Please help me find a watch for my 40th birthday present!

[IHeartKingThistle]

DH is going to get me a watch for my 40th but is struggling a bit to find the perfect one. He's very lovely but the things I want are quite specific!

I'd be really happy with a £100 watch tbh but he's been looking at more expensive ones. I don't care about brands really.

OK so my wish list is:

Leather strap, not grey, not heavily stitched, not that snakeskin effect

The date - this is really important!

Modern or vintage modern face, simple, no Roman numerals, relatively large

Would love a pop of colour but not essential

Ideally silver edging rather than gold

Am I being too picky? So far I love the Mondaine Swiss railway watches, but they don't seem to have the date, and I really like Skagen watches too but my favourites seem to be men's watches and are massive.

I've never had a nice watch before (I'm wearing a Bugs Bunny watch at the moment ) so this will be worn all the time and I really want to love it!

Suggestions please

Look for a decent Swiss-made watch which will last a lifetime. You need to go in and try a few on in the jewellery shops, as they can look so different once on your wrist

Tissot have some nice, classic watches, are swiss-made, and around £170 upwards. Most watches these days have either roman numerals or batons rather than numbers. I like numbers myself such as the 'Tissot ladies everytime' which has a leather strap.

Rotary would also have decent watches in that price range.

It is requiring a date function that’s making this difficult. This is an extra function and usually costs more and few in this price range have it. I’ve just had a look on the John Lewis web site and few have dates. They have around 300 ladies watches though so surely something appeals in your price range? I too think Tissot are good.

Yeah it's definitely the date that's the problem!

I love Paulin watches but they also don’t have the date. Worth a look though - I also love Mondaine watches too!

Mondaine have the date on the slightly larger ones. I seem to have got a dodgy one but was fixed twice under warranty and the second time a whole new movement was put in.

My mondaine has the date but s silver strap. It says helvetica neu on the face - not sure if that’s the style or if it comes with a leather strap?

What about something like this, @IHeartKingThistle - although it does sound as if he's keen to spend more.

Like this? www.mondaine.com/watches/helvetica/helvetica-no1-regular/mh1-r1210-lb.html

I love my Mondaine watch and it gets a lot of compliments.

www.mondaine.com/watches/official-swiss-railways-watch/evo/a669-30305-11sbc.html

www.mondaine.com/watches/official-swiss-railways-watch/evo-big/a627-30303-11sbc.html

Dammit that red one is perfect but my friend has that exact one and she would definitely mind if I copied!

How about this one from Tissot?

www.tissotwatches.com/en-gb/shop/t1032101601700.html

I have this Mondaine, DH picked it himself for my Christmas and I love it. They also have it in yellow which I'd also like. No date though.

@princessbear80 I like that except the big numbers!

@blibblibs I LOVE that and the yellow one. So annoying it doesn't have the date. Keep wondering if I could do without it but really did want it - I need to know the date every day and can never remember it!

@RedPandaFluff I like that but not sure about the thin strap

Something by Hamilton? The strap isn't important, you can buy all kinds of after market straps now relatively cheaply.

www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/h42211655-jazzmaster-lady-quartz.html

This is the first watch I've had without a date (think it was payback from DH after I bought him one without!) and I really haven't missed it as much as I thought I would. Especially since I'm on my phone all time

Do you really need the date? I'be had my watch since my 31st birthday (present from then "d" h) and moving the date on every month was a right pita. The date doesn't seem to work now so I can't move it on (I am 47) I've never missed it (or him!) watch is still lovely tho x enjoy your present op xx

Hi there

Junkers do some lovely watches....lots with the date on! I understand where you’re coming from with that!....mine’s very similar to this one....

www.watchshop.com/ladies-junkers-bauhaus-watch-6073-5-p99967854.html

i wouldn't bother with the date...if you are coming up for 40 it won't be long before presbyopia sets in and the date will be too small for you to read !!

Maybe have a look at citizen...I saw lots there that I liked, also good quality compared to some of the other fashion brands. My critera are different to yours though, metal strap, no batteries to replace , and nice hands and no numbers :o

About to say the same msmighty,

I have a 20year old ladies Dunhill with the date that I can no longer read.

Feeling a bit old now ...

I love my Tissot. 15 years old and still looks as good as the day I had it. Mine has a metal strap though

I have a Citizen eco drive watch that ticks all those boxes and it’s solar powered - so no battery to replace. It’s not a large one though and was only about £70.