I just wanted to pimp Ashford.com for your purchase. The service I received from them recently was outstanding. Got my wife her Citizen Eco Drive from there.
Go for style, not name or price. One of my doctor partners just spent $31K on a Patek. Frankly, I think it is ugly and an absurd waste of money. His watch looks worse on his wrist than my $400 ESQ I bought from the mall looks on mine. This guy already had a $26K Rolex. We make the same money, so I know this guy is just plain crazy.
Buy an Ironman Timex and put the rest of the money you had planned to spend in savings. You'll be very happy down the road. I put a smiley at the end of the above statement but in truth, that is not far off of my feelings.
First, check out The Link This is probably the best watch enthusiast website out there. There are a lot of helpful people on there that can direct you to a nice watch in your price range. They also have a sales section which has a huge variety of used watches for sale. Most are well taken care of timepieces that someone bought, got bored with and are now being sold to get something else. Many are in almost new condition. You will be surprised what is in your price range if you look around for a while.
I've accumulated 5 watches. 3 Seikos a g-shock, and no **** my grandfathers gold watch. One for dress, two sport type watches(blue face and all silver), and the g-shock for flying. I don't wear my grandfathers watch. I would love a really really really nice watch. Can't afford them right now. I love the seiko kinetic watches. They are great watches. I think I've had my oldest one for about 10 years.
I think ldogg clarified my original point quite nicely . No nice watches available for $1200? C'mon man ... that's just losing touch with reality! No lamboghini watches for 1.2k? Sure .. but there are plenty of nice watches for that ....
I stuck with a Casio G-Shock for most of my army career. Never needed a nice watch. When I retired a couple years back and had to wear business attire instead of BDUs. That casio just did not go with a suit. The wife bought me a Tag H as a retirement gift. Not a fancy one, ran about $1400, but that was at the Marine Corps exchange in DC. Same watch at a nice jeweler is about $1600 to $2k. Well worth it however.
$300 roundtrip ticket to NYC. $50 cab rides to/from LGA. $4 hot dogs $15 Rolex on the street. That's $369 for a rolex. Works for me.
I'm getting a Tag, around 1300, best value out there, is what I gathered. Thanks for all the comments, criticisms, and insight HornFans
Shoot... I just buy Fossil or Diesel watches... change 'em out based on what I want to wear that day. Fossil also makes watches for Michael Kors, Armani Exchange, DKNY, Adidas, etc.
I have a stainless steel Cartier Santos. Very classy. Not showy. Always get compliments on it. Never understand the super expensive watches. Justifying them with unusual, sophisticated movements that never have to be adjusted. I am okay adjusting my watch every two or three months.
I am partial to Raymond Weil and Tag. Both are in that range. Omega is not too far above those two brands. Where do you live?
Idogg, I have a nice TAG watch my dad gave me when I graduated. Do you even send them to a jewler to get them cleaned/polished? The face is perfect but there are a few small scratches under my wrist from resting my wrist on tables and stuff.
For 1300-1400, get a Breitling. Great watch and very good value. Tag's are marginal. I had one and it was a good watch but they have gone up in price and I think you can get something better like the Breitling. FWIW, I wear a Rolex Day-Date in stainless with a silver face.
As great as automatics are it does become a pain when you own several and wear one for a few days. I was always too lazy to get an autowinder so I was always having to reset my watch every few days.
I presently have a TAG Heuer that I received as a gift 12 years ago and it still runs like new. I get it serviced about every 4 years. Unfortunately, its a sports watch and because I'm wearing more suits these days, I feel like I need to get a dressier watch. I'm looking for something simple and elegant. I've been looking for vintage Longines watches on Ebay but you never know what your going to get. I would really like to have this but a little out of my price range. Anyone have experience with Bell & Ross? I see them in catalogs all the time but have never known anyone to have one or see them in the store.