Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Xaiko]

My gf wants to buy me a watch and she was telling me how she likes this watch from Emporio Armani
http://daumprice.lotte.com/daumprice.jsp?curGoodsNo=5752541&curDispNo=045130014003001

Its expensive 726,000 won which I think is ridiculous but I was never a fan of watches and she really wants to get me one.

Can someone please give me their opinion if this watch is good for the price or are there better options? Around this price~ Thanks a lot

[Patrick Bateman]

[Underwaterbob]

Bah, my watch looks just as nice, is just as functional and cost less than a tenth of that price. Sure it says "OST" on the face, but hey, who cares?

[madoka]

[Richard Krainium]

A good analogy to buying expensive watches is buying expensive cars.

Rolex = Mercedes Benz

Tag Heuer = BMW

Then there are your Rolls Royce, Bently, Ferrari, and Lamborghini type watches to be found here:

http://stylecrave.com/2009-05-29/luxury-watches-10-of-the-worlds-most-expensive-watches

That Armani watch would be something like a Hyundai Granduer...lol

I'm partial to Rolex and Mercedes, but all I can afford is KIA and Casio...

[toadkillerdog]

I recommend a TAG. I love mine. Not so much into ROLEX, frankly, I don't think they are good watches. They did a good job branding themselves but fundamentally ROLEXES lack in quality.

Yea, stay away from "designer" watches. All you are buying is the brandname.

[thekingofdisco]

The depreciation on a designer watch will be massive. So avoid!

What is your price range? You say expensive?? So 50 thousand dollars?++

Rolex is perhaps the best known watch brand and keeps value well. Not in the super expensive class of watches though... More like the starbucks of watches... although compared to a "designer brand" I guess it would seem expensive.

You can pay crazy prices for watches... so your price point is important.

If you're looking around 4000USD and under there are loads of options... very competitive used market. I would highly recommend buying used, that way you don't get raped with the huge depreciation. Probably not from Korea however.

For tool watches, I quite like sinn and damasko (also don't mistake a less expensive watch for a lesser watch), my damasko is so strong, and still doesn't have a scratch after 5 years of constant use.

But if you have real money to spend on an expensive one, then you should really do some research on your own, for example tz-uk.com for starters.

Personally I'd like to get a grand seiko spring drive diver and an iwc vintage aquatimer, but that's for a few years yet...

[NYC_Gal]

I used to rock a Jules Jurgensen 14k (allergic to other metals) watch when I still wore one. I stopped wearing watches a couple of years ago after I got used to not weating one while being treated for hives that I got from the meds after I had my wisdon teeth pulled. It's a shame.

It looked like the 7th row, 2nd column, only round instead of tank shaped. There's a men's version on the same page. It's a classic style that will never go out of fashion. 6th row, 5th column.
http://www.julesjurgensen.com/productPage.asp?style=14K#

[hellofaniceguy]

700,000 Won watch is cheap....when compared to the top of the lines watches which can cost well over 10,000.00 U.S. dollars.

[rumdiary]

That watch is not worth the price.

Would you buy a Calvin Klein car? Sony shoes? Microsoft shampoo?

Stick with watches made by companies that specialize in watches. Otherwise you're getting a really shitty watch that should cost $50 with a designers name stamped on the face.

Citzen, Seiko, Oris etc make some great watches for under a grand. For that kind of money you can get something that will stand up and last a long time. The watch you listed would not last more than a few years.

[oldsurly]

For the price that your GF wants to pay, it is possible to get a great watch. Tag, Omega, Rolex, Breitling, Technomarine, Longines amongst others are going to run you in the millions of won, especially here in Korea. However with that being said, your choices aren't limited to the bottom of the barrel broken if they're dropped types of watches. I have selected in my opinion some watches that have a great history, work fantasticaly, and are definately value for the money. Also I have included some links for price reference here in Korea.

1) Tissot PRC200
http://www.tmwatch.co.kr/src/products/products_list.php?product_category_id=173
2)Oris Classic
http://www.tmwatch.co.kr/src/products/products_list.php?product_category_id=142
3)Invicta
http://www.tmwatch.co.kr/src/products/products_list.php?product_category_id=33

Check it out and let us know what you choose after you make your decision.

P.S. I would never pay almost 800,000Won for an Emporio Armani watch, ever!

[Arthur Dent]

I'd go with Breitling myself.

[maryjanes]

Rotary watches are good value for money in terms of design and durability. I've had mine for 10 years and apart from some self-inflicted scratches it has worn well. http://www.rotarywatches.com/en/

[frankhenry]

ROLEX and Tag are great!

Don't waste your money on overpriced (look at me, I want to be special) watches such as Armani or Jules Jurgensen! They are flash wannabes.

[IlIlNine]

Agreed with what most here say. If you're going to drop 800,000 on a watch, there are lots of decent options that aren't (DKNY, Armani, etc) simple fashion brands who repackage $10 chinese quartz watches.

As already suggested: Seiko, Citizen, Tag, Tissot, and many others make decent watches in that price range.

Also second the suggestion to not buy in Korea. You'll simply pay a lot more here.