Would/did you propose and say here’s a cheap ring and I’m giving the rest to charity or a savings account!?

I didn’t have a ring. Mrs Grips picked one out she liked, £90.

You only get engaged once, but I don’t consider it an event.

Fair play mol! I do consider it an event but I’m fairly young so in my life so far it’s one of the bigger moments.

My point was more why do some people feel the need to judge people for wanting to spend their hard earned on a gift for their loved one or themselves.

My point was more why do some people feel the need to judge people for wanting to spend their hard earned on a gift for their loved one or themselves.

sorry geezer.. you’re right.. I was being a bellend.. I have an incredibly tiny penis and committing random acts of spite to strangers on the internet helps me in some small way to overcome my inferiority.. it’s all a bit tragic..

expensive watches are my pet hate.. you enjoy that watch cheers_drive.. and I wish you luck, love, light and happiness with your future wife..

8)

My point was more why do some people feel the need to judge people for wanting to spend their hard earned on a gift for their loved one or themselves

It’s not the expensive gift that people don’t like, it’s the nature of the gift. People feel that expensive watches are just a vehicle for money. They aren’t actually worth anything at all beyond what we’re told they’re worth, much like big diamonds etc.

^^^ that is just me explaining the thread, not me having a go mind.

DO NOT BUY A TAG!

Same senario as yours. Wife bought mine at great expense circa £1800. After five years it losses time every day and has had two crowns fitted at my own cost. Tag’s customer service is by far the worst I’ve ever had the misfortune of dealing with.

I can see though that you are from the demographic that prefers their obscenely priced ‘timepiece’ to exhibit a rugged and functional characteristic that no-doubt helps you to project the tasteful no-nonsense image that you wish to create for yourself..

See, that’s where you make yourself look a clot. The first watch, with the polished case and black NATO strap, is, in fact, one of these:

It’s an automatic Seiko, but customised by a bloke called Howard Ng in Hong Kong with a new face and Lumobright hands. The basic watch can be had for £55, mine cost $140. It’s a reasonably tough watch, water resistant to 30m, but it’s the fact it’s a mechanical auto with a really clear, easy to read face that’s important.
You’ve just assumed it was mega-expensive. Which has made an ass of you.

Which has made an ass of you.

So it would seem.. but the saying goes that to assume makes an ass of me and you so I’m happy to take one for the team.. 😕

I had definitely gotten my arse in my hands a bit though.. I just can’t stand the froth over the watch ‘scene’.. it’s the modern equivalent of the 70s medallion man.. as pointless and decadent as supercars..

and the numpties that compared watches to bikes..!?
Oh come on..

On my bike I can increase my health and fitness and my entire spiritual wellbeing.. I can experience the outdoors and soothe the stresses of modern life.. I can socialise and be active and improve my vitality.. I can engage with my family and friends in an utterly wholesome endeavour… and I can recoup the cost in fuel and maintenance by not using my fossil fuelled vehicle.. I can be an agent for change.. a positive force.. I can feel pure joy and I can be free

with my watch I can compete in soul destroying Brett Easton Ellis one-upmanship with my peers.. and tell the time

(EDIT: I am fully aware though, that I have made a bit of a nob of myself for getting involved in this thread and tainting the OPs moment.. sorry about that.. 😳 )

Yeah, but you could do all that on a £300 bike, which is the scenario you’re posing.

Its a stupid comparison, a bike is a functional, transient purchase which will last a comparatively short period, and unless you’re very odd holds no real meaning. A nice watch (or engagement ring or whatever) is something that will likely outlast you and serve as a memento of an event. I like my bikes, but I can’t see me putting them in my will…

FWIW I like the Breitling Aerospace, which will no doubt antagonise the aficionados, and thats where it’s stupid – who are people to say ‘x brand has ruined the market’ that’s the pretentious crap that makes people sound like ****!

😆

I do all that on a £75 bike at the moment but that wasn’t the point I was trying to make..

I can however see the heirloom argument although that’s really not my cup of tea either..

Stowa watch and the rest on a custom made titanium frame engraved with your names?

Excellent idea, because if they split up they can keep half each when the frame cracks.

(sorry, couldn’t resist)

time factors are always good value:

http://www.timefactors.com/new1.htm

the smiths everest looks interesting

customised by a bloke called Howard Ng in Hong Kong

I think it’s Harold, but he makes some great looking watches.

Rolex – go to a shop and choose! It comes from you! Asking a forum lol

Yeah, you’re right, it is Harold, I keep getting it rong. 😉

as mentioned Sinn watches are really nice and use the same movements as Tag watches (some) and are of similar price (not sure why a previous poster slagged of tags and their price and recommended a watch which uses that same components for the same prices? anyhow…., I have a chrono link tag current which is beautifully built and will last me many many years although potentially looking to get a new aquaracer 500m tag for a engagement gift myself, just need to work on my lasses budget :), a friend has a new IWC and this is also a master piece of craftsmanship!!. A lot of choice out there but at that price you want to make the right choice and be sure you’ll want to cherish it for a long long time in the future.

not sure why a previous poster slagged of tags

I think he was more commenting on their service rather than the product.

Sinn watches are really nice and use the same movements as Tag watches

A lot of manufacturers use movements made by other companies. There are very few companies that make all the components themselves.

Sinn, TAG and Omega all use bought in movements although they do modify and customise them. Omega especially.

fair comments I did get mine serviced and it needed a replacement insert for the winder (included in the service price) however it keeps absolutely excellent time as they (and probably all manufacturers do) set them up with electronic monitoring over a set period to adjust the action to the second.

Omega especially

Omega is owned by Swatch, as are many of the premium brands, and also the major movement manufacturers like ETA, Lemenia, that Omega use.

Omega now have a movement of their own, as do TAG – so there is not much difference, except that I believe Omega refinish most of their movements – for example in my Speedy the movement is Rhodium plated.

When I was looking at watches the ‘equivalent’ Tag – a Carrera – used a more basic, and less well regarded, movement – but this wasn’t reflected in its price.

If you can find one take a look at a Grand Seiko,made by Seiko but in a totally different league,think Rolex quality and price.

Just to clarify my point wasnt regarding the price or quality of TAGs product, it was honest feedback upon TAG’s customer service / after care which is very important given the amount of money that these things cost.

I fully expected to have been treated as a valued customer and instead was left feeling very deflated. I question the depth of the TAG brand as they seem very keen to make the initial sale using comparisions to other top brand names but when it came to supporting existing customer I have found them very poor.

100 posts? flabbergasted

If you can find one take a look at a Grand Seiko

I don’t think he quite has the budget. Isn’t that one about £5,000?

Nice watches though.

You should never feel guilty spending your money. You’ve earned it, you get to decide where it goes.
Some people like watches, some cars, some bikes etc. There is no moral qualification when spending the reward for your work.

“mathewjb” A new Grandseiko would Definetly be out of the OP’s price range but may be possible per-owned.
To be honest it was more to showcase what’s out there besides the obvious choices such as Omega & Tags.
Another outside choice but more affordable would be a Tutima.

it was more to showcase what’s out

Good point. It’s definitely worth some research.

Most people would be stunned to know you could spend £5,000 on a Japanese watch. I suspect Japanese = Cheap, Swiss = expensive is the general view

I’m pretty happy with my Baume and Mercier Capeland, pretty understated, full mechanical auto… Same deal, wifey got me it when we got engaged, was within your budget from memory, though it was on sale and was about 8 years ago now… Not sure how much they cost now.

Heirloom

When my Dad dies he will probably give me his watch. I am not sure I’ll know what to do with it!

Some really nice watches have been posted from manufacturers I didn’t know of before (which was the point of my original post).
The Tag Monza or the Paneria unfortunally are not in budget but at least I’ve got a good selection to look out for when I go shopping.

Tag Monaco is well within your budget though 8)

could just about get for 2k, esp. once you demand a discount.

I tried a few watches onto today but Bristol shops don’t have many options outside of Tag or Omega. As I suspected I don’t like watches with large bezels or chronographs so the plain Carrera and the Aqua Terra were my favourites but it looks like I’m going to have to take a trip to Jura watches in London as I’m liking the Sinn Finanzplatzuhr which also comes with a leather strap and bracelet.

I’m liking the Sinn Finanzplatzuhr

I like that. What’s the extra crown for?

Have you thought about Steinhart?

Or Christopher Ward?

Same movements as the premium brands, they reckon that the build cost is about the same as the premium brands, they save through word of mouth advertising rather than having to spend millions on full page ads in the glossy mags and having to pay Brad Pitt to wear one.

They’re usually about £300 to £800. Some of their GMT Divers look terrific watches and great value.

It’s for different time zones. The name means Frankfurt Finance Centre. I like the fact it’s built like a sports watch but has dress watch styling.
I’m thinking steel bracelet for everyday use and leather strap for special occasions.

double post

It’s for different time zones

Aah. So the inner bezel spins round. Nice and understated.

Looking at some of the watches here. Some of the really expensive ones do not even have numbers or little bits where the big hand tells you where he’s at. That’s pretty rubbish. If you want to look a **** just buy a funny hat or something and spend the rest on a Jeff Jones…

You should never feel guilty spending your money. You’ve earned it, you get to decide where it goes.
Some people like watches, some cars, some bikes etc. There is no moral qualification when spending the reward for your work.

Some people will spend thousands on a bottle of wine they’ll never drink, at least a good watch is something that the wearer can appreciate every day; once that bottle’s opened it has to be drunk, if, indeed, it’s even drinkable, and then it’s gone forever.

Looking at some of the watches here. Some of the really expensive ones do not even have numbers or little bits where the big hand tells you where he’s at. That’s pretty rubbish. If you want to look a **** just buy a funny hat or something and spend the rest on a Jeff Jones…

Are you really that dim, or is being a troll how you like to spend your leisure hours? Many others have already expressed the same opinion, you have nothing original to say, so go find some porn on the Internet.

I ordered the Sinn – it’s not in stock but it should be here in a couple of weeks.

Lovely. Be sure to post up some pics when it arrives.