New watch, or just new batteries?

[RoJoHen]

My mom got me a watch for my birthday when I was 14. I have been wearing it everyday for the last 10 years. Naturally, over that time, I have had to change the batteries every once in a while.

Well, the time has come once again to buy new batteries. However, I'm considering buying a new watch altogether. 10 years is good life for a watch, right? I mean, I think it was only about $80, so it's not the fanciest thing in the world. I'm mostly hanging onto it for sentimental reasons.

So, what does anybody know about watches? Brands, styles, etc? I need some help making a decision.

 

[SeerSGB]

Depends? Does the watch work with your current style? You said 14, so the next question is it an "adult" watch, something professional looking? And if you're really attached to it and want to preserve it, or is it just a piece of kit and if you lose it you lose it, not a big deal.

Personally, if it's a good sturdy watch and it keeps good time I would just rebattery it again if it meet the needs/style currently demanded of me.

 

[auntiehill]

^Yeah, pretty much what TheGallifreyanSith said. You've had it since you were 14. If it longer suits you or you would prefer another style, then go for it.

You could rebattery it and put it safely away while you try out a new watch. That way, you could still use it as a spare.

 

[Mr. B]

Shopping for watches is pretty daunting in my experience. I stopped wearing one for quite a while before I happened to find something I liked in a store that wasn't even in the watch business.

What style are you looking for and how much were you planning to spend? The price range will tell us if we should be picking through stuff like Timex watches or Omega automatics.

 

[SeerSGB]

To be honest, as much as I like the higher watches, I think Timex is a general all around good bet for a daily wear watch. Good construction, descent price for the quality, and IMO you can usually find one to fit any need/style.

 

[The Sneeze Police]

I don't wear a watch ... it can be done

 

[Maestro]

I've worn a very nice, simple, sturdy, and classic looking men's Coach watch since my in-laws gave it to me 8 years ago. It has sentimental value because it came from in-laws who were concerned about me having a classy piece of men's jewelry to wear. I need to replace the batteries for a second time and get the stop on the crown repaired. I would never think of replacing it, because it will almost forever remain stylish.

If your watch meets similar qualifications, snap a new battery in it an away you go.

 

[StolenThunder]

Getting a new watch doesn't necessarily preclude you from wearing the old one. You can choose one in a different style and change them dependent on situation.

 

[RoJoHen]

My current watch is a "Caravelle by Bulova," whatever that means. It's silver with gold accents. It's skinnier than the watches other kids my age were wearing at the time, so I don't know if it was actually an adult watch or if it was just a different style. It keeps great time, but it's been through a lot. I've always worn it to work, so it's a little beat up from that. The metal has some dents and the glass has a tiny crack (but you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it).

I think it's probably time to upgrade to a newer watch. I like the silver look. I'd like it display the date. For cost, I'd say no more than $200, but preferably lower if I can find something nice.

 

[Captain Ice]

If you've got a Bulova, you have a hell of a watch. Regardless of whether I bought another watch for daily wear, I'd replace the battery on it and keep it.

 

[RoJoHen]

So here's another minor battery question. Do they make batteries that last different amounts of time? When I first got the watch, I'm pretty sure the battery life was 2 years. But I'm pretty sure I changed the battery at Walmart last summer, so it's weird that it's already dying. I would think that a certain watch can only fit a certain battery, but maybe not. Of course, it's entirely possible that I changed the battery two years ago. It happens so infrequently that I can't really remember.

 

[Mr. B]

Any battery will have a mAh rating which will indicate its capacity... the brand will decide endurance as well.

 

[Captain Ice]

You also don't know how long the battery you bought at Walmart was sitting on the shelf or what kind of conditions that battery was subjected to before you bought it. That battery may have been three years old or older before you even installed it. I'd blame it on the battery.

Watch batteries come in many sizes and any one size of watch battery may fit several different designs of movements. However, a watch can only fit a particular size of battery. Much like the battery in your car, batteries in the size required by your watch are made by many manufacturers, and the quality and useful life of their products may vary from one manufacturer to the next.

If you want to play it safe, having the battery installed at a local watch repair shop should only cost you $8-$10 or so and they can take a look at the inside of the watch.

I'd also be tempted to put $40 - $50 into repairs for this watch if needed (Bulovas are pretty timeless designs and you seem to have some sentimental value attached).

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I wear a Casio WaveCepter. It's an atomic watch; i love it. It was like $40 on line and it looks fancy enough from a distance, and oh yeah, i don't have to wind it.

 

[RoJoHen]

You also don't know how long the battery you bought at Walmart was sitting on the shelf or what kind of conditions that battery was subjected to before you bought it. That battery may have been three years old or older before you even installed it. I'd blame it on the battery.

This is very possible. I normally go to a jewelry store, but I happened to be in Walmart and the battery was dead, and one thing led to another...actually, the lady behind the counter was surprised she was able to change the batter on her own. I probably wasn't dealing with an expert.

I'd also be tempted to put $40 - $50 into repairs for this watch if needed (Bulovas are pretty timeless designs and you seem to have some sentimental value attached).

I might, but I also think it might be time for a new watch. I like mine, but I'm kind of bored with it.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

As my daily watch, i wear an old Q&Q that my best friend gave me years ago. It's beat up and scratched all to hell but it still works great. My "fancy" watch is the Casio WaveCepter.

 

[Amaris]

$80!? Wow! I had a Captain™ watch that cost $8 from a Dollar General store. Not only did it look great, but worked for 7 years before I had to replace the battery. Downside is I lost it when we moved and can't find them anywhere.

J.

 

[Captain Ice]

^$80 was a steal on a Bulova even then.

 

[Amaris]

^$80 was a steal on a Bulova even then.

Oh, I'm just a penny pincher. For me, $1 for a box of macaroni and cheese just ain't fittin'. I like my 20 cent macaroni and cheese food product just fine.


J.

 

[Holdfast]

For cost, I'd say no more than $200, but preferably lower if I can find something nice.

In my book, there tend to be certain price bands when it comes to (new) watches where you can get good value for your money and other prices where the QPR falls dramatically and it isn't worth the extra. The first price band in my mind mentally tops out at about £50/£75, and it's not really worth buying again until you get up to a minimum of around £600-£1000 up to about £3000. Not that every watch in each band is worth it, of course, just that there's a higher concentration to nice watches for the money you're paying within those sort of ranges. The next one up is around £7k-£15k roughly. After that, the band system breaks down a little....

So in your position, I wouldn't bother spending $200 to buy a new watch; I doubt you'll find something significantly better than spending $100. YMMV, of course.

If you're really interested in watches and decide to up your budget, talk to the WIS's on TimeZone. Watches aren't really my "thing", to be honest; my mind mentally glazes over when words like complication and tourbillon start being thrown around, but those guys can tell you more or less anything you need to know about nice watches.