Buying a present

[geebob]

Hi guys,

I need some advice. I want to buy my wife a present, an Oyster Perpetual 114200, the 34mm purple one...her favorite color.

I have called two ADs and find one that can get me the ref number I want.

Now, I don't know/not sure... if I should buy the watch without the wife knowing it, and then surprise her with a present. You know, wrap the box in a beautiful wrapper and then give it to her (the bracelet will be sized to her wrist size) ... OR... if I should take her to the AD and buy the watch with her beside me... (maybe she would pick a different watch), but in any case, there will no surprise at all.

How would you do it? Which one would you choose to do?
Thanks in advance guys.

[sager]

Really nice gesture gifting your spouse a watch.

I have always opted for the second option (having her with me). The whole experience will be remembered always and it will also give her the freedom to choose whatever she likes. If you are dropping that kind of cash, you want to make sure she REALLY likes it.

Nevertheless, whatever you choose to do I'm sure it will be a day to remember.

Keep us posted.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by sager

Really nice gesture gifting your spouse a watch.

I have always opted for the second option (having her with me). The whole experience will be remembered always and it will also give her the freedom to choose whatever she likes. If you are dropping that kind of cash, you want to make sure she REALLY likes it.

Nevertheless, whatever you choose to do I'm sure it will be a day to remember.

Keep us posted.

This is the way I bought my wife her Rolex. However, i did show her the watch at my AD first and she was adamant that I wasn't dropping that amount of money on her. Anyway, fast forward six months and we went to my AD the day before her birthday and picked one up he'd had won special order for me.

I don't know if it's the best way to do it but it's certainly the safest.

Good luck.

[Swiss Mad!]

Take her with you.
She will enjoy the whole AD experience and the chance to try on a few different models.
It will also make owning the watch more pleasurable as she had some input into the final choice rather than just receiving a random watch in a box at home.
Also, as you say, she may see a different watch she likes more which will save you a very expensive mistake if she doesn't really like the one you 'think' she will like.
Good luck anyway and don't forget to post pics when you eventually get it.
Regards

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[Rogdogg]

I would say take her with you and let her choose.
Either option will work as she'll love the gift even if it's a surprise but the chance to go and pick the watch herself I think is the better option. I have often been surprised when looking at watches with my wife that she tends to pick ones I wouldn't have picked for her.
However, in saying that, if I was on a tight budget and didn't have the spare cash to be giving her free reign in the store I might buy in advance to save any disappointment, on both our parts. The prices between different models varies greatly and I wouldn't want her to pick one I couldn't afford to get her.

[JR16]

I've been trying to buy my wife a Rolex for years. She told me she'd kill me if I came home w one for her .... my advice would be to pick out 3-4 watches within your budget that you think she would like, have your AD set them aside as you are on the way to the store, and then have her try them all on and see if any "sing" to her . This way it shows thought and planning on your part while giving her the freedom to choose what she likes the best after trying a few on (can vary model, SS vs TT, size, etc) and getting the "AD experience".


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[beshannon]

I would not buy my wife something like this without her being there.

Good luck!

[Pacheco]

Originally Posted by JR16

I've been trying to buy my wife a Rolex for years. She told me she'd kill me if I came home w one for her .... my advice would be to pick out 3-4 watches within your budget that you think she would like, have your AD set them aside as you are on the way to the store, and then have her try them all on and see if any "sing" to her . This way it shows thought and planning on your part while giving her the freedom to choose what she likes the best after trying a few on (can vary model, SS vs TT, size, etc) and getting the "AD experience".


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Do this see which one she loves and then walk out of the store. Then go back and buy it and surprise her.

[polaris72]

It really depends on your wife. Given the value, I would rather bring her in and let her see and touch the watches herself. My wife thought about 34mm OP silver dial and then picked 31mm blue roman dial - changes color from different angles. Make it special and memorable, invite her for lunch before or after...

[geebob]

Thank you very much guys, really appreciate all the advice. I'm going to follow your advice.

I just visited the AD to see the watch. I also did what JR16 wrote above.

The watch itself is nice and pretty, but you all are right, she needs and has to be there to decide if it sings to her or not, and most importantly if the size is right for her or not. Frankly, I thought 34mm would be small, but seeing it in person, it's bigger than what I expected. The salesperson told me that they will try to find 28mm and 31mm ones, if those sizes are available, so that the wife can try other sizes. I plan to visit them again soon with the wife, tomorrow if possible.
Thanks guys.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by beshannon

I would not buy my wife something like this without her being there.

Good luck!

Totally agree

The last time I was at my AD with my wife Andrea, I asked her what she liked and it wasnt what I would have thought

[JR16]

Good luck !


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[TonyD]

There are a ton of threads just like this one. My advice mirrors what others have said.

I called my AD and had them set aside 3 pieces I thought she would like. The AD is in a nice town where we went for a nice lunch and shopping etc. When we got there I told her the plan and had her look at the watches.

To my surprise she picked something totally different. She fell in love right away and everything was great.

Even though we are coming up on 20 years of marriage she can still surprise me.

Let her pick it!

[Chadridv]

I tend to agree with everyone about having your wife present or at the very least being 100% sure that is the watch she wants.

If you feel confident regarding the OP and you have a good relationship with the AD, you might consider making a refundable payment In the amount of the OP you like, that way when you get there you can say do you like this one? Are you sure there are no others you like more, you can smoothly say, I bought it for you. No exchange of money or anything.

[JR16]

Good luck !


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[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Totally agree

The last time I was at my AD with my wife Andrea, I asked her what she liked and it wasnt what I would have thought

Same thing happened to me... with my wife Andrea. Lol. True story.

She already owned a 31mm OP so when it came time for a second I assumed she'd want the variety of a sports model like a GMT or Yachtmaster.

When we were at the AD she walked immediately up to the 36mm datejust and said OMG I love that one! I even got her color preference and then a couple months later i surprised her with it.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Same thing happened to me... with my wife Andrea. Lol. True story.

She already owned a 31mm OP so when it came time for a second I assumed she'd want the variety of a sports model like a GMT or Yachtmaster.

When we were at the AD she walked immediately up to the 36mm datejust and said OMG I love that one! I even got her color preference and then a couple months later i surprised her with it.

Too funny ...

So just a minute ... Are we married to the same woman?

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[ras47]

Side story about wives getting exactly what they want.

I went to a high end jewelry boutique my wife has frequented all her life. She saw a ring she LOVED so off I went to get it for her birthday. I looked in the case, saw the ring I remembered her trying on and oohing-aahing, so I selected it. Point for me: I knew her ring size.

The sales lady had a wry smile on her face as I was paying for it, obviously thinking "this one was trained right."

When she saw the name on my credit card she said, "Oh, are you Anne's husband?"

Me: "Why yes, I am." Maybe a little involuntary shudder on my part.

Sales Lady: "Very nice to meet you! Wait one sec - let me get Anne's dossier."

Now my shudder was obvious. Another wry smile from Sales Lady.

Sales Lady: "This is a nice ring, but it's not the one she picked out."

She pulled out a similar but slightly different ring, and then I realized I had the wrong one."

Sales Lady: "We set it aside in Anne's size just in case you came in."

Pro: they knew exactly what she wanted.
Con: a freakin' DOSSIER??!! Really??!! She spends enough at this store to have a dossier?? Clearly I have not been paying attention to the credit card bills!

Bottom line: wife was thrilled to get the exact ring she wanted and I was the hero. "Oh honey, I didn't think you paid attention." So getting your wife exactly what she wants trumps surprise. At least in my experience. I know that she knew it wasn't me paying attention. She clearly anticipated my trip to her favorite store, and that they would guide me like a padawan. It was the right move.

[geebob]

Hi guys,
Just a quick update. Talked to the wife about buying her a watch last night. Her response was she doesn't need a new watch at the time being, maybe later but not now.
So, thanks guys. Good thing I asked the collective wisdom here.

[EDL7]

I offered to by my wife a Rolex 34mm OP grape when I got my olive green...her response...don't you dare spend that kind of money on a watch for me...I'll never wear it..
My wallet..breathed a sigh of relief...lol..