I need some serious watch help NAO!

[psycho_8b]

Okay guys, here's my problem...

My missus wants a watch for Christmas. But she has some criteria:

No metal strap (not a bracelet type of watch.) However I'm flexible with this because I'm not buying her a damn plastic watch!
The face has to have all the numbers on it (No markers etc. I don't know why.)

I have been looking around for a while but found nothing. And I have 3 days to get this. She's flying home for Christmas.
Don't worry about the price. It's not an issue...Obviously not hundreds of pounds but I'm not particularly price sensitive.

So...Any ideas and if possible where to buy it in London. If it's a big brand, I'll be able to find the shop myself. I know it's asking a lot on such short notice but I'm hoping I'll luck out and one of you will have some clues.

Thanks in advance.

[Mantikore]

well, no plastic or metal. that only leaves leather.

a quick google search yielded this:
http://www.watchworx.co.uk/

but i cant say i can recommend any stores in london. but leather watches shouldnt be too hard to find. a good department store should have them

[Vox Ducis]

Do you mean like these ?

http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43287_I11049L2.html (http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43287_I11049L2.html)

http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43286_I11049L1.html

It's really hard to find a watch with all the numbers on it. That's strange.

[Tunicate]

if you look at men's watches it will be SO much easier. many more of them have leather straps and all the numbers because men seem to be, (go figure) in the eye of the advertisers, more practical. Personally, I think her taste sounds great. The one thing you might have a problem with is the size of the dial. They tend to be bigger than womens watches, so if you ask for ones with smaller dial maybe you could get a sales person to help you out.

[ratfrink]

I too bought my girlfriend a watch for christmas. I got her this little french watch from the 1940s.
http://i.ebayimg.com/22/!Bepwro!BGk~$(KGrHqIH-E!ErfPg8M,1BK-Hg8OpsQ~~_12.JPG


May I suggest a vintage watch? They're generally nice looking, have lots of character, hand-winding mechanical so make a really nice noise and never run out of battery etc. Also they keep their value (increase in value slowly over time... 1970s and 80s stuff is the best for investment at the moment though, in five years 1970s watches will be worth twice what they are now) and with a few tools are really easy to service and repair. And they aren't expensive either, my daily is a 1970s Pobeda from the Soviet Union and it cost me £8!

Basically, a women's watch is something with a dial under 32mm (excluding the crown) and a 16 or 14mm strap. Anything bigger than that is a bit chunky. So this can help when you're looking online or in a catalogue.

There are loads of vintage watch shops in London but most of them only have expensive things like Omega, Rolex, Tissot etc. You might be able to get a nice Omega or Tissot for under £200.

That said, I got this gorgeous Favre Leuba for £40 which fits all of your requirements.
http://s812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/limra24/limra24/a4683a.jpg
It's 32mm which I decided was a bit small for my wrists, and sold it to a female friend of mine.
A lot of markets and vintage shops sell vintage watches too.

[psycho_8b]

well, no plastic or metal. that only leaves leather.

a quick google search yielded this:
http://www.watchworx.co.uk/

but i cant say i can recommend any stores in london. but leather watches shouldnt be too hard to find. a good department store should have them

I'll be mooching about the inner sanctum of hell tomorrow (central London) tomorrow looking for something. Good idea, ask a sales person!

Do you mean like these ?

http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43287_I11049L2.html (http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43287_I11049L2.html)

http://www.tictactime.com/ficheproduit_tictactime-montres-montre_43286_I11049L1.html

It's really hard to find a watch with all the numbers on it. That's strange.

Believe me I know... But who the fuck can't tell the time without all the numbers on the dial?!

if you look at men's watches it will be SO much easier. many more of them have leather straps and all the numbers because men seem to be, (go figure) in the eye of the advertisers, more practical. Personally, I think her taste sounds great. The one thing you might have a problem with is the size of the dial. They tend to be bigger than womens watches, so if you ask for ones with smaller dial maybe you could get a sales person to help you out.

Yeah. She's small. I was thinking of guy watches but where she's a midget, it's gonna make it harder.

I too bought my girlfriend a watch for christmas. I got her this little french watch from the 1940s.
http://i.ebayimg.com/22/!Bepwro!BGk~$(KGrHqIH-E!ErfPg8M,1BK-Hg8OpsQ~~_12.JPG


May I suggest a vintage watch? They're generally nice looking, have lots of character, hand-winding mechanical so make a really nice noise and never run out of battery etc. Also they keep their value (increase in value slowly over time... 1970s and 80s stuff is the best for investment at the moment though, in five years 1970s watches will be worth twice what they are now) and with a few tools are really easy to service and repair. And they aren't expensive either, my daily is a 1970s Pobeda from the Soviet Union and it cost me £8!

Basically, a women's watch is something with a dial under 32mm (excluding the crown) and a 16 or 14mm strap. Anything bigger than that is a bit chunky. So this can help when you're looking online or in a catalogue.

There are loads of vintage watch shops in London but most of them only have expensive things like Omega, Rolex, Tissot etc. You might be able to get a nice Omega or Tissot for under £200.

That said, I got this gorgeous Favre Leuba for £40 which fits all of your requirements.
http://s812.photobucket.com/albums/zz41/limra24/limra24/a4683a.jpg
It's 32mm which I decided was a bit small for my wrists, and sold it to a female friend of mine.
A lot of markets and vintage shops sell vintage watches too.

Frink...You're good.


Guys, you've been great and you've given me some great ideas to work with. Thanks all round!

[Dave]

I have been seeing a lot of Accurist adverts on TV recently?

[Animal Farm Pig]

Swatch? (http://eu-shop.swatch.com/eshop/uk/en/Watches/Originals/Lady.aspx)