First "good" watch ideas?

[Curt]

I am currently in the market for a nice watch. My budget is about 1k and I am new to higher class watches ( I am mostly a clothing guy ). My preferences for the watch color wise would be a black/silver or black/gold combination and something with a decent size to it...but not full of dials, something a bit more simplistic looking. A good example of what I am looking for, style wise, is the Louis Vuitton Emprise , although I don't really have a preference toward the face being square or round, same goes with the strap being leather or metal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. As I said, I am new to watches and only have a budget of about 1k ( since this is a grad gift ).


Here is the LV Emprise:

[unknown]

Originally Posted by Curt

I am currently in the market for a nice watch. My budget is about 1k and I am new to higher class watches ( I am mostly a clothing guy ). My preferences for the watch color wise would be a black/silver or black/gold combination and something with a decent size to it...but not full of dials, something a bit more simplistic looking. A good example of what I am looking for, style wise, is the Louis Vuitton Emprise , although I don't really have a preference toward the face being square or round, same goes with the strap being leather or metal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. As I said, I am new to watches and only have a budget of about 1k ( since this is a grad gift ).


Here is the LV Emprise:

The looks or style is ofcourse a desicion you'll have to make on your own. If you like the Louis Vuitton, than buy something which looks like this watch.
Go to a few dealers and ask for catalogs

BUT

I would not buy the brand Louis Vuitton. I'm sure they make great bags and other leather accesoires but they are NOT a watchmaker.

With a 1K budget I personally think you should look at brands like for example Longines or Oris.
These 2 are real watch manufacturers which is imo a big difference with brands like Louis Vuitton.

I think these brands, and there are a lot of them, just want to make some extra money and they want to sell everything. Vuitton has a respectable name for leather goods but that doesn't make them a watchmaker. In fact they just order watches and ask them to put LV on the dial. Most of the times they sell those watches way too expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if the same watch without LV on the dial would only cost a fraction of the LV watch.

See it like this, you say you are a clothing guy. Maybe you want to buy Versace, Armani or whatever because you know these are brands which make good clothes.
Now, would you buy clothes from Mercedes or BMW if these 2 decide to start making clothes ? I don't think so. Making good cars doesn't make you a couturier.
Same for the watch industry, LV their core business is not making watches. So I would suggest you look at for example Longines, Oris, Fortis, entry Cartiers, Tissot ...

[Starwalker]

Originally Posted by unknown

The looks or style is ofcourse a desicion you'll have to make on your own. If you like the Louis Vuitton, than buy something which looks like this watch.
Go to a few dealers and ask for catalogs

BUT

I would not buy the brand Louis Vuitton. I'm sure they make great bags and other leather accesoires but they are NOT a watchmaker.

With a 1K budget I personally think you should look at brands like for example Longines or Oris.
These 2 are real watch manufacturers which is imo a big difference with brands like Louis Vuitton.

I think these brands, and there are a lot of them, just want to make some extra money and they want to sell everything. Vuitton has a respectable name for leather goods but that doesn't make them a watchmaker. In fact they just order watches and ask them to put LV on the dial. Most of the times they sell those watches way too expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if the same watch without LV on the dial would only cost a fraction of the LV watch.

See it like this, you say you are a clothing guy. Maybe you want to buy Versace, Armani or whatever because you know these are brands which make good clothes.
Now, would you buy clothes from Mercedes or BMW if these 2 decide to start making clothes ? I don't think so. Making good cars doesn't make you a couturier.
Same for the watch industry, LV their core business is not making watches. So I would suggest you look at for example Longines, Oris, Fortis, entry Cartiers, Tissot ...

x2!

IMO a good entry level watch is an omega seamaster quartz...check it out.

[Curt]

Originally Posted by unknown

BUT

I would not buy the brand Louis Vuitton. I'm sure they make great bags and other leather accesoires but they are NOT a watchmaker.

With a 1K budget I personally think you should look at brands like for example Longines or Oris.
These 2 are real watch manufacturers which is imo a big difference with brands like Louis Vuitton.

I think these brands, and there are a lot of them, just want to make some extra money and they want to sell everything. Vuitton has a respectable name for leather goods but that doesn't make them a watchmaker. In fact they just order watches and ask them to put LV on the dial. Most of the times they sell those watches way too expensive. It wouldn't surprise me if the same watch without LV on the dial would only cost a fraction of the LV watch.

See it like this, you say you are a clothing guy. Maybe you want to buy Versace, Armani or whatever because you know these are brands which make good clothes.
Now, would you buy clothes from Mercedes or BMW if these 2 decide to start making clothes ? I don't think so. Making good cars doesn't make you a couturier.
Same for the watch industry, LV their core business is not making watches. So I would suggest you look at for example Longines, Oris, Fortis, entry Cartiers, Tissot ...

I fully agree with you on that point, I just chose that watch because it is the type of style I like. I would never buy a Gucci, LV or w/e clothing brand watch. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will defiantly be looking into them.

[asadtiger]

at 1k, few will beat Omega Seamaster (used auto or new quartz) or a Longines of your liking, sporty or dress, or Oris...or for lesser you could have Tissot or Hamilton..these rband are generally recommended as they are well regarded...if you want to go LV, why not go for TAG-heuer?..its part of LVMH and is better known in the horological world...best of luck with your purchase

your choice looks very different and I like that very much...most ppl on the forums have fairly known and common watches but something like the one you have shared will be rare and hence refreshing

[lorsban]

Here are a couple of ideas:

You could also look at Concord, Tissot, Hamilton, Movado.

Personally, I'd go for the Tag Aquaracer because at that price, you can't beat the ruggedness of a diver's watch plus it's an automatic. However, looking at your samples, it seems like you're more inclined to getting something with a more classic or elegant style.

Also, I'd suggest getting automatic or mechanical. True, you get better timekeeping with quartz but the thing is, watches all started out as mechanical and these types of watches have a certain timeless character about them that makes them more special or valuable than comparable models in quartz.

[Curt]

Thanks for the suggestions...To correct my first post, I do not want a LV watch and fully agree with the opinion of Unknown. I simply just posted a picture of it to show a look I was going for. I will defiantly be checking out every thing that you guys have posted. Thanks

[kyle L]

What about a classic Vintage Cartier tank? The old ones can go for around 1k.

[htc8p]

check out Tissot very reliable. Baume Mercier very stylish

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by Curt

Here is the LV Emprise:

First off congrats on garduation.

Secondly that watch is heinious, buy something else.

[Curt]

^^^ Thanks for the congrats....and as I mentioned, I am not buying a Louis Vuitton watch. That was just so people could get an Idea of the look I am going for.

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by Curt

^^^ Thanks for the congrats....and as I mentioned, I am not buying a Louis Vuitton watch. That was just so people could get an Idea of the look I am going for.

You just graduated so I would imagine you are young? Go for something young and sporty, I understand the Rolex Submariner is out of your budget, but something like that, I think Tag makes a diver watch like the sub, i would go that route.

[sonikbyte]

a "LV" for me anytime over a Vuitton watch.

[Deyn Man]

try checking online watch shops like the following:
www.authenticwatches.com
www.swissluxury.com
not to buy a watch, but more of looking at the range of watches available
for that price, try Sinn as well or Stowa (and get the COSC option)
congrats -- to your graduation and to your future watch!