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Putting together an outfit that shines is more than just matching your shoes and belt or picking out the right fabric. To finish off your look, a statement piece is the best option. And what better way than to accessorize your suit and tie, workwear, or everyday brunch fit with a unique timepiece that is 100% you?
While watches might seem like something that's going out of style with the rise of smartphones to tell you the time, there's nothing quite as classy as a stylish watch on your wrist (whether you need it for timekeeping or not) to put a finishing touch on your next look. With so many watches to choose from, it's hard to know where to buy. But thankfully online shopping makes it easier than ever to get your next daily-wear or special-occasion timepiece to add to your collection.
Wednesday, December 11th
Ashford is a luxury watch and accessory store that's been around since 1997. The website offers an impressive inventory, with basic brands like Timex and up to high-end picks like Piaget. With competitive prices, sales, and free shipping, Ashford stands out as a top choice for your next watch store. It's basically the entire package. For this reason, it earns a solid 5 stars in our review.
Zappos is a well-known online shoe retailer that offers a wide range of items that includes watches among other clothing and accessories. While the watch selection is much smaller than at other watch stores, you'll still find popular brands like Nixon and Fossil. Where Zappos stands out most is its return policy and free shipping on all orders. With solid reviews from customers and the BBB, Zappos earns an excellent review and our enthusiastic recommendation as a destination for your next watch shopping spree.
Watches2U is a UK-based watch store that's been around since 2001. The inventory focuses on popular brands like Fossil, Michael Kors, and Casio. However, with prices in GBP, shopping can be a little challenging for US customers even though Watches2U offers free international shipping. Despite this hiccup, the selection is great and prices are balanced (once you convert them to USD). For this reason, Watches2U earns a solid rating in our review.
WatchMaxx is a family-owned watch store that offers luxury watches at competitive prices. With over 8,000 watches in stock, there are plenty of designs and styles to choose from. In general, reviewers love the deals, but there are some questions about quality or potentially damaged watches. Still, WatchMaxx earns a good rating, and recommend giving it a look due to its impressive selection and top BBB rating.
WatchCo offers a unique selection of watches, but it has a smaller inventory than some competitors. While it has some great features like a 100% price match guarantee, the site's outdated design, typos, and a general lack of customer feedback leave a mixed impression. With the few reviews out there offering divided opinions too, WatchCo earns a middle-tier rating. It has good policies overall, but could improve its user experience and reliability.
Jomashop offers a huge selection of luxury accessories, including over 55,000 watches for men and women. The website is clean and easy to navigate; however, the site falls short in its customer service. There are tons of mixed reviews and complaints about costly returns and difficulties getting issues resolved by Jomashop, earning an average rating in our review.
Zales is a popular jeweler known for its elegant diamond selection and a variety of watches from brands like Bulova, Citizen, and Movado. The site offers some impressive features like free shipping for all the watches and free returns within 30 days. However, despite an "A+” rating from the BBB, customer reviews suggest that there are some serious issues with rude customer service here (especially during returns). For this reason, Zales isn't a standout choice for shopping for your next watch.
World of Watches offers a huge selection of over 20,000 timepieces. Prices go from highly affordable to millions of dollars, giving you a wide range to explore. Although the site is a great one-stop shop, reviews show that customers are regularly dissatisfied with the service at World of Watches. With issues that include watches without warranties, faulty watches, and poor customer service, World of Watches might be better to use for watch research than for actual purchases.
AuthenticWatches is a family-owned watch store that specializes in Swiss watches. However, there are some concerns to keep in mind. Alongside small issues like website glitches and a more limited selection than other sites, AuthenticWatches shows a lot of red flags in its customer reviews. Shoppers have concerns about warranties, returns, and price gouging, leading us to recommend caution before you shop at AuthenticWatches.
Watch Station, part of the Fossil Group, offers a range of trending, traditional, and digital watches. The website is simple to navigate, though there are often items out of stock that you don't see until you click on them. Despite free shipping on orders over $50, customer reviews show issues with shipping errors and faulty products. Due to its less-than-reliable reputation, Watch Station earns one of the lowest ratings in our review.
Now, there are plenty of wristwatches for all shapes, sizes, and genders. From radio-controlled watches to traditional battery-powered, or atomic clocks to smartwatches, there is a timepiece out there for everyone. Whether you love something a little antique or you're looking for a Graff statement piece or a Hublot gift for a special someone, there are so many styles out there today that you can have your pick of prices, metals, and gemstones to adorn your wrist.
The history of watches and watchmaking is an interesting one. The first portable watches were developed in the 16th century in Nuremberg, Germany. Called "clock watches”, these were usually worn on clothing or on a chain around your neck. Considered a key part of one's outerwear, clock watches were usually heavily engraved and decorated. The pocket watch was the next iteration, developed in the 17th century. If you're thinking of the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, you've got the right idea. The wristwatch wasn't popularized until the early 1800s, and the designs were primarily designed for women until officers in the British Army began using them during military campaigns in the 1880s.
With a range of sites that offer specialized watches or one-stop shops that give you a glimpse at almost all the watches on the market, there are plenty of places to search for a casual watch or something that could be a fashion item and an investment. If it's time for you to get your next watch (pun intended), but you're not sure where to look, don't worry. We're here to help.
With so many sites and retailers out there, we've put together some factors to help you narrow down your favorites. Here's what you might want to look for:
To help you get your next accessory or timepiece, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top retailers and watch stores out there today. Now, all you need to do is enjoy the browsing experience and decide whether you want a smartwatch, a traditional watch, or something in between. Happy shopping!
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