Rolex or other luxury watch?

[Mindgone]

I am in the very fortunate position that DH would like to buy me a posh watch for my milestone birthday. He wants to buy me a Rolex, but I'm now wondering about other posh watches, e.g. Cartier. Any recommendations please?

A Cartier tank is what I would choose in your position.

I have a gorgeous Rado integral in black which looks very elegant. Now I mostly wear a fitbit, but it's lovely to have a proper watch!

I wouldn't buy a bench instead of a watch, I just couldn't resist:-)

If you are going to keep it for life, go with any of them. If you ever think you might want a change then Rolex or Patek are your only real options. Cartier loose most of their value, unless you are buying second hand.

Have you looked at Christopher Ward? Really nice watches - c65 vintage is a lovely size - and servicing/pricing isn't ridiculous because they're online only.

Hope you don’t mind me jumping in op but can anyone buy a naice 4 figure watch? I really want to save for my 40th. But I would need to try on. Would i just be ignored and or dismissed?!

MrsPear, let me put it this way if i went to buy ANY watch from a shop and was ignored I would personally never darken the door of said shop ever again. Why do you feel you would be ignored?

I have a Pequinet watch, it's not a well known brand but its absolutely beautiful.
I got it for my 18th birthday and I've just turned 40 so it's lasted, it always gets comments.

Much as I like the look of Cartier Tanks, I think they are over-exposed: they have become the Mulberry Bayswater of watches.

I love my Longines, but it cost a couple of hundred pounds, not thousands so not sure it would be what you have in mind, OP.

I agree with the comment about wrist size: I love the look of a mannish watch on other women but they look ridiculous on my eeny-weeny twig wrists

MrsPear, DH got my Rolex as a my push present after DS was born. It's also my wedding band equivalent. He bought one new and I returned it opting to buy one second hand. It was significantly cheaper, about 10 years old and had never been worn. DH had paid $35k for my watch. I got something extremely similar second hand for $8k (these are USD). With a Rolex watch they are classic so one that is 10 years old isn't much different to one sold today.

want2b I hope you spent the change on something else for yourself

Should have also said - I wouldn't go for an expensive Longines - their customer service is nowhere near as good as brands like Rolex. They are owned by Swatch and it shows. I don' t mind because my Longines wasn't expensive, but I'd be very hacked off if I'd shelled out a couple of grand for it.

Thanks so much for all your thoughts and opinions, in the end, I guess I'll go for whichever I like the look of best on my wrist! I'm tall, and dont have delicate wrists, so, if Rolex, thinking of the medium sized ones, haven't tried a Cartier as yet.
I definitely prefer an understated look, but like the idea that, on a slobby day, I still have a bit of elegance about me! I also have an Omega Deville, which was a present for my last milestone birthday (too many now!).
MrsPear, we went looking and trying on last Friday. Not dressed particularly smartly, and I had to take off my £30 Lorus watch in order to try the Rolexes! We were warmly greeted, and I was offered a glass of wine, which I accepted gratefully! Really, don't worry , you're the customer!

Look at Ebel Brasilia. I have had mine 10 years, still love it.

mow I got myself a bench!!!!

And actually I do have a bench that my friend purchased for my 30th birthday. She made a donation to NYC parks here. Best present ever. I've even gone and sat on it during the day.

Omega fan here - found a good local watchmaker and pay around £100 every 3-5 years for a clean and service keeps perfect time
End of day though choose a style that thrills you x I get pleasure every day from wearing mine

I have a Cartier Santos, which I bought for myself when I hit a v important professional milestone (a lot of years and pre DS ago). I had my heart absolutely set on a Rolex but when I tried it on I didn’t like the look at all. I was pretty gutted but the lovely people in store encouraged me to try on just about every watch in the store that I liked and I picked the Cartier as is was beautiful on my wrist. I’ve never once looked at it and regretted the decision and I wear it everywhere and every day.

If it is feasible for you (depends where you are in U.K.), I went to Jersey for the day to buy mine. The flight was about £100 but the saving on the VAT differential was about £800. They gave me two valuation receipts for insurance too. One with U.K. VAT and one for the price paid.

want2b benchtastic !

Let us know what you end up getting OP, with pics

The de Ville is a very classic style. Are you looking for another classic or a funky watch?

I'm also tall and do love the size of medium Rolexes on my wrist. They look very classic too. DH reckons they're the blandest things ever! If you're after sth a bit more creative, then brands like Chopard or Bulgari or some other jewellery brands do amazing styles. They do them in different sizes so there are some suitable for tall women and bigger wrists.

Personally, not in love with square or rectangular watches as my style is very feminine and they look pretty masculine and minimal.

Don't know if you want to go for a leather strap or a metal bracelet but do look into replacements before you buy. Some brands don't have much of a choice and you might wait for 3 months for a new strap.

I also prefer battery operated watches as I rotate a few depending on my outfit. I get the batteries changed locally for £15-20 and it's never been a problem.

Got my Rolex Datejust on Christmas morning last year from DH. A complete surprise, but he knew that I had been eyeing up the man's (large face) one for ages.

I absolutely love it and wear it all day, every day. Nobody outside of immediate family and close friends have ever noticed it! But I know how special it is and how much it means to me

I am looking at a new watch. I have a cartier tank that I have had for about 12 years but they are so common now that I am a little over it.

Having tried on a lot a couple of weeks ago I am going to go for the patek twenty four.

Have fun choosing!

Datejust here, bought second hand. I love it.

Ooooh I would love a rolex watch! Get a rolex

Thanks all. I'm much more classic, understated, not flash at all. Datejust or perpetual oyster(no date)?
Tomorrow might be the day! The lady in the shop has sourced two that I like, so hope I still like one of them, and hope I can make a decision!!
I've looked at some of the alternatives suggested, thanks, I now have some ideas for next time!