For this budget I'd go with an IWC Spitfire bronze... I guess it's a pilot's watch initially, but with the numerals and 39 mm case it's pretty close to a field watch, and I love the green dial.

IWC also has a big pilot (43 mm) and chronograph (41 mm) in bronze but at this point it's really more aviation-inspired than field watch.

Otherwise, for a more budget-friendly option, I think the CW C65 Sandhurst in bronze works well. CW has experience with bronze for divers, but this one definitely has all the attributes of a field watch. This one can also come with a bronze bracelet (although that departs from the field watch aesthetic).

Actually you're right, it does make a huge difference! Every time my wife asks me where we should go to grab a coffee and I reply "the place to eat", it sort of sounds like "where else could we go anyway, that's the only place for this sort of things".

The café at John Lewis (a department store in the UK) is literally called "The place to eat"! At least it's honest about what it is, and it doesn't give you false expectations about what you'll get there (it's just a café with industrial food at the end of the day)... 😜

Thank you. I know "they are only watches", but I certainly don't plan to ever get rid of those two! It just feel special when they are linked to a special milestone.

Thanks! Hopefully it's only the beginning, but I better start saving some money first! 💸

Thank you!

I guess I didn't put too much thought into it, but that design appealed and I wanted something special... Diver is probably one of the best as first watch (or a flieger/field watch), but I guess it's particularly true with a bracelet as it's more versatile, while the FXD is really on the toolish side and it's hard to dress up.

I think dress watches look great, but I'm happy that I can go in this direction now that I already have a rugged watch... I agree that the opposite would probably not have worked for me either.

That being said, Junghans Max Bill is a really attractive watch!