Low-Midrange Watches

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,332
9,856
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My daughter wants a watch for jul. The two suggestions she gave were Fossil and Michael Kors. Are these a good value for the money, or are there better watches in that price range? It will be used semi-professionally in nursing, so I want a quality movement, but it doesn't have to be the finest materials. IOW, stainless is fine. It doesn't require precious metals.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,127
616
126
Anything with a Japanese movement should be fine. I would say Citizen is a good bet. Plus, ecodrive means never needing a battery. Get something with a stainless bracelet so she can clean it easily.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,332
9,856
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Get something with a stainless bracelet so she can clean it easily.
That was one of the requirements she gave. Link band as opposed to leather or synthetic material. Other requirements are at least a couple numbers on the face, Rose colored, and a sweep second hand. I'm also assuming it should be easy to view, without a lot of clutter. I think a military field watch would be a good match, but it doesn't meet some of the desired qualities.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,557
3,728
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My daughter wants a watch for jul. The two suggestions she gave were Fossil and Michael Kors. Are these a good value for the money, or are there better watches in that price range? It will be used semi-professionally in nursing, so I want a quality movement, but it doesn't have to be the finest materials. IOW, stainless is fine. It doesn't require precious metals.

I'm a big fan of Fossil watches. Fossil actually makes many other brands like MK, Diesel, Emporio Armani\Armani Exchange, Burberry and DKNY. I've never used them 'semi-professionally' so I can't speak to the accuracy beyond normal watch usage. I have one that was pretty well abused that I got 12 years ago and it still works fine (but again I'm not timing anything).

They have quite a few outlet stores in the US. Some carry only the Fossil line while others will carry watches from the lines they make besides Fossil. I've found these stores to typically be cheaper than Amazon or ebay but it can depend on whatever "sale" they are running in the outlet store and their base pricing.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
I'm not sure if it fits all of your criteria, but I really like my Citizen BM8180. It's solar powered and at around $100 I think it's an incredible deal. You'd just have to get a stainless band for it but I'd think that would be possible.

It's also not frickin monstrously huge like a lot of watches seem to be (38 MM).
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,047
876
126
Seiko, Bulova, Citizen, MK, Fossil, Can't go too wrong with these. I used to work in the watch industry and the markup is at least 2000%.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
26,005
24,328
136
Seiko, Citizen, Tissot. Can't go wrong with any of those. Seiko and Citizen have so many different models.

I have 4 each of the Seiko and Citizen, and 1 Tissot. Love them all.
 

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
6,655
734
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Sweep second hand? That implies an automatic movement. Maybe she means a second hand as many ladies watches don't have them.

http://a.co/6Kr1kmH
As nutbucket says, if she knows what a sweep second hand is (not just a general second hand on the main face), then she means an automatic. Fossil and Michael Kors do not have automatic models (as far as I know) and if they do they'll be stupid expensive (almost all fashion brands are for what they are).

If she doesn't mean automatic, then it's a quartz, and honestly any quartz movement is going to be virtually indistinguishable from another. You'll spend some money on build quality but they're all basically made from the same company if you're looking at Fossil and MK.

I'm partial to Seiko and Citizen for a decent mid-range quartz.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,047
876
126
As nutbucket says, if she knows what a sweep second hand is (not just a general second hand on the main face), then she means an automatic. Fossil and Michael Kors do not have automatic models (as far as I know) and if they do they'll be stupid expensive (almost all fashion brands are for what they are).

If she doesn't mean automatic, then it's a quartz, and honestly any quartz movement is going to be virtually indistinguishable from another. You'll spend some money on build quality but they're all basically made from the same company if you're looking at Fossil and MK.

I'm partial to Seiko and Citizen for a decent mid-range quartz.

I have a couple of Fossil automatics. Not bad but too heavy IMO. I prefer Seiko and Citizen myself. I have a couple of dozen of each.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
26,005
24,328
136
As nutbucket says, if she knows what a sweep second hand is (not just a general second hand on the main face), then she means an automatic. Fossil and Michael Kors do not have automatic models (as far as I know) and if they do they'll be stupid expensive (almost all fashion brands are for what they are).

If she doesn't mean automatic, then it's a quartz, and honestly any quartz movement is going to be virtually indistinguishable from another. You'll spend some money on build quality but they're all basically made from the same company if you're looking at Fossil and MK.

I'm partial to Seiko and Citizen for a decent mid-range quartz.

I had a Bulova Precisionist watch for a few days and it's quartz and has a sweeping second hand. Returned it cause it was too honking big, but the second hand movement was definitely sweeping and very sexy. I'm guessing there are other quartz watches out there that sweep as well. But it's probably few and far between.
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,225
136
To the OP:

Your daughter needs a fairly basic watch. And that's because she's going to not end up wearing it outside work. And remember what she'll need for her work.

She needs a watch that has:
1. A second hand that sweeps the face (hence the term sweep second hand in this case) as opposed to no second hand at all or a dial-type second hand inset in the face, commonly found on chronograph-type watches. Movement type is irrelevant since the use of the second hand is to take pulses, not ultra precise time measurment.

2, Has good water resistance. She's going to be washing her hands dozens upon dozens of times per day, so the watch is inevitably going to be exposed to a fair bit of water. It'll also get the unexpected exposures to, to be polite, other bodily "juices". So it's got to be fairly water resistant...that and it will have to be rinsed off once in a while.

3. Visibility of the hands is important. Nice to be able to pick up the second hand at a glance instead of actually "looking" for it.

4. I'd suggest a dial with indicators for, at a minimum, every hour. Even better is a face with minute marks, but a ladies' watch's face is typically very small, making that hard to find. Without minute marks, doing a 6 sec. count is interesting.

Honestly, during the few decades I spent in nursing, the women gravitated towards cheap Timexes and the like. In fact, I saw more than a few that wore simple round Timex watches, the kind with the white face, black hands, black/red second hand, minute marked. Very utilitarian, but very functional for the environment in which they were used.

But that's the point...the watch isn't for looks, fashion, to be worn out for the evening. It's to be a functional watch for her work environment, so I'd start with that point of view and begin my search.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,332
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To the OP:

Your daughter needs a fairly basic watch. And that's because she's going to not end up wearing it outside work. And remember what she'll need for her work.

She needs a watch that has:
1. A second hand that sweeps the face (hence the term sweep second hand in this case) as opposed to no second hand at all or a dial-type second hand inset in the face, commonly found on chronograph-type watches. Movement type is irrelevant since the use of the second hand is to take pulses, not ultra precise time measurment.

2, Has good water resistance. She's going to be washing her hands dozens upon dozens of times per day, so the watch is inevitably going to be exposed to a fair bit of water. It'll also get the unexpected exposures to, to be polite, other bodily "juices". So it's got to be fairly water resistant...that and it will have to be rinsed off once in a while.

3. Visibility of the hands is important. Nice to be able to pick up the second hand at a glance instead of actually "looking" for it.

4. I'd suggest a dial with indicators for, at a minimum, every hour. Even better is a face with minute marks, but a ladies' watch's face is typically very small, making that hard to find. Without minute marks, doing a 6 sec. count is interesting.

Honestly, during the few decades I spent in nursing, the women gravitated towards cheap Timexes and the like. In fact, I saw more than a few that wore simple round Timex watches, the kind with the white face, black hands, black/red second hand, minute marked. Very utilitarian, but very functional for the environment in which they were used.

But that's the point...the watch isn't for looks, fashion, to be worn out for the evening. It's to be a functional watch for her work environment, so I'd start with that point of view and begin my search.
I hear you. All good points. I'd be inclined to go with timex myself. I bought a military style timex from biglots about 10 years ago(paid $8). Haven't worn it in forever, but I saw it earlier this year. It was still running, and the time was close, if not exact! o_O

That said, I want to stick close to what she asked for. She's already gonna be pissed about the combat boots that are probably too big :^D I just don't want to "buy a name" a la bose or beats. Both decent products, but not for the price. Seems like people here think fossil is decent for the price, and I got some other brands to look at also.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Nurse, huh? I'd get something disposable because sometimes some things don't "wash" out. But that'd make a terrible gift.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
99,260
17,513
126
LoL! Meets two requirements, and is $850!! :^D

Honestly, If I knew a watch was exactly what she wanted, and she'd take care of it, I wouldn't be opposed to spending a good chunk of money. Buy a good tool once, and it'll last the rest of your life.


You did say midrange. Fossil and Michael Kor don't make watches, they slap their name on some Chinese watch.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
26,005
24,328
136
You did say midrange. Fossil and Michael Kor don't make watches, they slap their name on some Chinese watch.


Yeah $850 is definitely mid-range level.

Here is a rose gold seiko - no sweeping second hand but those are rare outside of automatics:

http://www.thewatchery.com/detail.a...68522073821-sku^SEIKO@ADL4SRKZ58P1-adType^PLA

SEIKO-SRKZ58P1.jpg





A two tone rose gold and stainless Seiko:

https://www.princetonwatches.com/products/SXDC16P1?zmam=71591610&zmas=1&zmac=62&zmap=SXDC16P1



SXDC16P1_1024x1024.jpg





A Citizen Rose Gold two tone watch. It's a Chronograph so it has multiple sub-dials. I personally think Chronographs are very sexy.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-21...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CITtx73VzNACFWS2swodE3sNTQ



2123077









A tissot rose gold. No numbers on the face but it has distinct line markings at every hour:

https://www.certifiedwatchstore.com...G5xpeWwaTxKVre5aBnN6c9uMMLm9XpAcqORoCFvjw_wcB




tissot-silver-dial-rose-gold-tone-stainless-steel-ladies-watch-t1092103303100-bda.jpg
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
As nutbucket says, if she knows what a sweep second hand is (not just a general second hand on the main face), then she means an automatic.

I can say with almost 100% certainty that's not what she meant. She just meant a center-mounted second hand.

Opinions of watch styles are kind of personal. If it's something she expects to wear every day to work, I'd go to a store with her and have her pick one out. If it were just another piece in her jewelry collection, that would be different.
 
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