Horological Meandering

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 me switching into overdrive - a lady in distress and all it would take to sort it is to find a suitable timepiece That should be a walk in the park.

The hours afterwards were a very educational experience. And no watches were purchased...

But let me start at the beginning. And a disclaimer - I have rarely felt so unhelpful before (so all of this may be my fault).


From: History Link 101

So over lunch I tried to assess her needs and desires first. Relatively large, round case, should be single watch, so versatile. Maybe a steel / gold combo to make it more versatile in terms of matching it to most of the wardrobe. Seemed simple enough.

We then went to the first shop and the theory met reality. Most of the watches I suggested went straight out of the window as 'not it'. The sales assistant was capable in my opinion and knew what she was selling (good technical knowledge, too), and I personally would have felt well served. But for a lady it seemed that the primary advice was - add diamonds (and MoP, etc.). The friend was reduced to pointing at things and trying them out. But not finding anything that she really liked.

Tried out several ADs and a Boutique with similar results.

Finally after the shops were all closed we managed to find a couple of watches in shop windows that fit what she imagined. I have to say that after a whole afternoon of discussion and watch shopping I would not have known that these were the ones she'd want. And nor did any of the store personnel figure it out.

Long story short. Some points that I know in hindsight would have helped.

First of all not simply assuming that diamonds is all it takes. Several brands offer female watches without but these were often not stocked.

Secondly, figuring out which male or unisex models to offer. There were several that were applicable but while she would get all the female models shown, the male ones she would need to 'find' herself.

Third point - straps. There were several watches she'd have liked to have seen with different straps. None of which were stocked and as almost no watches have quick strap change options (and I do not mean cross drilled lugs), it would have been hard anyway. Rolex would have been a serious contender if they had some watches on straps instead of bracelets (as demonstrated by her interest in Cellini's after being shown then, albeit they were too large).

Fourth, more watches with a steel case and YG / RG indices and hands.

So again this simply a personal experience on a sample of one and maybe the situation was untypical.

What are your experiences?

Are we as Purists not always ideally suited to advise women (I suppose that female Purists are a minority here) or is it just me? Or was I simply choosing the wrong ADs? Any brands that you know that have the female customer served better?

No message body

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...

a whole fashion statement....matching overall styling is the focus for my "boss".

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 (for instance a WR of 50 would be good). Others to be added later.

If I do it with my wife it's a lot easier, since I've performed a certain level of 'education' (read indoctrination ). But first time female buyers of more expensive watches may potentially not jump in, if not suitably served.

So which one came with from Hawaii then?

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

On both the choice - which I can only agree with - and the availability. There are some around in Vienna, too.

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' but they continued to trot out watches encrusted with diamonds and other lady-like details in which she wasn't interested.  She turned her attention to men's watches and found much more of what she was looking for.  Luckily the trend was for relatively large watches on women and so smaller men's watches didn't look out of place on her fairly dainty wrist.  She ultimately fell in love with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control 39mm in steel.  It is exactly the sort of simple, classic design she was looking for but not a single salesperson ever thought to show it to her.  She loves that watch and wears it often.  Oh, she later fell in love with the Panerai PAM 512 42mm 1940 Radiomir and wears that a lot too.  Nobody, including me, would have ever thought she'd like that watch

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 it.

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

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!

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).

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!

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.

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, unfortunately.

...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 sometimes I think she was purposely banging it into large, immovable objects just to get out of having to wear it. She never did like wearing watches. She hasn't worn one since.

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!

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.

Was the same with the Mille Miglia and my wife...

Thanks for sharing!

That's for reminding me about the Mille Miglia.
I always wanted to get one for me (or maybe my wife ;-)

And apart from the 2016 Race Edition, which at 46mm may be large for women all the others could work.

You make a smaller case, add some diamonds or MOP dial, and a white strap?  Also make most movements electronic?

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.

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

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 have absolutely nothing, or maybe four dot / line markers for 3, 6, 9 & 12.

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 buying another tomorrow it would end up being a DJ36. Of course both of the DJ and Daytona look great on leather but taking rolex and AP aside where do women go? Women's Watches are getting larger yet Omega and Rolex still make 26-34 which seem a common size. Patek have some options granted but after that where do you go. I've been looking for my daughter, she currently has a 36 Cartier Ronde Solo but nothing else out there grabs her attention

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 interesting to them. Sure there is the 'inconvenience' of winding or keeping it worn regularly but that applies to men, too.
Thanks for your experiences!

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 which she wears a lot as the bracelet and water resistance makes it practical for work, outings and the home chores, including the garden. However, when I asked her to pick one for herself, she picked this Franck Muller. Personally, I think FM is probably one that has sufficient focus on ladies watches. Good choice of colors and designs and they all come with a quick change system for the straps. Somewhat an overlooked brand among us Purists, I notice, but one that certainly seems to have their following and fans and maybe we should park it at the back of our minds for shopping trips such as the one you went on.

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

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.