Baume and Mercier watches - any thoughts?

[gunlover05]

Looking for a $700-1000 watch for my wife, and am considering a Baume and Mercier watch (a Hampton, like below for around $950)...just wasn't familiar with the brand and didn't know if any fellow pelicans had thoughts on them, or better suggestions in that range?

[BeyGon]

They are nice, did you check out the womens Omegas? More or less bullet proof and good looking too.

one of my wife's Omegas, she really doesn't care about them but I do. I think this was a little more but for $1000 there are a lot of good looking watches.

[Palum6o]

Take a look at Raymond Weil, a classic that will never go out of style.

[RPKESQ]

All of these are quartz movements. You are paying for the brand mostly.

I personally would not pay more than $300 for a quartz movement watch regardless of brand (exception of some high end collectables).

There are hundreds of quality quartz movement watches available for less than $500.

Look at Overstock.com for a huge selection.

[ben parrish]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

All of these are quartz movements. You are paying for the brand mostly.

I personally would not pay more than $300 for a quartz movement watch regardless of brand (exception of some high end collectables).

There are hundreds of quality quartz movement watches available for less than $500.

Look at Overstock.com for a huge selection.

Good advice..battery operated quartz watches are basically all the same internally..just differences in cases and bands.
Now, go to a good swiss automatic movement and you will have a watch that can holds its value over time.

[MattKellett]

True you can knock a quartz watch for just being, well, quartz.......

But there's still value in a well made case and bracelet, some of which are damn expensive to replace, so I wouldn't knock a quartz cause it has a cheaper movement.

I have quite a few mechanical watches and unless you're buying a premium brand, that makes their own movements, most of the lower priced mechanical watches come with pretty generic eta movements for example, which really if you go to a watch supply website can be bought for a lot less than you would think! Now most manufacturers will customize the movement slightly, but still it's an off the shelf movement.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but you better be willing to lay down more than 3k before you start to buy a quality movement.

And in the end, whatever you buy, you're paying for the brand, quartz or mechanical.

[scottmandue]

My personally taste would be to go with a Swiss auto movement.

But then my wife wears mostly $5-$10 Hello kitty watches.

Citizen Eco drive are some nice watches.

[ErVikingo]

I bought one for my wife 6 or 7 years ago. Works perfectly.

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by MattKellett

True you can knock a quartz watch for just being, well, quartz.......

But there's still value in a well made case and bracelet, some of which are damn expensive to replace, so I wouldn't knock a quartz cause it has a cheaper movement.

I have quite a few mechanical watches and unless you're buying a premium brand, that makes their own movements, most of the lower priced mechanical watches come with pretty generic eta movements for example, which really if you go to a watch supply website can be bought for a lot less than you would think! Now most manufacturers will customize the movement slightly, but still it's an off the shelf movement.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but you better be willing to lay down more than 3k before you start to buy a quality movement.

And in the end, whatever you buy, you're paying for the brand, quartz or mechanical.

Cases, unless adorned with precious gems and made of solid gold or platinum, are the easiest watch componet to make. Even with the very high quality makes like Patek.

You can purchase a high quality case with a quartz movement for about $300 - $350.

Some examples:

Citizen Women's 'Eco-Drive' Stainless Steel Quartz Watch | Overstock.com

Citizen Women's Eco-drive Palidoro Swarovski Crystal | Overstock.com

Bulova Women's Diamond Watch | Overstock.com

ETA movements are relatively cheap because they have been perfected years ago. They are also being pulled from the industry by the Swatch Group to be kept for their own brands (Omega, Breuget, etc.). That is why you are seeing a huge effort for other watchmakers to build their own movements.

[javadog]

I had a Baume and Mercier Hampton Milleis watch for about 10 years. It had an 18kt yellow gold case and a crocodile strap with a gold deployant clasp. It had a mechanical movement. I bought it because it had a vintage, amost art deco look, and it was reasonably priced. The retail price was in the $3k and change range and I bought it new, from an authoized dealer, for a little over 2 grand. That's dirt cheap for a watch with a solid gold case.

I recently sold it, in the last round of watch roulette, and it brought $1,500 or $1,600 (can't remember which). Not bad, for 10 years use.

JR

[EarlyPorsche]

Another good quartz brand to consider would be a Tag Heuer. They are REALLY nice for the money. If you can afford to triple/quadruple your investment I would say look at a preowned Rolex from Gray and Sons. Hell, no matter what you get you should get it from Gray and Sons.

[BeyGon]

I don't think most women care if it's quartz or mechanical, they just want a watch. I still like Omega womens watches, for women of course. My wife has one I paid about 1k for 20 some years ago, and the new one I got here for Christmas a couple years ago, she still wears the older one the most. I think of them as an investment of sorts, a $3 to $500 watch is going to be a throw away.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

I don't think most women care if it's quartz or mechanical, they just want a watch.

Good point. A mechanical timepiece--even an automatic--could be a PITA for her if she doesn't wear/wind it daily.

a $3 to $500 watch is going to be a throw away.

I still wear a TAG-Heuer I bought for $160 about 24 years ago when I was in high school.


I've always thought Baume and Mercier's to be very classy. I'd love to have one.

[Tishabet]

I hate the idea of buying a nice watch that is quartz... but I am also a bit of a watch snob. I really like the ladies lines from Omega and Hamilton, particularly the ladies Hamilton Jazzmaster "open heart" auto, which can be had for 500:


I am also a fan of the ladies aqua racer from Tag:

[LeeH]

+1 on Citizen Eco Drives. My wife's is similar to the watch pictured below. She's never been a watch lover like me, but is very fond of this one. It's the only watch she's ever owned that repeatedly receives compliments.

[gunlover05]

Thanks much guys...while i personally like automatic watches (i have a tag),

1. my wife won't put up with the winding and reseting every time it sits for a day or two. In fact my automatic tag is 4 yrs old and right now i'm having the stem fixed and maintenance done - $256 as i understand it will be.
2. i also think it makes some sense that $1000 is a lot to pay for a quartz watch. I can only hope it will hold up better than other watches in 300-400 range, but i'm not sure there will be a lot of difference, hope so (kinda why i was asking)
3. it is for her 40th birthday, so because i can't come up with anything else, i thought a decent watch is in order. She would not pay $1000 for a watch for herself, and if i bought a $2k watch she would probably make me take it back
4. she is not a flashy person, but likes good quality stuff. I'm pretty certain that style will fit her well (what some women worry about more than the movement)

I guess i convinced myself because i ordered one yesterday from Amazon @ $900(was running out of time)...will let you know how it goes

[pwd72s]

Too bad about she hating winding. Is this going to be an every day watch? If so, your original post may be on the right track.

For ocassional wear, Cindy really loves an old 1957 Hamilton...gold, with diamonds, that once belonged to her mother. We had to pay $$$ to have it refurbished, and to find a glodsmith to replicate some bracelet links...but she loves it. We now have more in it than it's worth...but since it belonged to her mom, has an inscription from her dad on the back, I guess it was worth it.

Antique Vintage Watches

[gunlover05]

yes, it will be an everyday watch...admit those antique watches on the link are really cool (most are sold though)...i may have to keep an eye out there for myself!

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Too bad about she hating winding. Is this going to be an every day watch? If so, your original post may be on the right track.

For ocassional wear, Cindy really loves an old 1957 Hamilton...gold, with diamonds, that once belonged to her mother. We had to pay $$$ to have it refurbished, and to find a glodsmith to replicate some bracelet links...but she loves it. We now have more in it than it's worth...but since it belonged to her mom, has an inscription from her dad on the back, I guess it was worth it.

Antique Vintage Watches

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by gunlover05

I guess i convinced myself because i ordered one yesterday from Amazon @ $900(was running out of time)...will let you know how it goes

So what did you buy? The watch geeks want to know!

Haven't bought a watch in years... but wife freaks out at the size of my collection.

[gunlover05]

oh yes sorry, i ordered the Baume and Mercier Hampton @ the picture in my first post above...should get it by the weekend, will let you know what i think.

Originally Posted by scottmandue

So what did you buy? The watch geeks want to know!

Haven't bought a watch in years... but wife freaks out at the size of my collection.