How important it is for you to try on a watch in person before purchasing?
These days many watches from different brands are available online, in most markets you can purchase few luxury brands online without even visiting the store.
What is the thought behind a watch purchase?
Do you like to experience the watch in person before purchasing?
Or pictures and specification from websites and reviews would be enough to consider the watch would be a good purchase?
Or what are other reasons you consider before purchasing a watch will be a good fit for you?
Personally, I like to try it on in person especially if I'm spending $500 or plus on a watch. I like to experience the watch in person, the fit and finish at a certain price point is an important thing to consider. It is one of the few reasons I give a lot of thought before considering a micro brand or brands which are only online exclusive (for example Christopher Ward).
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Nightfury
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Member since
Last active: 1 hr ago
7.87” / 20.00 cm
I seldom get the chance to try on a watch before a purchase, the Isle of Wight does not have many decent watch shops, I mostly buy online.
If at all possible, I like to examine and try on in person, unless it is something like a G-Shock where it doesn't matter much to me. Sometimes being able to handle a watch IRL makes me realize that I do or do not actually like it. Photos can be deceiving. If I have to buy online, then it would be for something around $750 USD or less or if they have a very good return program.
I'd prefer to try on every watch before buying (who wouldn't?) But I am mostly interested in micro brands and even here in Chicago, most of the brands I purchase do not have local representation.
I guess it depends on your country , in the UK all online purchases have a 2 week window for returns but often brands do increase this. This has the bonus that you can really examine the watch before you decide.
Another bonus is you actually get to un box the watch for an online sale rather than in AD where you put it back in the box lol.
I am a mix of both , better discounts in person at an AD but have no issue buying online.
For smaller watches, I know they'll fit so if I have my heart set on one I can buy without trying it on. For larger, more expensive watches, I'd prefer to try them on myself so I can ensure they'll fit my wire of an arm before splashing out. Not to mention the general look and feel... and that lug-to-lug length is rarely given out online, and that's a very important measurement for me.
My last purchase was the GS SBGE257, I got it through chrono24, and I did not have the chance to try it on first. When the watch arrived, the thing that worried me (case thickness) did not bother me at all, however I just did not "love" the watch, now I really love the watch, and I enjoy every second of it while I wear it, but I believe I was lucky. After a lot of thought, I learned that for me, even if all the ellements listed in the watch description are perfect, there is "something" that I`d only feel when I try the watch on...
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