Category Archives: Store Review

Store Review, Bailey Banks and Biddle, Oakbrook, IL

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Store Review: Bailey Banks and Biddle, Oakbrook, IL

Overview: Chain jewelery store

Brands sold/spotted:  TAG Heuer, Omega, Zenith, Breitling, many others.
Prices: Retail ($750 to $15000+)

Watch bands/bracelets sold there? No

Detailed Review:

I must say, if you are willing to part with a couple of grand or more, this is the place to stop.  They have just about the full line of Omega and many other brands.  The staff is very courteous and knowledgeable about watches.  Very little sales pressure from most.  I have tried on quite a few pieces there.  I don’t think I could part with the coin needed to buy one of these watches, but, they are darn nice to look at.  If you go there, be sure to check out the Breitlings, they are pretty darn sharp looking.  My personal favorites are the Omegas, particularly, the Speedmaster Pro, brown and the Railmaster. As for pricing, they can usually offer some discount and do have some decent closeout prices, well, relatively decent.
Five out of Five stars.
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Store Review, Macy’s, Oakbrook, IL

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Store Review: Macy’s, Oakbrook, IL

Overview: Chain department store

Brands sold/spotted: Fossil, Nautica, TAG Heuer, Seiko, Citizen, many more.
Prices: Retail ($40 to $9000+)

Watch bands/bracelets sold there? No

Detailed Review:

This store has two watch sections, a fine watch and a fashion watch section.  The fashion watch section has a very wide selection and often has sales on most brands.  The sales staff is helpful and have a good knowledge of the product in their area.  Usually you never have to wait for help.  They have Fossil, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger (Macy’s Exclusive), and many more.  There are quite a few automatics in the $100 range as well.  This section gets 4 out of 5 stars.

The fine watch section has just awful customer service.  You can rarely get anyone to help you.  When you do, they seem rushed and would rather be selling fine jewelry.  Virtually no knowledge of the product, which is not good you are shopping for a ‘timepiece’.  Pricing is underwhelming, unless they are having a closeout sale.  The problem with closeouts is you can’t return the item.  One out of Five stars.

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Store Review, Nordstrom, Oakbrook, IL

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Store Review: Nordstrom, Oakbrook, IL

Overview: Chain department store

Brands sold/spotted: Zodiac, Baume and Mercier, Longiness, AK, et al.

Prices: Retail ($40 to $4000)

Watch bands/bracelets sold there? No

Detailed Review:

This store has one watch counter with a very wide range of price points.  Anything from $45 Anne Klein fashion watches to $2,400 Longiness are right along side each other.  It is kind of odd, actually.  Like having Timex next to Rolex.  The staff was pretty helpful, but not the most knowledgeable about watches.  The younger salespeople are more eye candy than helpful.  Prices are pretty much retail.  They do have Zodiac’s, which are pretty neat looking watches, if you like quartz.  3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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Store Review: Movado Company Store, Oak Brook, IL

By | | Store Review, Watch Musings
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Store Review: Movado Company Store, Oak Brook, IL

Overview: Corporate owned direct sales store

Brands sold/spotted: Movado Only

Prices: Retail ($250 to $6000)

Watch bands/bracelets sold there? No

Detailed Review:

I am not a huge fan of Movado watches, but they are a classic and well respected brand that others like.  Customer service here is excellent, with Enrico being so memorable I still remember his name after 3 months or so.  Selection covers just about every current watch that Movado sells from the classic Museum to contemporary quartz chronographs.  Sad to say, I like some of the styles, but the sport watches tend to hang off of my wrist and they are not that competitive with quality vs. price as Seiko or Citizen.  They are Swiss made and have Swiss prices.  Prices are comparable to TAG Heuer on their mid tier watches.  The Sport’s Junior line (hate the name) is reasonable priced and sized, less than $500, but like I said, does not compare to other makers.  The store is very clean and well lit and it is an enjoyable experience shopping there.  Four out of Five stars.

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Store Review: Rogers and Holland, Oak Brook

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Rogers and Holland in Oak Brook, IL

Overview: Corporate owned mall jewelery store

Brands sold/spotted: Hamilton, Citizen, Rado, et al.

Prices: Retail

Watch bands/bracelets sold there? No

Detailed Review:

I orginally checked out this store to see the Hamilton watches. I like Hamiltons, they are American cased and have many military style watches. They did have a nice selection, but the sales staff there is awful. They are rude, pushy, and know very little to nothing about watches. The prices are retail or worse. The salespeople don’t leave you alone and offer credit very early on in the selling process. The second time I went there, it was even worse. Avoid this store unless you really want to buy or try on a Hamilton. One out of Five stars.

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New Feature

By | | Store Review, Watch Musings
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I really like to visit watch stores and stores that sell watches.  Wouldn’t it be nice if someone out there could tell you where you can go and what stores to avoid?  Well, here I am.  I live in a Southwest suburb of Chicago and work in a Western suburb of Chicago.  I have visited many stores that sell watches and the occasional watch store.  I have had great experiences and terrible.  All of the reviews are for visits within the last year and will be dated and updated, if possible.  I generally don’t give stores a second chance.  If you would like to add reviews for stores in your area, post in the comments or e-mail me at contact”no spam”@cyberphreak.com.

The first store up is “The Time Center” in Westchester, IL.

Overview:  Family owned storefront watch and clock store.

Brands sold/spotted:  Seiko, Invicta, Bulova, Swatch, et al.

Prices:  Retail or discounted.  No gouging seen and I think you can haggle.

Watch bands/bracelets sold there?  Yes

Detailed Review:

This is a nice, small operation with excellent customer service.  Selection is not huge in watches, but the do stock and sell Seiko 5 watches!  They do repairs on premesis and the store is owed by a watchmaker.  They also have a very large selection of wall and table clocks.  Of particular interest is the sheer breadth of watch bands and bracelets sold there.  They have just about everything from Speidel to Hadley Roma and above.  They have NATO, carbon fiber, rubber, lizard, crocodile, steel, and gold bands in stock.  Their prices are retail or better than some online prices I have seen!  Customer service is excellent and attentive and not pushy at all.  They also have quite a few vintage pocket and wrist watches in stock at fair prices.  All the used watches have been serviced.  This is, by far, my favorite watch store.  Five out of Five stars overall.

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