Need some help from the gang for a gift.

[Bruce]

The wife wants a casual watch.
The seiko she has had has been in and out of the shop too many times.

I don't wear a watch and thus don't know anything about watches.

Budget is 200 to 400 bucks. Don't want anything jewel encrusted or flashy.

Looking for a good everyday watch, or at least she is.

Thanks for your help.

[thuddddddd]

Harv probably knows a corner in Brooklin that you can get a 2000.00 rolex for 50.00. That would be in your budget. You could send the balance to me in cool t-shirts

[STeveZ]

Since its a gift I assume in should be NIB (new-in-box). Could be a quartz (battery) or automatic (self-winding) movement I suppose. $200-400 is a little bit of a dead zone in the watch biz. Lots of choices above and below that range. Anyway, here's a few options:

Citizen Eco-Drive - Solar powered quartz movement, excellent quality, low price, low maintenance, lots of choices.

Oris - An excellent value in Swiss automatic watches. Pricing generally starts just past the range you described. This one caught my eye on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Oris-Big-Crown-Dive ... dZViewItem

Technomarine - Trendy fashion watches in a variety of styles, materials, colors and prices.

Invicta - You've seen them on QVC. Again, a variety of styles and prices. Many are "Swiss Made" though that doesn't always mean much. Build quality varies by model.

Hamilton - A well known name, reasonable pricing and quality, somewhat unimaginative styling.

Baume & Mercier -Consider stretching your budget by a couple hundred and looking at B&M. Top quality, beautiful styling and well known name. This option makes you a hero I think.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BAUME-MERCIER-H ... dZViewItem

Maurice LaCroix - Almost forgot this one and its a great option. Priced right in your range. Great quality and looks, and an increasingly well known brand. I kind of like the Sphere as seen on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Maurice-Lacroix-Lad ... dZViewItem

Check 'em all out on ebay or the company websites. If she's liable to return or exchange it buy locally, otherwise consider saving by buying on-line or on ebay.

[Dug]

Bruce,

SteveZ is right on. I like the Citizen and my mom recently bought me an Invicta, and it is a nice watch.

Not much of a fan of the Rolex anymore, despite the supposed panache. The bezel on mine has fallen off countless times...'nuff said.

Good luck!

Dug

[Rawleigh]

I have a Citizen Eco-drive that I love! All titanium and very light.

[thuddddddd]

Dug, you must have gotten yours from the same corner Harv got me mine, cause I have the same problem

[STeveZ]

One more, Coach watches are nice looking, good quality and are a desirable brand. I just saw a bunch at BJ's for <$250.

[neil]

timmy ,you with a rolex . you need to get married so that wifey can buy ya a real one regards neil

[thuddddddd]

Why?? your cathy got a rich, single(dont really matter to me) good looking friend who's life she wants to ruin?
married is for quiters, like AA.

[Bruce]

Steve,
Thanks for the suggestions, narrowed it down and saved me a bunch of time and probably a couple of lives.

And Timmy, your help was unvaluable as always.

Thanks all.

[thuddddddd]

Bruce , you know I try to help anyway I can, being of limited ablities

[Mikey]

Last year in St Thomas I bought my first watch in forty years. Citizens- $300, beautiful dependable. Those would probably be the only criterion women would use in making the selection themselves.