Upgrading my wristwatch -- for a femme petite woman
January 31, 2019 7:47 PM Subscribe
Can you recommend a wristwatch brand/style that's moderately expensive but still looks feminine and delicate on a small wrist?
I have relatives who would like to buy me a present with a significant price tag. I'm not much into fine jewelry but I do wear a watch every day, so the proposed compromise is "a slightly nicer watch costing $500-$1k." Price point could potentially flex higher, but this will be an everyday wear item and I'm definitely not a watch collector. It *cannot* flex lower than $500 (although I'm open to buying a spare "fashion" watch on my own dime, if you have a great recommendation at a lower price point).
I currently wear a very delicate Citizen Eco-Drive watch -- 15mm rectangular face, simple stainless steel band with diamond accents on the face. I've worn it like every single day for 8 years, which is a good testimonial for Citizen's quality, but at this point there are a few scratches on the face and I'm getting a little tired of the style.
I have several snowflake requirements:
1) Nickel-free metal band that can adjust to a 6" wrist (not leather or other buckle styles).
2) 12 points on the dial, because I actually still use my watch to tell time.
3) Stylistically, my jewelry tastes skew feminine minimalist. I don't want a masculine or even unisex design. And the face size needs to be max 35mm, because I've tried on 38mm watches and they appear to engulf my entire wrist.
4) Needs to cost at least $500, preferably closer to $1k, for Cultural Reasons.
The last time I shopped for watches, the combination of (2) and (3) limited my choices greatly. Maybe going up into a higher price range will help (or maybe not, since higher-end watches are a traditionally masculine industry)? Hope me, MeFi.
I have relatives who would like to buy me a present with a significant price tag. I'm not much into fine jewelry but I do wear a watch every day, so the proposed compromise is "a slightly nicer watch costing $500-$1k." Price point could potentially flex higher, but this will be an everyday wear item and I'm definitely not a watch collector. It *cannot* flex lower than $500 (although I'm open to buying a spare "fashion" watch on my own dime, if you have a great recommendation at a lower price point).
I currently wear a very delicate Citizen Eco-Drive watch -- 15mm rectangular face, simple stainless steel band with diamond accents on the face. I've worn it like every single day for 8 years, which is a good testimonial for Citizen's quality, but at this point there are a few scratches on the face and I'm getting a little tired of the style.
I have several snowflake requirements:
1) Nickel-free metal band that can adjust to a 6" wrist (not leather or other buckle styles).
2) 12 points on the dial, because I actually still use my watch to tell time.
3) Stylistically, my jewelry tastes skew feminine minimalist. I don't want a masculine or even unisex design. And the face size needs to be max 35mm, because I've tried on 38mm watches and they appear to engulf my entire wrist.
4) Needs to cost at least $500, preferably closer to $1k, for Cultural Reasons.
The last time I shopped for watches, the combination of (2) and (3) limited my choices greatly. Maybe going up into a higher price range will help (or maybe not, since higher-end watches are a traditionally masculine industry)? Hope me, MeFi.
Have you tried searching using filters at www.princetonwatches.com? You can select price range, materials, face details, etc - they have a large range of brands/price points etc. Good luck! I'm a lady who loves watches, has small wrists, and likes to actually be able to tell time using an analog watch.
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 8:11 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 8:11 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: For that price point, I would look at Tissot, Movado, Raymond Weil, Bulova. I didn't see anything about metal color or preferred face shape (other than that your current watch is rectangular), but maybe one of these will strike your fancy.
Tissot 1
Tissot 2
Bulova
Bloomingdale's bracelet watches, $500-1000. Couldn't refine by size, but they very conveniently list it in the product name.
posted by rachaelfaith at 8:29 PM on January 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Tissot 1
Tissot 2
Bulova
Bloomingdale's bracelet watches, $500-1000. Couldn't refine by size, but they very conveniently list it in the product name.
posted by rachaelfaith at 8:29 PM on January 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Was coming to say Movado as well. They’re most popular look doesn’t have your markers but many of their models do. The brand has a modern, minimalist, premium look and fits very well to your price range.
posted by artificialard at 8:35 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by artificialard at 8:35 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: To clarify, I don't really know what my preferred metal color or face shape are... but brands that fit my general aesthetic and price point are exactly the jumping off point I'm looking for, thank you!
I love Movado's signature sleek-silver-and-black design, but would it kill them to put 12 tiny dots or dashes on the face of their small watches :( Maybe this unicorn does exist somewhere in their line, I'll do some more research.
posted by serelliya at 8:38 PM on January 31, 2019
I love Movado's signature sleek-silver-and-black design, but would it kill them to put 12 tiny dots or dashes on the face of their small watches :( Maybe this unicorn does exist somewhere in their line, I'll do some more research.
posted by serelliya at 8:38 PM on January 31, 2019
If it's any reassurance: I wear a Movado on my teensy wrist and can tell the time without any problems. I've had the watch for decades, so I'm not a good example, but I bet you'd get used to it quickly.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:53 PM on January 31, 2019
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:53 PM on January 31, 2019
Best answer: Going from 15mm to a max of 35mm is a lot of millimetres. $500-$1k is a tricky budget.
You can get really nice vintage mechanical dress watches in the 30mm range (for men) that will cope with everyday wear at 30mm, but it's not something I'd recommend as a gift from others.
To me, Tissot consistently offers the best bang/buck in minimalist styles in that price range, though there are some gorgeous Japanese-market Seikos for under $500. The Max Bill Ladies is also in your price range.
posted by holgate at 9:10 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
You can get really nice vintage mechanical dress watches in the 30mm range (for men) that will cope with everyday wear at 30mm, but it's not something I'd recommend as a gift from others.
To me, Tissot consistently offers the best bang/buck in minimalist styles in that price range, though there are some gorgeous Japanese-market Seikos for under $500. The Max Bill Ladies is also in your price range.
posted by holgate at 9:10 PM on January 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Promise I'll stop thread-sitting after this:
- Have realized from looking at photos that I should probably max out at 30mm face size, not 35mm. But I plan to shop in person anyway.
- Feel free to make recommendations up to, say, $2k price range. It's my personal sensibilities with regard to "luxury" goods rather than financial constraints being the primary limiting factor here.
posted by serelliya at 9:20 PM on January 31, 2019
- Have realized from looking at photos that I should probably max out at 30mm face size, not 35mm. But I plan to shop in person anyway.
- Feel free to make recommendations up to, say, $2k price range. It's my personal sensibilities with regard to "luxury" goods rather than financial constraints being the primary limiting factor here.
posted by serelliya at 9:20 PM on January 31, 2019
Best answer: $2k gets you into NOMOS Tetra 27 territory (also in champagne dial), and that is a heckuva watch. (You could put it on a milanese bracelet.)
posted by holgate at 10:06 PM on January 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by holgate at 10:06 PM on January 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I don’t know if you’ll be able to get this one in the US, but I have very similar requirements, and I’ve been wearing my a.b.art watch for the past five years, and I still absolutely love it.
I have this model (there is one with dots - I never had any problems reading the time, though admittedly I don’t care if it’s 12 min past or 13 min the hour), with a steel bangle strap . You can further customize your watch - steel or gold, dots, background colour, strap, etc. They also have a few round faces around 30 mm diameter. After five years of daily wearing, I have no scratches on the face, but a few on the strap.
posted by eierschnee at 5:07 AM on February 1, 2019
I have this model (there is one with dots - I never had any problems reading the time, though admittedly I don’t care if it’s 12 min past or 13 min the hour), with a steel bangle strap . You can further customize your watch - steel or gold, dots, background colour, strap, etc. They also have a few round faces around 30 mm diameter. After five years of daily wearing, I have no scratches on the face, but a few on the strap.
posted by eierschnee at 5:07 AM on February 1, 2019
Best answer: Here are some Movados with hour markings, all 31mm and under.
Movado 1
Movado 2
Movado 3
posted by rachaelfaith at 5:17 AM on February 1, 2019
Movado 1
Movado 2
Movado 3
posted by rachaelfaith at 5:17 AM on February 1, 2019
Best answer: The nomos suggestion is a good one. They have serious cachet in the watch world, and they're quite beautiful in person.
You could also consider Rado, who have some really beautiful women's watches at the top end of your price range.
posted by dbx at 7:40 AM on February 1, 2019
You could also consider Rado, who have some really beautiful women's watches at the top end of your price range.
posted by dbx at 7:40 AM on February 1, 2019
Best answer: I have a very petite wrist and even small watches were a little clunky. My longines is so sleek and thin- it's perfect. I have this one.
posted by beccaj at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by beccaj at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Good brands in your price range: Seiko, Tissot, Nomos, Oris, Longines.
Possibly some Tudors or Omegas would fit the budget, but they sound more far afield style wise.
The Nomos linked above is an incredibly nice watch.
Jomashop is a great place to browse models across brands, by the way.
posted by so fucking future at 8:27 AM on February 1, 2019
Possibly some Tudors or Omegas would fit the budget, but they sound more far afield style wise.
The Nomos linked above is an incredibly nice watch.
Jomashop is a great place to browse models across brands, by the way.
posted by so fucking future at 8:27 AM on February 1, 2019
I love love love my Longines. I have the same one beccaj linked above. I paid around $900 at a small jewelry store for it. You can't tell in that Nordstrom link, but the Longines watches are incredibly thin. The band is adjustable and fits my freakishly small wrist.
posted by Missense Mutation at 10:05 AM on February 1, 2019
posted by Missense Mutation at 10:05 AM on February 1, 2019
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posted by slateyness at 8:09 PM on January 31, 2019