Very happy to welcome you, Ginger!
As for your request, the problem is that the choice is very big, and myabe it should be better if you could elaborate, as a classic watch is a citeria that doesn't help...
I will be honest..I find rather scandalous that even the best manufactures don't care THAT much about women watches, giving them most of the time some quartz movement housed in bling watches.
Maybe you could have a better choice in men's watches, not too big, as a Rolex Date Just, a PP Calatrava ( Yes, I have a big tendance to fall in love with women wearing men's watches...LOLOLOL) or a JLC MUT in SS, for example which is not the more expensive, by far...
These are 3 examples which came immediatley in my poor crazy mind, but there are so many others...
So it would be very helpful to know more about you and your willings and tastes...
Looking forward to hear more from you.
Best.
Nicolas

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Hi Ginger,  I was wondering whether you could provide a little more information as to your prferences.  There are so many choices out there so it might help to narrow it down a bit.  For example, do you prefer smaller classic feminine ladies watches or do you not mind wearing something a little bigger?  Do you have a price range?  Metal or leather band? Gold or silver toned?  Simplistic or something with more frills?  Hope the PuristsPro community  can help you find the perfect piece.

Congratulations on starting your collection.

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Target price range - USD 10,000 - 15,000, but I am certainly willing to spend less on a first purchase and would go more for the perfect item.       For this purchase I was thinking of a beautiful  timepiece that I can wear every day without attracting attention in the same way I wear my mink-lined all weather coat in the winter.     Locally a merchant has a older ladies PP Calatrava that is 26mm - I know that is a good choice, and may end up with it, but its appearance didn't cause me to swoon.    Internet browsing led me to Girard Perregaux Cat's eye, which if I get a new ladies complicated watch indicates what I find attractive, but is that just a short lived fashion, or a watch to keep?   I don't  understand some of the terms in the descriptions and why the prices seem to vary so much.   Is automatic the same as self-winding?   Is that more desirable than completely manual or less?   I probably want a non metal band.   I have lost watches with metal bands in the past, so I always get something that can be switched to a reptile band (one of my weaknesses).

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in the price range you quoted.

From watches which are classic in design:

Patek or Cartier

To ones with a bit more play:

JLC Reverso, the new Piaget Limelight

To slightly more obscure brands with very well finished timepieces:

Jaquet Droz Les Fluers Du Temps, Parmigiani Piccola

 

Yes, automatics are the same as "self winding".

The prices may vary greatly depending on the type of metal (steel or precious), type of movement (quartz or manual or automatic), amount of jewels, amount of marketing hype!

Most often you will also see higher prices if there is a "complication" associated the the watch ( a moonphase display, a large date display etc...)

 

If you are in the Boston area, I  would like to invite you to join the next small dinner PuristSPro.com hosts in the area.  I am sure you would learn quite a bit...perhaps more than you ever wanted to know

 click here

Feel free to ask more questions!

Have fun shopping,

Mike

This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2008-05-16 17:44:15 This message has been edited by mkt33 on 2008-05-16 17:49:03

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Hi Ginger, here are a few of my favorites that might fit your criteria:

AP Ladies Jules Audemars, A.Lange Sohne Arkade or Saxonia

Good luck on your purchase and I'd love to hear about what you decide on. 

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Small, normal, ???

What kind of watch size do you like: 34, 36, 40 mm?

D oyou like Vintage watches with nice patina on the dial, or do you prefer more modern watches?

Round or rectangular?

Tell me a bit more, please, and I'll answer you posting at the same time some pics of your possible targets...

Best.

Nicolas

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wrist is approx 160 mm.   I measured the watch faces for the ones I usually wear and the round one is 25-26mm and the rectangular one is 22mm by 30mm - both on lizard bands.    I want to aim for something a little bigger - that's why I have not yet picked up the old PP ladies that is available locally at a good price.   I love mother of pearl, prefer white gold to yellow - rose gold is lovely, but I don't see many ladies watches in that.   I am not particularly drawn to  diamonds -  in fact if money were no object I would not choose the diamond encrusted version over the plain.    There will be plenty of time in the future to learn about makers and to select more watches  with  fashionable appearance or funky style (e.g. Franck Muller) if it is also an example of fine watchmaking.    I cannot imagine wearing a 34 mm or larger round watch on my wrist, but I am here to be educated.     I am also completely willing to consider a stainless watch at this point - it does not have to be in a precious metal if it is ladylike and beautiful.   

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I saw one, PP 5115 Calatrava in white gold that I thought was beautiful.  It's simple, understated and classic and elegant. 35mm diameter so maybe slightly larger than what you are used to and doesn't have a mother of pearl dial but I could still see how it would look nice on a woman's wrist.

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Ginger,

I'm a bit biased as co-organiser of the PuristS Trip to Piaget factory later this year

Piaget are an old, true manufacture whose movements have hidden in many of the top brands for 134 years. They also make their own cases, bracelets and jewel setting. Their watches are wonderfully unisex and here is an example of an automatic watch worn by a women that started as a men's watch....38mm diameter.

 

Rihanna

Los Angeles, CA (April 29th, 2008) – PIAGET, one of the world’s most prestigious makers of fine jewelry and timepieces, provided various pieces for Rihanna’s latest music video "Take A Bow" from the re-release of her current album Good Girl Gone Bad.

You can't go wrong with a Piaget !

Good luck,

MTF

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1.   Quartz vs. mechanical movement.  The first is easy maintenance, the latter requires periodic maintenance but is preferred by most on this forum for a variety of reasons. 

2.  If mechanical movement: Manual vs. automatic (self) winding.   Auto requires little thought whereas manual requires a daily wind (usually daily).  Either works well and is more a personal preference. 

3.  Size:  many women now are moving to larger watches from the older, petite watches deemed women's watches in the past.  The fashion fad is toward larger watches for both genders.

4.  Bracelet vs. strap:  Straps allow for a change of colors, skins, etc.  Many women (and men) enjoy changing the look of the watch with strap changes. 

5.  Ruggedness:  That is, ability to wear daily no matter the activity vs. using as a "dress" piece.  For daily wear, swimming, bathing, etc. Rolex makes fine timepieces.  As you move toward mechanical watches which are more decorated (jeweled externally) and with more complications the water resistance as well as "bump" resistance usually begins to diminish. 

Suggestions:

Patek is generally "understated elegance".  The Calatravas certainly so.  There is a line for women--Twenty--four which is attractive (in quartz as well as mechanical, I believe).  And many other styles work well on women.

The GP Cat's Eye is a beautiful piece for women.  My wife is enamored of this particular line and finds them quite attractive (and she generally likes the more restrained pieces). 

Rolex, as mentioned, is an attractive watch which one can wear in almost any setting or activity level.  Most makers also have an example of a "sports" watch which can be worn in most settings/activities.  They tend toward the larger size.  A bracelet is more practical for wearing the watch in water.

Hope this helps.

tempusfugit

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why not search the companies websites to get an idea of what you like, without doubt you should go for an automatic rather than quartz. there are a few Omega models that come to mind with MOP dials in steel or gold that look very understated. Omega may seem a bit 'common' for you with the sort of money you hae to spend, but they are bullet proof.

Ulysse Nardin make fabulous watches, in fact, any of the Brands listed on this site would make perfect buys. you could however take a look at Grand Seiko as they are fabulous quality, better than many swiss brands, highly understated, rare outside of japan so you could have something very special for a lot less than your budget.

take some time to look at the posts over the last 6 months its probably the best research you could do.

i think its good to write a list of preferences, size, shape, strap/bracelet etc and when you've narrowed it down to for example a 28-35mm round case with bracelet your search will be that much easier.

alternatively you could do what i do and buy whatever you think looks good regardless of brand or creed. it needs to please you far more than it needs to please anyone else. its your wrist and what anyone else thinks doesnt matter.

have a good and lengthy search

Graham

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vianney halter classic....  it is slightly bigger than what you have in mind but do a search in this website under the AHCI forum and invest a little time to see if the watch and the amazing passion of its creator appeals to you.  It will also be a good hunt as the watch is at the end of its production (or already).  If I may dare say, it will be a jewel in your collection

cheers
ed

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Vianney Halter Classique production stopped.

Regards,

MTF

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