What is the Best Watch Store? 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?
Average
Zales is one of the most popular jewelers in the US. Known for its exquisite wedding rings and beautiful diamond selection, Zales is a catch-all for jewelry and accessories that stand out for being high-end. You can find all sorts of watches at Zales under the cheeky "Time to Upgrade" banner. Zales has been open since 1924 when Morris Zale and William Zale opened the first Zales Jewelers location in Texas. The company now has over 400 retail locations and a beautiful online store where you buy anything from diamonds to necklaces to a snazzy new watch.
Helpful filters and tons of details on listings
To find watches on Zales, you can use the top navigation bar to jump right in. Once you decide on which watches to scan through, Zales has helpful filters like gender, price, metal type, metal colors, stone type, stone color, and bracelet style. The listings themselves show clear photos of the watches, the names, and the price all at a glance. Many of the watches come with a free gift with purchase (which will also be shown on the listing preview). If you click through to the listing page itself, you'll see options for payment plans, estimated ship dates, whether your chosen watch is eligible for any promotions, the specifics of the free gifts, and whether it qualifies for free shipping. For example, on a Bulova watch, Zales was offering a free mini Bluetooth speaker with purchase.
1,323 watches available
While the inventory isn't as large as some watch stores in our review, Zales has a solid base of brands to choose from. You can find Bulova, Citizen, Armani, Casio, Coach, Fossil, Invicta, JBW, Kate Spade, Movado, and Rolex. There are currently 861 watches in the men's section and 462 watches in the women's. The majority of the watches are stainless steel (743) with the next closest metal type being white gold (457). There are some luxury watches here, but most are more popular brands than high-end luxury. You won't find any smartwatches here, but there are plenty of stylish straps for an Apple watch.
Prices from $315 to $2,995
At Zales, we looked at the costs of women's and men's watches. We also found the best sale watch, but since there weren't smartwatches at Zales, we couldn't offer those in our price comparison. To give you a quick idea of the watches you can expect, the lowest-cost men's watch was a Citizen Eco-Drive, and the women's watch was a Bulova Sutton Diamond Accent Watch. The most costly watches were a men's Bulova Precisionist Special GRAMMY Edition and a women's Movado SE Automatic. Here are the expected costs:
Free shipping at $199+
Zales has a higher-than-average threshold to score free shipping. You have to place a minimum order of $199 to qualify. Since all of the watches cost more than $199, you can be sure you'll get free shipping every time. However, if you decide to buy other jewelry from Zales, make sure you get enough in the cart to qualify for free shipping.
Free returns in 30 days
Returns are allowed within 30 days of your shipment date, and you can make exchanges up to 60 days from the shipment date. Exchanges must be done at a Zales retail location, rather than through shipping. To qualify, all items need to be in their original condition and include all packages and paperwork. But Zales does provide a free pre-printed label for return shipping, so you will not have to pay any fees to send back your watch.
Customers aren't satisfied with service reps
Currently, Zales holds an "A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but it's a little harder to find balanced reviews of the company. For such a large retailer, there aren‘t many individual reviews to see online. There are just under 300 total reviews across both Trustpilot and Sitejabber. Customers complain about rude customer service personnel during the return process. "Horrible customer service" is a phrase we see popping up for Zales across all review sites, which is disappointing for a place known for its luxury jewelry and high-end appeal.
All-around average
While we're disappointed in Zales' reputation for returns and customer service, if you don't wind up having to deal with a Zales rep, you might be all right. With free returns in 30 days (and no shipping fees) this is a good place to shop if you're worried about needing to send something back. But with reports of difficult customer service team members, the return process may be pretty bumpy. While the prices aren't great, you can find a lot of your favorite brands here. For these reasons, Zales comes in as an average choice in our review.
Continued from above...
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.
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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