I actually like the cyclops - a bit old fashioned and funky, and I want variety in my admittedly small and embryonic collection. But if I get tired of it, I know what to do now. Thanks for the tip!

So it was tricky trying to get an in focus shot without too much glare, but maybe you can see the misalignment here:

It's just very mildly annoying to me, and especially given the discount I got I'm not going to complain - not about to go hunting for the one perfectly QC'd Seiko out there!

My congratulations and condolences. Is that the large or medium? The Santos - especially on the bracelet - is my current aspirational piece. I've toyed with the idea of getting the medium quartz, but beyond a certain level I feel like the movement also has to justify the price, and as far as I know the quartz movement Cartier uses isn't anything really special like the Grand Seiko 9F or the higher end Citizen calibers. But then there's the kind of issues you have run into. If you have the large and it was offered with a quartz, would you still take it? Just curious to see what an actual Santos owner thinks. Best of luck!

I'm not an experienced enthusiast by any means, but having done shopping recently myself, I think the first question for yourself has to be: what's my budget? That may already narrow down which brands you look at. And besides general sizing and numerals, does she have any other preferences like color? Does she like certain kinds of jewelry, and want her watches to complement them? Or does that not matter so much?

Sorry I don't have any concrete suggestions - just some thoughts on how to approach selection. I had some pretty specific criteria when looking (rose gold colored), so that made things easier. For what it's worth, if your wife is into a modern minimalist/Bauhaus aesthetic, look at Sternglas. I have the Naos XS, which I think is under 36mm but to me wears larger due to lack of bezel and the domed crystal. It's quartz, which I don't mind especially since it doesn't have a second hand. I think their mechanical offerings are larger than 36mm. To me, Sternglas is great for getting a quality dress piece at a reasonable price - Junghans on a budget!

Thanks so much - really great detail! I think this gives me a bit more peace of mind that what I'm getting will last without too much wear. And I'd rather have real gold, even if only capped. Vintage probably wouldn't have been appropriate for this particular gift but may keep that in mind for the future. Thanks again so much!

Thanks - hope it's as nice on the wrist, fingers crossed!

That was my guess but wasn't sure from what I saw. Thanks!