Help me find a new watch!

[CreekyOldKnee]

My Dad wants to buy me a new watch for my birthday. I'm 40 this year so it's a special gift and he's asked me to look for one I'd like.

There's a budget of £1k ish.

I've had a look but there is so much choice I thought I'd see if the S&B experts had any ideas.

I have very small wrists, so nothing too chunky but I also don't fancy a very dainty watch (helpful!).

I don't wear gold so it would need to be silver and I don't really wear much jewellery so probably nothing to OTT.

Any help would be great.

TIA

Calvin Klein do some lovely simple steel/Silver watches.

Thanks Bike - I'll have a look

Omega do some very nice watches in that price range.

Raymond Weil.

Gucci? I had a Gucci watch for my 18th birthday and it's still going strong 24 years later. Whatever you choose, go for the plainest you can stand if you plan on having it for ages. Watches with embellishments or 'unusual' faces date quickly.

I'd love an Omega next...

I love this but it is well below your budget. Maybe not special enough.

Thanks everyone

Bike - love that one but think it's more of a going out watch.

Will look at Omega

I have the longines conquest ladies watch from goldsmiths- £810 - it's not as chunky as it looks in the pictures and it has little diamonds around the face - it's lovely.

... and Raymond Weil

Oh and goldsmiths often do discount codes if you keep your eyes peeled

I wear Rado (I wear the mens as I like big watches) and they do some really elegant beautiful ladies watches.
store.uk.rado.com/collection.html?price=0-1080&rado_gender=18

Thanks Elmosmum - love your watch

Selfishcrab - not heard of Rado before but absolutely love them. Thank you

With that budget I would go for one by a Swiss watch maker rather than a fashion brand. As PPs have said there are some lovely ones from Longines and Omega in that price range, especially if you want a more delicate model.

I like Longines - I have a lovely very small and dainty one, quite a vintage look to it. A tip though, I took it to a small independent jewellers for a battery change and they quoted me £100 with a 2 week wait! I took it into the jewellers I'd bought it from, and they changed the battery within the hour for a tenner.

Love this one!

Never thought of a coloured watch face before but I really like it.

What do you all think?

Thanks for the tip on Longines, Rubbish.

Lovely Creeky :) but I am biased.

What about pre-loved? I buy all my watches second hand and have saved thousands.

Thanks Agatha. Do you use a specific site for pre-loved? I'm always a bit worried about buying a fake.

I was going to say the same as the pp.

There are loads of websites selling pre-loved watches.

For your budget you could get a vintage high end brand like Cartier/Rolex. Timeless and very beautiful.

Examples attached - bit higher than budget but lots within and different styles. It's worth shopping around on different websites.

You need to buy from someone who will give a certificate of authenticity.

Ideally you also want the original case and certification from the manufacturer. It's also good to know when the last service was. They tend to need servicing every 5 years or so and it's usually around £100 and takes a few weeks (it's sent back to Switzerland).

I bought my most recent Cartier from Vestiaire and it came with both. Watch was in impeccable condition. I did have a bigger budget than yours, but you can get a decent watch for your available funds. Key is to keep shopping and bide your time (no pun intended) until the right watch comes along.

I've attached all the things it came with (the little book is the original certificate and service history) and the additional certificate from Vestiaire.

Thanks DarrhArts, really helpful

*DarthArts!

I have two stainless steel Longines watches, bought jointly one men's one ladies' for significant wedding anniversaries and my favourite is definitely the self-winding Dolce Vita tonneau (barrel) shape which should be at the high end of your budget.

I do not like my other everyday (cheaper, battery powered) watch because although the rectangular shape is very smart, silver hands on a white background are a pain to read when you get long sighted...

We're considering Cartier Tank for our next significant watch purchase. DH is a fanatic. I treat mine very badly and have to change the glass on my Dolce Vita every 3/4 years. That's about £100 a go.