First Watch Help

[Classnotswag]

I am a 20 year old at University of Oregon and have decided it is time to buy my first dress watch. My problem is that I want the watch to do a lot for me and, being a college student, don't want to spnd too much on it. I'm looking for a watch that can go with everything from my ducks jersey on gameday to a full suit for whenever I need to wear it. So I had it narrowed down to 2 watches after about 10 hours of looking at everthing I could find in the 200-300 range and just a few things above that.

The first is a Michael Kors watch that I picked because I like the color scheme. I know that these aren't the most quality time pieces out there, in fact they are really just Fossil with the Kors name on them, but its the cheapest of the three and would let me upgrade without feeling as bad after a couple years.
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/...9&CategoryID=57386&LinkType=#fn=BRAND=Michael Kors%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D39%26ruleId%3D27%26slotId%3D15

The second is an Emporio Armani. Its quite a bit more expensive so if I were to buy this I would probably want to keep it for a while. At least for until I graduate, possibly until after grad school.
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/...8&CategoryID=57386&LinkType=#fn=BRAND=Emporio Armani%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D85%26ruleId%3D27%26slotId%3D24

Then I decided I might as well look around in the upper price range a little more so I looked at a few Tag Heuers and then fell in love with Movado. While most of them are well over $1,000, I found this one at costco.
http://www.costco.com/Movado-'Museum'-Men's-Watch.product.11675346.html

So I guess I have quite a few questions.
First, what is the general opinion on buying a watch only for the looks? And a Michael Kors at that?
Second, does anyone know anything about Emporio Armani watches?
Third, what's the opinion on Movado?

 

[ezlau]

My first and only watch in college was a Guess watch for about $85 with quartz movement. That thing is still working and looks pretty decent for the price. IMO, don't spend stupid money $300-500 on brands like Michael Kors / Emporio Armani (they look really gaudy). My guess watch was a stainless steel watch with a black face.

After graduation and getting a job, I have since upgraded to a Tag Heuer Aquaracer, stainless steel with a black face as well and I find it pretty versatile as a first watch compared to a leather strap type watch.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/...m?ID=531354&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results

 

[DJosef]

I'd go with a Tissot. I have a titanium Tissot and I absolutely love it, both for the looks and the reliability, and Tissot services are really up to the task. And the price point is very realistic.
You should get one with a plain time/date function and that's it. They have a lot of watches that look like something a pilot would wear, and I wouldn't recommend that for an all-occasions watch, and they are also considerably more expensive.

Some examples I'd consider in your place:
http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T0494102205700-PR100-Two-Tone-Watch/dp/B003621S6Y/
http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T0494101103301-Stainless-Steel-Analog/dp/B0055SB812
http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T0494103305700-Black-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B0035LNV6Q

 

[atoms]

Go here and learn what you can: http://forums.watchuseek.com/forum.php

We all have different likes and dislikes. Personally, I try support whatever makes people happy but I'm not a fan of "fashion" watches made by non watch makers.

Good luck, there's a lot to sort through!

 

[Classnotswag]

Thanks a lot for all your help guys. I really like that black tissot. I think you sold me.

 

[D M B]

Buy what makes you happy, regardless of others' opinions. However, since you are asking opinions, leave the mall watches alone. They are overpriced crap and if you ever acquire a love for watches you will soon realize that you wasted your money back when you bought that Emperio Armani. For starters, a dress watch is NOT 43mm, black, or a chronograph. Make sure you really want a dress watch. A dress watch is 34mm to 38mm and is not PVD coated or really even a chronograph.

Tissot makes a decent watch for the price. You might also look at vintage watches, but that is probably not the best route for a first watch as searching for a good vintage watch can be full of pitfalls.

Lastly, avoid Watchuseek. That place is nothing more than one big infommercial. It's a huge forum, but full of dipshits and noobs. I guarantee at some point, some idiot is going to recommend a Seiko dive watch. Check out Thedivewatchconnection.com (don't let the name fool you). It's member base is made up of guys that graduated from WUS and decided they needed a forum where they weren't treated like children. There are some serious ballers there, but they can/will be glad to help you find any type of watch you are looking for. Trust me. Good luck - DMB