cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
21041
My wife's collection
She favors sports-type digital watches when on the field with dozens of kids (she's a PE teacher). She does like watches with Arabic numerals, as seen by the Seiko 5 on the left and Grand Seiko in the middle. And white dials are easier to read. 
The JLCs both appealed to her but I wouldn't say she "chose" them as much as she agreed to try them out, and liked them both. I think her favorite is an ardoise dial IWC Portofino with white gold case, satin strap and spiraling dial. This is the most feminine but also a discreet watch, and one she chose for herself. 
Not a brand known for its women's watches, IWC hit the nail on the head with this - simple, clean, intriguing, hefty feel and feminine at the same time -- and about 35-36 mm.
(Imagine it w/o a date ...)
Cazalea
Interesting experience buying a watch with a female friend - i.e. are female buyers catered to appropriately?
We had a friend stay over for the weekend and after some clothes / shoes / bag shopping the conversation turned to watches and she admitted that this was an area she's been neglecting and that she actually should get herself a more proper watch. Picture m...
No :)
She basically dismissed them from outside due to all the watches displayed being on bracelets... Then we saw the Cellinis at another AD but sadly after closing time...
First, what's her budget? Then her style, handbags that a watch can compliment to make...
a whole fashion statement....matching overall styling is the focus for my "boss". Since she's got a good mentor like me it's just about which watch is missing in her closet We tried these in Hawaii and guess which one she like? So, for ladies, I say they ...
That's one of the points ;)
So far it\'s been fashion watches not breaking the bank, where more could be purchased for different outfits. It took about an hour to accept that a watch could cost more than a bag So we were starting with one that would need to be relatively universal (...
None yet, but she likes that GP Laureato 225 in white :)
With only 225 each in white and blue, it's still readily available which is not a good sign. To me it means price is too high so let's wait and see. Like JLC, price reductions in 2017 is happening. Rgds Raymond
Interesting :)
On both the choice - which I can only agree with - and the availability. There are some around in Vienna, too.
I can sympathize...
My wife and I looked for a watch for her for close to a year! Same experience - every salesperson wanted to show her a watch from the ladies collection that was bejeweled, had a MOP dial, etc. She kept telling them she wanted something 'clean' and 'simple...
So not only me :)
That\'s a relief And while I tried Panerai, it was first dismissed (funnily enough a JLC MUT she liked, too but I would never have guessed) as not what she wanted - then later she said if she was at some point to have 3 or 4 watches that she could imagine...
Large ladies' watches seem to be trending for sure
Here is my wife's favorite. At 40mm, I asked her several times if she is absolutely sure with her choice . But here we go, she is loving it and says she's getting lots of compliments on it... From Salon Deauville web page ...
I know...
Funny thing yesterday, while my wife\'s friend was looking at the 40-42mm area I was looking at 38mm and under Thanks for sharing!
Not to be rude here, but I have absolutely no idea what my wife wants.
Heaven help if I could just once figure it out and surprise her. She finally started looking at watches but is stuck in a place I don't like horologically (not to name brands to be fair). And it is precisely because of a reason you all have discussed here...
I hear you, Zabreg!
I wonder if this is not an area where a well organised brand could not make a real business out of it... Especially in the current environment. Thanks for sharing!
Not just a brand but industry as a whole.
To simply ignore 50% of the population and/or treat them so callously is stupid, especially in such tough times. The fact is that ladies are making up a lot of the purchases but the cimpanies keep sticking to the old methods of salesmanship.
Something I still observe quite often even in the automotive world
I.e. when buying luxury cars. Often the service is attrocious for women. From the typical - she does not need to be talked to, as she can only be waiting for her husband - to a generally condescending attitude. Very short sighted but also very widespread,...
Twenty five years ago I bought my wife a Rolex, which I'm sure we all agree...
...is a pretty rugged watch. After having it repaired three times in two years because of the daily abuse she put it through, we sold it. She never really was very clear on what type of hell she was putting it through--she tried to explain it, but sometim...
My wife's Chopard only needed to be repaired once so far ;)
And is standing up pretty well... Interesting story, though. I guess many of us are trying to share our hobby at home and not all of our partners are amenable. Thanks for sharing!
This is my wife's daily beater.
Anti shock, antimagnetic, water resistant to 300m and she rocks it hard! ;-) Plus it has a thermometer and NO diamonds. She commandeered it from my collection saying that\'s EXACTLY THE WATCH she wanted. There is no way I could have predicted that. ...
Fully understand that it would not be your prediction :)
Was the same with the Mille Miglia and my wife... Thanks for sharing!
Cheers.
That\'s for reminding me about the Mille Miglia. I always wanted to get one for me (or maybe my wife ;-)
It's a great line :)
And apart from the 2016 Race Edition, which at 46mm may be large for women all the others could work.
Is there an industry wide bias, that for women's watches....
You make a smaller case, add some diamonds or MOP dial, and a white strap? Also make most movements electronic?
I too often have the feeling that you are spot on...
While there are a handful of \'iconic\' female lines out there, I feel that not the same amount of care and attention is devoted to female watches per se, as opposed to watches as a piece of jewellery.
My wife's collection
She favors sports-type digital watches when on the field with dozens of kids (she\'s a PE teacher). She does like watches with Arabic numerals, as seen by the Seiko 5 on the left and Grand Seiko in the middle. And white dials are easier to read. The JLCs ...
Thanks a lot for this, Mike!
That's quite a collection, I have to say! Interesting point about the arabic numerals. My wife for instance also refuses any watches, which do not have clearly marked hours - the new Moser style - not for her But there are still many female watches that h...
agreed -
I think there is generally a limited choice for women in the luxury watch price range hence the move towards previously exclusive men\'s watches. My wife has a 33/34mm lady Oak ( yes with diamonds and a 36/37 lady millenary with MOP and diamonds. If buyin...
Not that easy...
And many of the brands simply plonk in a quartz movement into the female watches as a matter of course. I am sure many more women than today would enjoy a mechanical movement just like men do, if this was marketed to them better or in a way that makes it ...
A lot of limitations, IMO
My wife is not a collector, neither does she bother with having more than 3 watches, much like your friend, and they need to match just about everything and can take a beating. Due to this requirement, I got her a Rolex some years back with a salmon dial ...
Thanks a lot for this, Richard!
I never would have even thought of this but you make some very valid points. Interesting that FM takes certain aspects seriously. I knew Purists had the answer
FM has Perfect Ladies Watch choices
Automatic or quartz. Stainless or Rose Gold. Diamonds or no diamonds. Plain numerals or colored numerals. Choice of straps! No silly date window to worry about. There are more strap color choices too, I believe. Cazalea ...
Well done FM!
Need to try them out to see how the rest of the process works. First I need to find someone stocking them, though
From my personal experience,
my wife is more attracted from the stitching of the strap, instead of the watch itself. Aris
The strap is of a high importance, I agree
But do you feel that women have little interest in the watch?
I think
that women are mostly attracted in shoes and bags and then to other accessories, like watches.
None of that is innate :)
Someone made a business model of serving women well in these areas and got their attention. Why would watches need to be inherently different?
Lange 37mm
I believe the Lange Saxonia Thin 37mm RG will appeal, as will the Steel AP15450 if she favors an automatic. I purchased the Saxonia 37mm boutique edition with small seconds on Dec 2015 and she wore the watch for no fewer than 200 days in 2016, so I am ple...
Funny that ;)
It was exactly the watch she said was what she imagined! Out of her current price range but that one she liked most... Thanks!
what's wrong with a bracelet?
I think a 21st Century flat bezel WG or RG Rolex Datejust 36 looks wonderful, and might cost less than a Saxonia. A steel bracelet may feel common, and you could put a strap on a Datejust, but a proper gold bracelet worn unapologetically can carry so much...
I thought of your thread when I read about Chopard's newest fairmined watch
www.ablogtowatch.com 40mm.. but you did write " relatively large, round".. And with a seconds hand at 7. a tad $$$ perhaps, but really nice!