Watch District in NYC?

[DavidML]

I'm going to NYC in a few weeks, and I was wondering if there is any kind of watch district - an area where one could find lots of (especially vintage) watches. You'd think that's the kind of thing Google would reveal, but my search didn't turn up too much recent info.

I may as well put in a request for any other NYC recommendations. I'm not currently looking to drop tons of $$ on clothing, sadly, but if there's any place that's a must go, or is having a crazy sale right now, that would be nice to know. Also looking for craft cocktails, good beer (I live in San Diego, we are beer snobs), interesting food at a reasonable price...

I'm staying in Midtown but we'll be journeying throughout the city. Both of us have had the good fortune to visit NYC many times, so we don't have to do a big tourist thing, we can just wander through the city for a few days & enjoy what it has to offer.

And if anyone ever needs San Diego visitors' tips, I'll be glad to repay the favor.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

There is no watch district. There are only watch stores. I am heading there in a couple of weeks and will probably drop by Tourneau and Kenjo. Others can certainly send more suggestions.

 

[DavidML]

Thanks. Good to know. Anyone know of places that tend to carry a good selection of vintage watches?

There is no watch district. There are only watch stores. I am heading there in a couple of weeks and will probably drop by Tourneau and Kenjo. Others can certainly send more suggestions.

 

[ballmouse]

Don't know about watches, but regarding beer, you can check out the Whole Foods on Bowery and New Beers Distributors, which is about 2 blocks south of the aforementioned Whole Foods. For bars, there are a lot of craft beer bars and it might be easier to answer to name some depending on where you are staying.

For food, pizza is a classic option (I have no idea about pizza in San Diego). Lucali is good, and I enjoy Grimaldi's (is that still around?) and Lombardi's as well. If you've never had a falafel, head over to Taim. Shopsin's is supposedly good and they serve a wide variety of odd dishes.

 

[comrade]



There is no watch district. There are only watch stores. I am heading there in a couple of weeks and will probably drop by Tourneau and Kenjo. Others can certainly send more suggestions.

Wrong.

The 47th Street Manhattan Diamond/Jewelry District probably contains
a greater concentration of Watch Dealers than anywhere else in the
western Hemisphere, eg.

http://mastersoftime.com/

http://www.jewelbiz.com/cgi/jbiz.cgi?action=item&item=53

http://www.askmen.com/fashion/mens-watches_600/604b_where-to-buy-a-watch-watch-snob.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/n...hrough-dimitrie-vicovanu-master-restorer.html

http://www.citidex.com/1004.htm

Google: Vintage Watches 47th Street.
The results should keep you busy for days in New York.

 

[DavidML]

Thanks. Pizza in San Diego...we have a few good places, but nothing like NYC. Top-notch Mexican food is more our thing. I'll look up the other places you recommended.

I've spent a fair amount of time in Israel, so suffice to say I know my way around a falafel.

Like I said, San Diegans are obsessive about good, quality, strong craft beer (we live around the corner from the Stone Tasting Room, any beer nerds out there would recognize the brand). We also like inventive cocktails - last year we were in NYC for an evening and ended up at a great speakeasy style place in SoHo, the Flatiron Lounge. They made a heck of a Sazerac Cocktail.

Don't know about watches, but regarding beer, you can check out the Whole Foods on Bowery and New Beers Distributors, which is about 2 blocks south of the aforementioned Whole Foods. For bars, there are a lot of craft beer bars and it might be easier to answer to name some depending on where you are staying.

For food, pizza is a classic option (I have no idea about pizza in San Diego). Lucali is good, and I enjoy Grimaldi's (is that still around?) and Lombardi's as well. If you've never had a falafel, head over to Taim. Shopsin's is supposedly good and they serve a wide variety of odd dishes.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

I didn't know the Diamond district had that many watch stores. Cool, I will spend some time there thanks.

 

[DavidML]

Wow, thanks!

Wrong.
The 47th Street Manhattan Diamond/Jewelry District probably contains
a greater concentration of Watch Dealers than anywhere else in the
western Hemisphere, eg.
http://mastersoftime.com/
http://www.jewelbiz.com/cgi/jbiz.cgi?action=item&item=53
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/mens-watches_600/604b_where-to-buy-a-watch-watch-snob.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/n...hrough-dimitrie-vicovanu-master-restorer.html
http://www.citidex.com/1004.htm
Google: Vintage Watches 47th Street.
The results should keep you busy for days in New York.

 

[Bonggoy]

Any store will have what you are looking for. If they don't have it in display, they can find/get it for you. Don't forget to haggle. Don't quote me on this but, 20% to 30% on anything. Pay cash, will probably knock off another 10%.

Wrong.
The 47th Street Manhattan Diamond/Jewelry District probably contains
a greater concentration of Watch Dealers than anywhere else in the
western Hemisphere, eg.
http://mastersoftime.com/
http://www.jewelbiz.com/cgi/jbiz.cgi?action=item&item=53
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/mens-watches_600/604b_where-to-buy-a-watch-watch-snob.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/n...hrough-dimitrie-vicovanu-master-restorer.html
http://www.citidex.com/1004.htm
Google: Vintage Watches 47th Street.
The results should keep you busy for days in New York.

 

[theyare]

For vintage - Aaron Faber, great stuff, though likely overpriced.

Non vintage: Wempe, Cellini

 

[DavidML]

Good to know. Most likely we won't be buying anything this time...the watch will be a wedding gift for me from my fiancee, and, given that I know little about watches other than a bit I've seen/read online, I want to see some examples of what different styles look and feel like IRL.

Any store will have what you are looking for. If they don't have it in display, they can find/get it for you. Don't forget to haggle. Don't quote me on this but, 20% to 30% on anything. Pay cash, will probably knock off another 10%.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]



Any store will have what you are looking for.  If they don't have it in display, they can find/get it for you.  Don't forget to haggle.  Don't quote me on this but, 20% to 30% on anything.  Pay cash, will probably knock off another 10%.

Are you more likely to get a better deal from these jewelry stores because they have little or no knowledge about the history or servicing on the watch? If that's the case, 30-40% off might be great but I would add in a $600-$1000 service.

 

[Bonggoy]

Are you more likely to get a better deal from these jewelry stores because they have little or no knowledge about the history or servicing on the watch? If that's the case, 30-40% off might be great but I would add in a $600-$1000 service.

These are brand new watches so service history is not an issue.

I didn't care much for vintage or used watches (or watches in general) when I was working there.