Friday, November 9, 2007

Timely Matters

Yesterday it was $2.99 socks, today it's some of the world's best watches. Don't you love the district? Till the end of December, Tourneau is offering Fashion Herald readers a great deal for the holidays: $250 off a purchase of $1,000 or more. Bring the coupon into the 34th Street store. But if you're like me you know nothing about watches. So let's break it down courtesy of Benjamin, the district's best general manager. Benjamin kindly took me in hand and explained the basics:

  • it's all about the ETA movement. You know, the thing that makes it tell time.
  • 70-80% of the world's watch movements are made by Swatch Group in Switzerland. Timepieces like Rolex and Patek Phillipe are expensive because their movements are handcrafted in-house and their parts are the highest grade.
  • important guy tips - the men like a quality piece. They prefer an automatic watch as opposed to a battery operated piece (the automatic movement is wound by the motion of your wrist). And looks? Guys like big sports watches. The ladies, of course, like a slimmer look and could care less if a battery or a windmill is running the thing.

Here's a group of Tourneau brand watches in a range of prices. Stick to the house brand as you're going to get a lot more diamond bezel and automatic movement for your money. And unless you're looking to add to your art collection, you probably don't need a $50,000 platinum Rolex.

Prices, left to right, are: Safari Sport 1950 flyer ($895), the Lady Chronograph ($1,795, the glare is all those diamond bezels), the men's Classic 1900 Auto Jump ($7,450), and the women's Calypso ($5,495, more diamond bezel).


Don't let these numbers scare you; Tourneau's watches start at $275. Besides, when I told Benjamin I'd come in and buy a watch when I was rich, he said "No, no, don't wait until you're rich, come in and we'll make you feel rich." Why, thank-you, Benjamin, I think I will.


Tourneau, 200 W. 34th Street between 7th & 8th Aves, 212-563-6880

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