Please help me choose a watch (pics included).

[WilsonMilson]

I have a birthday coming up, and DH is going to buy me an expensive watch. I would love an Omega Manhattan Constellation, but the one I like is nearly £5k and just too expensive. I have narrowed it down to two choices, completely and utterly different and around the same price.

The first is a newly released Tag Aquaracer Professional 200 with a beautiful blue/teal iridescent face and diamond dot. The second is a classic entry level Cartier Tank.

I want it to be durable and tough enough to wear every day but still elegant enough to be worn in the evening. I know the Tank is the obvious choice as it is a classic, but I just wondered if it’s a bit ubiquitous and not as unique and fun as the Tag. What do you think?

Easily the Tag, the Cartier is very boring and middle aged to me.

Tag looks beautiful. The tank is boring and bland

The Tag looks very bulky. Is it? And what are your wrists like? I've got tiny wrists and that Tag would look daft on me!

Thanks, I tried on one similar with the diamonds, and while it was nice, I didn’t think it’s was quite me. It’s a beautiful watch though and is indeed the best of both worlds.

I have the Tag Aquaracer with blue face - I love it and wear it pretty much every day , I went for the larger of the 2 ladies sizes - have work it both daytime & evening

With the disclaimer that both are completely out of my budget (£50 is an expensive watch in my world ) - I really like the Cartier one; the other one looks like any old cheap watch you could buy on the high street, to my uneducated eye.

I like the tag. Really not a fan of tanks, the rectangular face feels so old fashioned to me.

I have a Longines Conquest which is similar to the Rag though not quite as 'dive watch' and I love it, wear it everyday and to evening events no problem.

I have the plain Cartier tank. I have worn it everyday for 20 years, goes with absolutely everything, it’s a true classic. After 20 years of wear it really still looks new, absolutely no scratches on the face or little blue button. It truly is a gorgeous watch!

I have the tank and I wear it every day! I love it.

@RosieCockle ooh that’s interesting, wondering why he went for the Tag option? I’m still totally undecided here, but it’s a lovely dilemma to have. I feel like I want everyone to tell me to get the Tag, so maybe that’s revealing, I don’t know.

You see, this is what I wonder. Is the Tank just a bit boring? I mean, it IS stunning, but is it a tad dull, whereas the Tag is a bit more fun and different? Also, the Tank is the lowest price entry level Cartier and the Tag is a mid range and quite a uniquely coloured face - I have a pic with a better view of the face, I’ll upload it in a separate post.

Have you thought about buying a mid range tank through auction?

Honestly I know nothing about watches but would have assumed the first one was a cheap high street watch. It looks like it's for a child.

The second is better but neither look experience or 'naice' so if they cost a lot I'd be rethinking.

I have a better pic of the Tag if anyone is interested. I just keep going back to it’s uniqueness, but also take on board that it is bulkier with the chunky bezel (it’s the smallest of the ladies sizes in that range though) and it’s much more a daytime watch - which I do want, but I did want one that I would wear out in the evening too. I have a slim wrist, but it didn’t look too big on it. Wishing I had a pic of them both side by side on my wrist though.

I feel like I’m talking myself round in circles here!!

I don’t generally like Tanks because I’m not a fan of the rectangle face. However, I do like the pop of colour on the hands. You’ve already described the Tank as boring & absolutely love the dial on the Tag so I think your heart has already made your mind up for you! Go for the Tag!

If you can't readily decide which you like best then I think either one is going to be a compromise. I would advise you to keep looking until you are sure when you are about to spend a not insignificant sum.

Out if those choices the tag, I personally think the tank is quite stuffy and boring and is something my grab would have worn. I also really only like round watch faces.

For a similar price I'd possibly look at a tag carrera, a Tudor black bay or an omega constellation which also comes with a blue face

Get the tag! The tank is a classic, but not as exciting as the tag.
You won't be going out every night but will be wearing it every day, so go for the one that will bring the most joy.

I had a blue faced watch (not as stunning as your potential one tho!) which frequently got commemted on.
But the round face isn't as smart if you do lots of dressy stuff. Don't suppose there is a rectangular (or oval?) blue faced watch in the right price bracket?

Of the two, I prefer the Tank, but it suffers from being relatively ubiquitous. The other downside is it’s a quartz watch, not an automatic.

Honestly OP given your desire was for something elegant you could wear in the evening I would keep looking. One looks like it's for kids and the other is very dated

Get an Apple Watch.

I'd get the TAG but with pearl face if you want it to fit better as an evening piece. I do like the blue, though.

Definitely not the Cartier. They're too 'old lady' in my opinion (apologies if that offends anyone.)

Ooooo I love this predicament! I am in the same boat tbh have both the tank up on my tab and the tag but not the blue face. I personally would go for the tag as like you every day casual is what you want it for.

I have this Omega. Its an automatic chronograph and is possibly not the same as the watches you are looking at which are probably battery operated. Therefore the Omega is a proper timepiece but mine was in excess of £6000.

I have a Cartier Tank. DH has one too and the Tag Monaco. These are classic watches for men and are not battery operated. I don't like like the gold on the Tag, you have pictured so I would go Cartier. Better resale value! Also there are absolutely loads of Omega watches in the Constellation range that are quartz/battery. The expensive ones are chronometers but there are cheaper ones. Depends on face size too. Cartier is almost always more sought after than Tag (except the Monaco) which is an icon.