Watch dilemma - given a watch I like but don't love - should I return it?

Hi folks. I'm hoping this post will attract some feedback from the watch lovers on this forum.

My dilemma: I was just given a Rotary Les Originales Automatic watch in PVD rose gold with a brown leather strap, as a birthday gift. It is this one here. It's one of a limited series of 500, and its RRP is £395 although I understand that it was purchased at a sale price of £230. It is a very attractive and well built watch, with sapphire glass and skeleton back, showing the automatic winder rotor. It also came with a black ash display case that has a built-in watch winding mechanism.

The problem is, although I admire its construction, I don't really love the watch. I'm not really a fan of dials with roman numerals. However if I returned it for something else, there's no way I could replace it at £230 with another watch with such good construction.

I had recently seen a Rotary Avenger in gold (here) that was attractive at about £180, as well as a more expensive Tissot Visodate (here) that was also very attractive, at £430.

Should I return it for something that would almost certainly be a much lesser watch, spend more money on something like the Tissot, or keep it?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Depends who gave it to you and if they would be offended. If they won't be, then explain the dilemma. If they might be offended, then either learn to love it, or take the risk!

Just a thought, could you get the dial changed if that is what you aren't keen on?

Sell it and get a Seiko Pulsemeter! :thumbsup:

But as mentioned - If the gifter will not be offended, go for something you like better instead.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

gifter

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Gifter? Grrrrrrrrrrr


'Giver' please! :)



</grammar police mode>

It was a birthday present from my Mum. She would not be offended if I changed it for something else - she actually said this when she gave it to me.

I'll do some research on whether it's possible to get the dial changed - thanks for the suggestion. I know they do other models in the Les Originales range but it might not be a great move seeing as it's a limited edition model.

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Originally Posted by timread

It was a birthday present from my Mum. She would not be offended if I changed it for something else - she actually said this when she gave it to me.

I'll do some research on whether it's possible to get the dial changed - thanks for the suggestion. I know they do other models in the Les Originales range but it might not be a great move seeing as it's a limited edition model.

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What sort of watches do you like?
That would give us a good place to start.
Watch styles you like, size you would prefer, does it need to be automatic or would quartz do?

I would say that the tissot, along with most other Swiss watches with auto movements are going to be more expencive. Rotarty, as good as they are. Assemble chinese made movements in Switzerland which is how they manage to be so much better on price than other makes.

Companys like Tissot and Hamilton would be good starting points, i'd also recoment looking at the Seiko Sarb series.
Also might want to look at some microbrands too.

http://www.timefactors.com/
http://www.melbournewatch.com.au/
http://www.lewandhuey.com/

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Originally Posted by peterb

Gifter? Grrrrrrrrrrr
'Giver' please! :)
</grammar police mode>

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You must be one of them PCSOs the GramPol recently instated, yes?

Noun
Gifter (plural gifters)
- One who gives a gift.

Related terms
- giftee


So there!! :p
I'm actually surprised it's not Giftor and Giftee, but there ya go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

You must be one of them PCSOs the GramPol recently instated, yes?

Noun
Gifter (plural gifters)
- One who gives a gift.

Related terms
- giftee


So there!! :p
I'm actually surprised it's not Giftor and Giftee, but there ya go.

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The OED only has an entry as a verb (as an alternative spelling of 'gifture'):

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/78186?...rom=gifter#eid

Maybe you were looking it up in an American-English dictionary?! :P

I generally like retro looks (e.g. 60s), and like to go for as much quality as I can sensibly afford. I like mid-sized faces, not too large or chunky (although I do like my Fossil Arkitekt, see below!). I'd love an automatic but a quartz movement would do for an everday/daytime watch.

Basically I'm particularly looking for a gold/PVD watch this time round, with a leather or possibly two-tone metal strap. Rose gold would be nice as long as it's a subtle look and not one of those over-the-top tacky ones that seem so popular right now (no offence but think Michael K o r s).

Here's what I currently own:
Seiko Kinetic, stainless steel case, face and strap
Fossil Arkitekt FS-4196
Oris Classic Pointer Date with Small Second (model 7461), stainless steel case, brown leather strap (it's identical to the Oris in this thread)

Out of all of my watches, the Oris is my favourite/special watch, but I wouldn't want to wear it every day

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Originally Posted by MrJim

The OED only has an entry as a verb (as an alternative spelling of 'gifture'):
http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/78186?...rom=gifter#eid
Maybe you were looking it up in an American-English dictionary?! :P

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This being the internet I could simply cite Wiktionary, "source of all truth and anyone who denies this is noob faget", but I'm not sufficiently into 1337 culture to really care... :)

That very page you link to has the following:
gifture, n.
Forms: Also 15 yefture, 15–16 gifter.

I can't read the full entry without my library card, though...
I know there's a hunting and fishing law about persons giving and receiving game and fish, which specifically calls the giver a "gifter". I'll have to dig it out.

I'm therefore guessing it is probably obsolete usage as a noun in these modern times of Twitter and what-have-you, but my pocket OED from 1963 still has it in common usage, so it's quite a recent change. Certainly valid when I was at school, though!

Tissot do a version of the visodate as gold plated with a nice clean dial.

Or there's this. 40mm, auto, rose gold pvd

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d..._ROSEGOLD2.jpg

Or something a little more casual, green sunburst dial with gold accents. 38mm auto.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d..._1024x1024.jpg

Certina do something along these lines in quartz too.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...1396867909.jpg

With respect, I think you're missing the point. This is a limited edition gift from your mum, one of the most important people in your life. It is a gift she has bought with love specifically for you; it is priceless.

Honestly, keep the watch and wear it with pride. It will mean so much to her. In years to come and in a very long time in the future when she is no longer with you, you will look at your beautiful watch and smile when you realise it is not just a watch, it is a memento of her love. It cannot be replaced at any price.

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Originally Posted by santa claus

With respect, I think you're missing the point. This is a limited edition gift from your mum, one of the most important people in your life. It is a gift she has bought with love specifically for you; it is priceless.

Honestly, keep the watch and wear it with pride. It will mean so much to her. In years to come and in a very long time in the future when she is no longer with you, you will look at your beautiful watch and smile when you realise it is not just a watch, it is a memento of her love. It cannot be replaced at any price.

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I entirely agree .... and disagree.

I agree with the basic point, being not just a watch, or a gift, but a gift from his Mum. Those of us that lost our parents (often, far too early) find that only truly sinks in once it's too late. So, 100% agree.

But .... his Mum picked what she thought was best, but stressed changing it if the model isn't right. Seems to me she wants him to have a watch he loves, not just because it's a gift from her.

So, personally, if I were in TimRead's position, my attitude would be that this is supposed to be a special present (hence the limited edition, etc), so I'd be looking for a watch that, in order of priority, :-

1) Stood out as a special gift from Mum
2) Stood out as a special gift from Mum
3) Stood out as a special gift from Mum
4) Stood out as a special gift from Mum
5) Was a watch I trly loved, as a watch, too.

IF she might be offended if I changed it, then 1) - 4) utterly override 5). But if she wanted me to have a watch I loved for itself as well, then I'd change it, almost "money no object".

I say "almost" because personal circumstances vary hugely. To some people, £100 extra on a watch means skimping on food for a month or more, and for others, £10k (or much more) is a whim.

So, TimRead, my advice is that, within the bounds of what's financially realistic to you, get what YOU really want. It's a one-off. It's an item that'll carry very special meaning, that hopefully you'll have for life, even if it stops working, and were it me, I'd indulge myself in what I REALLY want, as long as it wasn't a financially stupid amount. How much that is, £50 or £50k, depends entirely on your circumstances.

Odds are, this'll always be special because it was a 'special' present from Mum. I doubt she cares exactly what watch it is, and had she known you preferred "that" to "this", then "that" is what she'd have bought.

By the way, I have a gold pen set (fountain pen and ballpoint) which was a 21st present from my parents. Last time I looked it up, the (then) second-hand value was about £1500. There've been times when money was very tight indeed, but short of utter impending catastrophe (like losing the house, where that'd save it) I will NEVER sell those pens .... despite rarely using pens, and almost never using a fountain pen. Those pens are a tangible link to my parents, and every time I look at them, memories come flooding back. So I entirely agree with Santa's point, but, as your Mum wants you to change the model if you wish, anything you change it to will, IMHO, still be a special present.

Why?

Because my parents bought me a sort-of place-holder pen set, but it wasn't really my style. They stressed that when they bought it, they cleared with the retailer that it could be switched, and THEY wanted me to go and pick my preferred style, but didn't want the present I actually opened to just be a voucher, but an actual present.

It wasn't, and still isn't, the exact model of watch, or pens, that mattered, but that whatever it was was a special present. It still is, decades later, now that they're not here. And is my most treasured possession. Any burglar trying to steal those better expect to be in a fight for his life. Because he will be if I catch him at it.

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Originally Posted by Saracen

.......my advice is that, within the bounds of what's financially realistic to you, get what YOU really want....... I will NEVER sell those pens .... Those pens are a tangible link to my parents, and every time I look at them, memories come flooding back......And is my most treasured possession.

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Well, I'm a bit confused but I think I understand (sort of).

Consider this: you tell the wife you're going to the pub and she says "enjoy yourself with the boys dear". Does she mean it? Ooer, its risky :tomato:.

Your mum buys you a gift and says "it's ok to change it" but does she mean it?

I suppose mums care only that we should have what we want but I'm sure secretly she hopes you will love her choice because it is her choice for you.

I would keep the watch bought for me by my mum because it is precious; a replacement would be my choice, not hers and that just would not work for me.

Perhaps this is one of those things you discover later in life when you realise a watch will tell you the time but a gift will tell you so much more.

Supposing I offered to replace your pens with the exact model YOU wanted all those years ago and I said a condition was you give me your pens to throw away. Never going to happen is it eh?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by santa claus

....

Supposing I offered to replace your pens with the exact model YOU wanted all those years ago and I said a condition was you give me your pens to throw away. Never going to happen is it eh?

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I understand what you mean, but think you're kinda missing my point.

The gift from my parents was to have the pen set of my choice. The one they bought was, as I said, a "place-holder". If the place-holder and my choice ended up as the same, then fine. Great. But if it wasn't, they wanted the gift to be what I liked, not what they liked. Which pen set it was didn't matter to them, but that I got a set I really liked did. And I'm utterly certain that was their wish.

Could timread's mum be hoping he liked her choice? Sure. I've never met either of them, so have no way to know. But, to use your words .... consider this: is it 'right' for timread to lie yo his mum and says he loves that particular watch when he doesn't? Would she want him to do so?

As I say, I don't know, not having met them. But I am sure my parent's REALLY wanted me to have a pen set I'd love for itself as well as because it was from them, and would not have wanted me to lie to them about it, even for the noblest of reasons.

And before you ask, yeah, there are times when a 'white' lie is the right thing to do .... though it's rarely an easy decision. But my pen set wasn't one of them. Tim's watch? Dunno. But he knows his mum, so he'll have to decide. One thing I'm confident you will agree with is that we can each put opposing points of view, but only he can decide which, if either, to go with.

a white lie is something I've personally never understood. Perhaps I'm thick, perhaps I didn't get that as a grandparent, but I've been here for a few years now and I just wanted to mention that .:telephone:
Didn't mean to steal the thread. The watch is amazing but there are others. I got a Citizen Eco drive and it's something I expect to be my lifetime watch (honestly) which impresses .......

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Originally Posted by Millennium

a white lie is something I've personally never understood. ...

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Wife - Question: "Does my backside look big in this?"

Husband - Answer: "No, but I don't think the colour does your hair colour justice."

Understand now?

Okay, I'm being a bit facetious.

Years ago, I had a conversation about a close relative, with his cancer consultant. I asked "As far as you can tell .... how long?" His answer was to show me x-rays, explain what they showed, and predict "A month, maybe .... very likely .... less". His exact words, in very late June, were "He won't see August".

The reason for asking was that his son lived about 3000 miles away, and might need to, erm, make a dash back here.

But when the subject of that estimate asked me what that consultant had said, I fudged it, with "It's very hard to tell, and any guess could be a long way out". Which was true. He had said that .... but he'd also said "won't see August".

Well, in reality, he saw August. For five successive years.

Telling him no real estimate had been given was, IMHO, a white lie. Firstly, it wasn't my place to tell him. Secondly, there were clear caveats. Third, as it turned out, it was way, WAY out, anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

One thing I'm confident you will agree with is that we can each put opposing points of view, but only he can decide which, if either, to go with.

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Absolutely. When I first posted the thread was a tide of suggestions for alternative watches; I just wanted to be sure TimRead had really thought about the watch he already has.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by santa claus

Absolutely. When I first posted the thread was a tide of suggestions for alternative watches; I just wanted to be sure TimRead had really thought about the watch he already has.

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And, in turn, absolutely.

That it was mum's choice is a factor. That it's not a design he 'loves' is, too. So it all comes down to whether his mum really meant it when she said 'change model if you wish', or whether she would secretly be disappointed.

In her shoes, I wouldn't be because choosing what someone else really likes is hard enough when you've been married to them for 25 years .... and, ummm. fraught with peril. ;)

I'd rather my kid had what he really wanted than be polite about my taste, or my guess at his taste. But tim's mum might not be. Only he can know .... well, judge.

I'm sure he will judge wisely because that watch has...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

my most treasured possession

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...written all over it. Merry Christmas Saracen :)

Thanks everyone for all your comments and suggestions. I have decided to keep the watch!

Its looks have grown on me, and even though my Mum would have been happy for me to change it, the fact that I could not replace it with something as special or as well-made without spending another £200 (on something like the Tissot Visodate in Rose Gold) means it will be special to me for many reasons, and I will be proud to wear it on special occasions for many years to come.

I can pick up something for everyday wear for myself in the sales and spend a more sensible amount on a quartz watch I won't mind taking a few knocks.

I think you will find its value (to you) will grow as the years pass. Leaving aside the official limited edition status, it is now a unique timepiece - because your Mum chose and gave it to you!

Thank you for letting us know (and starting an interesting thread!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saracen

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Millennium

a white lie is something I've personally never understood. ...

---

Wife - Question: "Does my backside look big in this?"

Husband - Answer: "No, but I don't think the colour does your hair colour justice."

Understand now?

Okay, I'm being a bit facetious.

Years ago, I had a conversation about a close relative, with his cancer consultant. I asked "As far as you can tell .... how long?" His answer was to show me x-rays, explain what they showed, and predict "A month, maybe .... very likely .... less". His exact words, in very late June, were "He won't see August".

The reason for asking was that his son lived about 3000 miles away, and might need to, erm, make a dash back here.

But when the subject of that estimate asked me what that consultant had said, I fudged it, with "It's very hard to tell, and any guess could be a long way out". Which was true. He had said that .... but he'd also said "won't see August".

Well, in reality, he saw August. For five successive years.

Telling him no real estimate had been given was, IMHO, a white lie. Firstly, it wasn't my place to tell him. Secondly, there were clear caveats. Third, as it turned out, it was way, WAY out, anyway.

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Not only is that one of the best posts I've ever read, it's also changed my life|world and educated moi and clearly a strong reason to name this forum this website' s name

so thanks and thanks for all the time.

Well done for keeping it and it growing on you. You can always wear it for a few years and then get something else as well many people of the world have many watches, called collectors and you can call yourself that.

But also after a few years the watch will become sentimental purchased from your mum and you might not want to damage it wearing it every day.

I'm a little in your situation got a watch I love from my now wife as my engagement present (she got the ring) and now I wear it every day but just put a big scratch on the glass and don't want to think of the cost to replace

Stick it on eBay........

I would have taken it back and bought the Moto 360 watch. When you get bored with the face you just download a new one.