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Watch Opinions - Help!

Echo

Veteran

I need some outside opinions, as there's so much information swimming in my head that I cannot think straight. Dh took me to try on watches yesterday, and I was really shocked about what I liked. You can go to the last paragraph for the TL;DR version.

I went in POSITIVE that I wanted a two-tone yellow gold and stainless watch, as I commonly wear yellow gold. I had also only researched women's styles because I thought about 34 mm was the largest I would go. I also intended to get a mother-of-pearl face or otherwise white/silver dial with a prominent, likely rotating, bezel. I was also leaning heavily toward diamond markers and possibly a diamond bezel.

But... I didn't like the Aquaracers on my wrist in women's, and the men's - especially the two tones - were just garish. The yellow was SO prominent, and it just didn't translate the way I wanted it to on my wrist, while the thicker bezel made the watch look especially masculine. The women's Carreras were tiny - at least the ones that have automatic movements, and an automatic movement is non-negotiable. Dh and I agreed early in the try-on process that a men's watch was probably the way to go, as all the women's watches didn't have the presence I wanted.

I tried this one on at Dh's suggestion, and his first comment was, "That's the one." I looked at it and loved it - it was just "blingy" enough with the contrasting black face and silver case and accents without being blingy at all. The narrow bezel worked much better for me than the more prominent bezels I thought I liked, and the white faces just weren't doing anything for me, although I'll admit they didn't look bad in pictures; they just didn't stand out in any way. And, as much as I hesitate to admit this, I have been gravitating toward white metals more and more. Most of the accents on my shoes and bags and coats are white, and I've purchased a number of paste pieces in white metal to coordinate with outfits.

Anyway, so after all this agonizing, my question is - Does this watch look okay on my wrist (once the bracelet is sized appropriately)? Would you see a woman wearing this watch and think she was playing dress-up with her dad's watch? Is it ridiculous and I just can't see it? Please help. I am not going to list the mm size right now, as it is larger than anticipated. Indeed, please tell me what mm size you think the case might be or what it looks like if you feel so inclined.
#1: Watch I am considering full body shot
#2: Closer picture of the watch I am considering
#3 & #4: The two-tone watch and the white face for the sake of comparison

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

JAileen

Veteran

I like it! Is it a Tag Heuer? I have a Heuer dive watch from ages ago. When I was considering getting a new watch I tried it on and wore it around the house for awhile. Mine is ginormous, and has a rubber watch band. It wasn’t comfortable and was pretty thick, too. If it’s comfortable, why not?

Echo

Veteran

Jaileen, yes, it is a TAG Heuer. I've looked extensively into brands, and while there are other brands with beautiful watches, it is the TAGs that speak to me. When I was a poor college student in the early 1990s, it was shortly after TAG acquired Heuer and they came out with their S/el line, which later morphed into the Link series. I considered going full-on vintage with an S/el, and I did look at the Link line, but I think they're just a little too retro for me. Anyway, TAG advertised heavily during the Olympics, and they just wormed their way into my head. I used to go down to a jewelry shop on State Street (UW-Madison) and visit "my" watch. I swore that someday I would have one. Sadly, that shop no longer carries TAG, otherwise I would make my purchase there.

And it really is the Carrera line that seems best for me, although I still love the look of the Aquaracers. The issue with the Aquaracers is that many of them are quartz movements (nothing wrong with that, just not what I am after), and those that are auto don't have a skeleton back (for good reason given their intended purpose!). I'd absolutely love to see a picture of yours, and I bet it looks better than you think it does (although I understand the comfort factor)! This watch is heavy and relatively large. It seems comfortable, but until I wear it around, it is hard to know for sure, and by then it is too late!

JAileen

Veteran

It sounds like it’s your heart that is in the driver seat. And that makes it even better, rather than feeling so so about a watch or brand.

Sloper

Veteran

Great watch - I like men's watches myself. (someday I'll have saved the money for an Omega - someday!!!)

So to answer your questions:

Does this watch look okay on my wrist (once the bracelet is sized appropriately)? YES!

Would you see a woman wearing this watch and think she was playing dress-up with her dad's watch? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Is it ridiculous and I just can't see it? NOPE!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

It does look masculine to me, but I like very feminine watches. I don’t think it looks like playing dress-up.
Of the ones you show my fave is pic 4.
I don’t understand the emotion about the particular brand. They did a good job on you with their advertising? But if this is the brand you feel you must have, and it will make you feel good, then sure.

rachylou

Veteran

Hands down, your choice strikes me as the chicest. It has the most presence. I do wonder a little though if anything would change in my mind if you were wearing different items. Like pink ballet flats...

Sloper

Veteran

Jenni NZ - going a little off topic of Echo's post, but yes, there can be an emotion about a particular brand.

Funnily enough, it was , as with Echo, Olympics advertising that drew me to, in my case, Omega watches (I forget which year(s) it was) - their look at that time in particular, but also when I saw their other models and learned about the brand - they've provided watches to American astronauts, and that touched a nice, nostalgic feeling with me, as an American child of the sixties (one of may reasons, most of which are for me hard to verbalize).

Not everything can be explained of course, just like what emotion is all about - that unexplainable/inexplicable "tug" - or, the "spark of joy" if you will.

I admit I subscribe more to the Ernest Hemingway school of thought - you can have something (an experience, an emotion, etc.) but if you talk about it, you lose it!

FYI this is all in good spirit

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

This one spoke to you and to DH and it looks great on you. I like men's watches also.

slim cat

Veteran

First watch - the most interesting .

Echo

Veteran

Jenni NZ: It isn't so much just that the advertising did a number on me, but more all of the associations I have with the brand. It was aspirational to me at a certain time in my life, which drew me into researching the brand and its history. As with most established brands, there is a lot of history with Heuer - their association with Formula 1 racing, the Carrera line based on the Mexican Carrera Panamericana (a grueling and dangerous race), the first watch in space (worn by John Glenn). Heuer patented technology related to the chronograph that is still used today, and they created the first wrist chronograph. Heuer broke the 1/100th second barrier with a stopwatch in 1916 and was the official Olympic timekeeper for three Olympic games.

TAG Heuer was the company that spurred my interest in watches and especially in automatic watches. It is common for people to feel an affiliation with certain brands, or at least respect the history of certain design houses. On a more day-to-day level, most people have a preferred ketchup/catsup brand, despite not being able to tell the difference in a blind taste test. We make decisions based on brands all the time, everyday. I am self-aware enough to recognize my affiliation with this brand, and to know that if I am going to buy a nice watch, I will appreciate this brand over others. I don't think this is that unusual, as we see it on this board with clothing brands all the time.

Joy

Veteran

I like both watches on you. I like a white pearlized face on my own watch and like a watch that is fairly big, although it can make them heavy and can be problematic with long sleeves, especially on coats and jackets. I would love an alarm on it, but those are hard to find.

rachylou

Veteran

This is very interesting about Tag Heuer. I did not know all this.

This is my watch of choice. It’s $34.95 from Target. It’s white face and high contrast black Arabic numerals have proved important to me - that Easy Reader factor indeed. As is also its price, because I lose watches often since they’ve been verboten on many a factory floor. BUT, tbh, I first saw it in a book called Quintessentials - a picture book of items with that just-so quality. Levi’s 501s were included. I was sold on it before ever thinking about buying a watch because of that design cachet.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks for the thoughts Sloper and Echo- yes, all in good spirit. I do realise people have particular clothing brands that really speak to them, and it seems watches too! I don’t think this happens to me really.
However I guess it does a bit with food brands etc, preferring one over another, although I don’t think I am totally loyal to any. I do look for NZ brands where possible so I suppose that’s similar to the US astronaut thing! Cheers.
Doesn’t sound like we are helping you much yet?

unfrumped

Veteran

I like the watch you favor.

I prefer black- faced watches most of the time for me because I ( generally) wear darker colors and dark footwear- that may be what you’re feeling here.

But in summer, pre- pandemic, I noticed I liked to have lighter colors.
However I didn’t like the idea of having lot of $ invested. So I have 2 Timex watches. I also liked mixed metals or “ ambiguous “ look so found sort of warm silver/ pearl.

My main watch that I wore for decades because I needed sweep second hand ( now tending to wear Fitbit) is a mixed metal Seiko with a black face. The gold part is not too prominent/ yellow and the other is silver is the stainless steel color . I would actually choose a slightly larger face now, but am limited since my wrist is very narrow.
I don’t think you need to keep looking at all, but if you honed in on black face preference, there are other mixed metals with that feature.

RobinF

Veteran

I actually like all three and don't think your favorite looks too masculine at all. I say go with your gut.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like all of these! I don’t see any issues with looking too “masculine” or anything like that. I feel like a watch like this is a really personal style preference and you should follow your heart. That said, I really like the watch with the white face on you too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like them all too! And what Janet said.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Janet and Angie said! For myself, I would prefer the one with the white/ light face. but that is me, not you! And you sound really happy with the darker face, so why not go for it!

I see nothing wrong with a larger watch at all. It's a statement, signature piece for you with important sentimental associations. Go for the one that makes your heart happy!