at Shinola.

Have her look at the Omega Constellation.

Yeah, looked at those, just not quite her styling I guess. Personally I like the idea behind Shinola and have come close to buying their Flieger looking watches a few times. Same on the Omega, I like a number of their designs, the only one that was talking to her was the DeVille, and even then she didn't like the first DeVille I showed her.

As someone who has never really looked at watches in any detail before, it can be hard for her to qualify why she likes or dislikes something, but when she sees one she likes, she knows it.

 

[annr]

Have you checked out Skagen?
You can look on their website, but there are more options on the web in general.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

Haven’t heard of Skagen, will have to take a look.

 

[annr]

You and your wife know way more about watches than I!

However I saw some interesting styles (this is a danish company) and the watches are very thin and lightweight—which I like.

Another suggestion is Hamilton.

 

[WICOUNSEL]

Well, we need all the help we can get, there are so many watch options out there, so all the input is appreciated.

Reviewing Skagen, some fun designs, but guessing by the price point, not sapphire crystals, which is key.

We looked at Hamilton. Another great brand, just not her style I guess.

By the by, love the sigline quote. Heinlein has so many great quotes.

 

[annr]

I asked someone about the saphire crystal and they said yes, but I wondered about that too. Thought I would mention anyway in case it sparked a connection or direction on a design poss. available in a higher tier. Also, mentioned because it might be light enough to wear while typing…if she removes because is too heavy.

This sounds like an interesting challenge, and I’m betting you’ve investigated all the obvious choices and then some. Curious what you settle on! (Maybe sampling in person will help.)

“Half past a freckle?”

 

[WICOUNSEL]

I asked someone about the saphire crystal and they said yes, but I wondered about that too. Thought I would mention anyway in case it sparked a connection or direction on a design poss. available in a higher tier. Also, mentioned because it might be light enough to wear while typing…if she removes because is too heavy.

This sounds like an interesting challenge, and I’m betting you’ve investigated all the obvious choices and then some. Curious what you settle on! (Maybe sampling in person will help.)

“Half past a freckle?”

I just came across Skagen on Joma Shop. Mineral Crystals.

But the size of one of the Skagens got me thinking, with a nod to your final point, how does she sample one in person?

Watch shops seem to have gone the way of pen shops or knife shops. Everything is online these days. We may be able to find some luxury watches at jewelers, maybe sample an Omega. Even with as many watches as department stores carry, it is tough to find the ones she is interested in.

Right now she is really leaning towards a Sinn, but the ones she wants would be special orders through watchbuys.com and no returns. No one carries them that I am aware of. At 34mm they are bigger than anything she has worn before. I can try to find something with the same case size for her to test, but that still won't tell her how the Sinn will feel overall and if anything, it may unduly set her against the Sinn if the test watch is ugly, heavy, different band etc. So for instance, there is a Skagen that looks close in size to the Sinn, but maybe it would be too light in comparison?

She is most definitely a hands on person and it is a very personal choice. We may be making do with the Tissot mentioned above for now and waiting for our next trip to Germany to pick up a Sinn if she likes it. Unless one magically pops up for her to try here, she doesn't want to spend that kind of money ordering something she may not like. Based on the complete lack of ladies Sinn watches on the secondary market, I'm guessing it would be hard to move without taking a hefty hit, if it would even resell.

Maybe I do just take a Sharpie and draw a watch face on her wrist...no, she deserves all the effort.

 

[EricV]

Why not put a sapphire crystal into the Citizen if she's happy with it? crystaltimes.net carries a wide selection, but you'll probably need a watchmaker or knowledgeable enthusiast involved to talk to the site owner and find the right one. Its certainly another possibility though.