William Andersen
I was hesitant to purchase this watch sight-unseen, but I am pleased with what I received. I debated whether to purchase a more practical, everyday-kind-of-watch for my practical, everyday-kind-of-guy, but the occasion (anniversary) seemed to call for something out of the ordinary.I chose this watch above the others for its clean look. When I first opened this watch, I thought it was scratched until I realized the watch-front and back are covered with a protective film. I peeled it back, revealing the mirror-like chrome finish which was spectacular and flawless. Opening the watch, I was not disappointed. The dial is simple and classy-looking...just what I'd hoped for. The inside of the cover is etched with small circular lines, and adds a bit of pizzazz to an otherwise very clean, simple watch. The light silver face is elegant withbarely perceptible silver sunburst-like lines radiating from the center of the dial, which adds some sophistication. The color of the dial seemsto change from white to silver to cream, depending how you hold it in the light. Kind of cool. The Roman numerals speak elegance more than regular numbers would. The date function is slightly different than the norm, and adds some interest. This gorgeous watch is much better looking in person than in the photos. It has a bit of weight to it, so it doesn't come off feeling cheap. It feels good in the palm of your hand. So far, it has kept perfect time.Men's pocket watches vary widely in size. This would be considered a small men's watch. If you've ever seen a railroad watch, they are HUGE. This is at the opposite end of the spectrum...a little larger than a silver dollar. If you've ever held a proof silver dollar in its protective round plastic case, this is a hair smaller and about 1½ times as thick. I like the size; it's pleasing and not ostentatious...small enough to be used every day without weighing you down or filling up your pocket. Size is listed in millimeters, which works out to about 1 7/8" in diameter and 1/2" thick at its widest point and 3/8" at the edges.I guess my only "wish" is that the hands glowed in the dark, or that there were a button to push to illuminate the dial, because you can't read the time in the dark.I almost purchased the chrome watch chain offered on Amazon, but decided to wait until I was certain I would keep this watch. To my surprise, a chain was included in the box, so the extra purchase was not needed. This chain doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere in the ad, nor is it pictured. They probably sell a lot of extra chains that way.If you are giving this as a gift, rest assured the packaging is outstanding for a watch in this price range. The watch is protected in the navyinner-box with foam, and is in a cute little cloth drawstring bag. There is a separate lidded-section which houses the chain, which is securedinside to keep it from moving around. All of it was very impressive and not cheapo-looking at all. There is a temporary cord (with label) attached to the watch crown for when you first pull it out of the pouch. On the label, there was a price tag, so be forewarned: if this is a gift, you may want to check and remove it. I don't know why they put it there, but makes it awkward if this is sent straight from Amazon to the recipient. (However, if you want them to think you paid the full, suggested retail value... ;)Warranty seems good, if they will actually honor it if and when the time comes that it's needed. Lifetime for the movement; one year for manufacturer defects; and none on normal wear and tear or if they think you are responsible for the reason the watch needs repair. Send $8.00 and the watch to an address in CA. Time will tell. (No pun intended). Even the warranty card looked impressive...sort of like a gift card in a plastic wrap. (They may have spent more on packaging than on the watch movement!)In sum: very pleased and excited with my purchase. Okay, this isn't a Rolex, and I don't expect we'll be handing it down to our grandson someday, but if you're on a limited budget, this watch looks amazing.An aside: I didn't want my husband to accidentally intercept this gift before 'the day', nor did I want it to be left on my porch and stolen if weweren't home when it was delivered, so I decided to try out the Amazon Locker delivery. I was notified by e-mail that my package wasdelivered to my nearby locker location 3 minutes away. I had 3 days to sneak over and punch in my locker code; then the door popped open, revealing my package, all safe and secure. Easy-peasy. Great service, Amazon. Love it!UPDATE: Nearly 2 1/2 years later, this watch is still keeping perfect time!
