Best Three Watch Collection under $3000 (USD): WatchCrunch Edition

Love this idea! Great way of seeing watches quickly with some editorializing.  I could answer this prompt seventy different ways but I think I'll stick with microbrands for now and even do a diver, driver, flyer thing.

1.  Monta Atlas GMT ($1950)

Not the highest value packed GMT out there but one of the best finished.  The liquid blue dial of Monta dresses up super well, making this the best go from plane to office to weekend watch out there in the price range.  You'd feel comfortable with this as your one watch.

Exceptionally reliable and easily serviced Sellita movement and a best in class bracelet for the price range. 

2. Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph ($270)

Something completely different. Classy, old world, dressy and a near perfect footprint. I don't trust most mechanical chronographs in this range and when a mech quartz is this well executed, how could you say no?

3. Zelos Spearfish ($750)

And finally a best in class micro diver.  The spearfish with the new Le Joux Perret movement is a perfectly sized looker with exceptional specs.  Im not much of a diver guy but this one tempts.

I love these picks. Great variety of complications and dial colours. Monta’s been producing some cool pieces but that price bracket has stiff competition.

Certain of my watches tend to dominate wrist time because of their versatility.  Given the price constraints, I figured most of the budget ought to end up in something that I'd feel great wearing most places.  

Too casual and it doesn't fit the office.  Too dressy and it doesn't travel great or get to after school activities.  And just enough sparkle to feel special on a night out.

The rest to fill out specific occasions like weddings or something more active.

Love your picks too!  I feel like your philosophy was similar.

These might be my favourite thread types. I love seeing the variety of watches that come up. I’ll be taking from my current collection as I can’t narrow down the ones I want to buy just now. 
 

First up would be my Chris Ward C60 Sapphire. It’s fun, got a great Sellita movement and is currently my favourite diver. Current price $1170. 

Second because I think it’s an interesting looking watch I can wear daily and as there’s only 140 of them in the world to give me that limited edition feel, my E.C.A Calypso II. It’s also a Swedish brand that I like as I currently live here. Current price about $750. 

Last choice is my Borealis Sintra. Recently became my favourite watch (got my own post explaining why). It looks great I can dress it up and down easily and also is quite different to the other two. Currently costs about $690. 

One brand collection! Absolutely, Citizen has been killing it and evolving their designs as general interest in watches increases. This integrated bracelet watch with a president bracelet, Citizen NJ0150, at around $300 blew me away. Comes in yellow, black, blue and green.

1. Integrated bracelet sports watch - $2,788

2. 80's childhood nostalgia, but now I can afford the premium version - $68.90

3. Who doesn't love Snoopy??? - $135

Pretty sure he’s an undercover SEO manager for WatchCrunch. He is a link machine. Great article, I learned a lot - surprised California dials were designed for legibility.

Those chronomaster with the washi dials are 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Were you able to get/are you waiting for an Atelier Wen Perception? I just filled out the reservation form yesterday. I still can't choose between salmon and blue.

Right now and heavily influenced by my current watches. 

1. Ball Fireman Nightbreaker $1400 

2. Hamilton KFA $700

3. Spinnaker Boettger 

I see the ball as something that can really dress up or down.  Plus it just looks great.   The kfa is going to handle a lot of different situations. And the spinnaker was picked because the floating indices are cool and having a 300m dive watch is overkill. The rest would be spent on various straps.

I filled out the reservation form yesterday as well!  Shipping in November, is my understanding.

I want the salmon!!!

The perfect three watch collection will be the opposite of what I currently possess. I really just have discarded dress watches now, but this is what could be:

1.  I don't have a functioning chronograph.  This will do: 

Pook Watch Company: Nitrogen ($200.81)

Who doesn't love a Finnish quartz chrono?

2. I don't own a pilot watch. I am not a pilot. I really have no use for a pilot watch, a condition that I share with 99% of all pilot watch owners. Why not: 

Prim ($784.69)

There are two companies fighting over the Prim name and legacy. I don't know if this is the "good" one or not.  The other doesn't sell a watch under $3,000.00 so it really doesn't matter for purposes of this exercise. I love the old logo. I have no idea what movement drives this. The website is not helpful. I am sure that it is fine.

3. While I was fiddling getting pictures for this comment @HotWatchChick69 dropped his porcelain dial watch comment. Well, I need a porcelain watch too. This gets made in batches of ten: 

Blonie Rzemieslniczy ($1,890.00)

You can also order it with an engraved dial. I opt for porcelain.

I have enough money left over to troll eBay for a decrepit vintage watch.

The real question is: did @roberto have any of these watches already saved in files on his computer, or did I go far enough afield?

I love @HotWatchChick69 strategy in loading up on one and getting two greater lower priced pieces.  My natural inclination is to build a largely Seiko-based collection, but I figured I would put my money where my mouth is. Sorry for the phone pics and the fact I did not feel like setting all the times.  

First place suggestion based entirely on my feelings this evening. Seiko SBDC167, Hamilton Intramatic Chrono H71626735, and the Serica 4512 WMB. This can be currently built new online under $3k. 

Second place suggestion; Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch, Unimatic Modello Uno, and the Seiko SPB093.

Lastly, Sinn 104, Oak and Oscar Humbolt, and the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope.

Also, yes the last two suggestions technically have a collected retail price exceeding $3K, but all can be had under $3k with eBay and a little time.  

😮 The indices... are attached to the crystal? I wonder how parallax affects the legibility. The dial on the Nightbreaker is very cool as well.

Looks like you have affinity for brown/orange hues. I have some brand research ahead of me! Btw, the watch HotWatchChick69 mentioned is a rose engine-turned guilloche dial on a copper base. Atelier Wen did do a porcelain watch in the past and that is beautiful as well.

Here's my quickly thrown together entry for ladies:

1. Tank Must — $2,790
2. GWM5610U-1 — $150
3. LA670WGA-1 — $43

The Tank and the teeny tiny gold-tone Casio have you covered for any non-rugged situation, and the black square is for anything else life throws at you.

Glad to see someone else followed my "blow it all on something nice and fill out the remainder with inexpensive options" strategy.

So, I’m just going with a personal vibe here, so take it or leave it. I like classic, and clean, but I also like military/field/tool and I think I might have found you a 4 watch all-round collection, but with some alternatives depending on your preferences… The other thing I considered is that you could buy these right now if you so wished. No missed kickstarters, pre-orders, waiting for stock, just grab your credit card and go.

1. Timor Field Heritage WWW (~$1100). Timor is a dirty dozen brand, and they have recently come back into the watch market, and offer a modern version of their WWII Field Watch powered by a Sellita SW260-1 / SW262-1 depending if you want automatic or hand-wound. It’s 36mm, but is a classic looking piece with modern specs. I think it’s handsome, and could be worn as a daily or maybe could double as a dressier watch if you change the strap… as an alternative, I would offer up either the Bulova Hack if you are after an American military field that is versatile at 38mm (~$350) 

or the Kuoe Kyoto Old Smith 90-002 ($318) which is smaller at 35mm, powered by a Seiko NH38, and has a few different colour-ways such as this lovely ivory face.

2. A diver is probably a staple of any watch collection now, but they are relatively interchangeable between brands as they all share common points of reference. Therefore, if you wanted a diver with a little bit of character, I would recommend one of the Open Water series from Vero. This North Coast version, on a bracelet, would set you back $845, and it’s 40mm and powered by an in-house regulated Sellita SW200-1. 

Alternatively, if you do not want a diver, but want something tool-y and interesting, this Smiths Black Shadow PRS-38 is still available from Timefactors (£445) and pays homage to the design of vintage motor cycle instruments. Powered by an ETA2830, it’s an interesting little package. You could also try your luck and get one of the more popular Everest or Commando models, but that might not be until next year.

3. I think a dedicated dress watch is a must, and there are a fair few obvious choices on the market, or you could try your luck on the vintage market. It feels like cheating as I have offered up something from Kuoe Kyoto as an alternative already, but their Royal Smith 90-006 is a very handsome looking watch which contains some classic styling, textured paper dial, and Breguet-style numerals. At 35mm it has a classic feel and wear, and the modern Miyota cal.9039 is a hi-beat movement that is reliable. I think this is a beautiful watch for the money ($468).

alternatively, Merkur do some awesome dress watches, and this one at $109 could see you through.

4. So, cheekily, I think a fourth watch would round out this classic selection, and it is the Dan Henry 1945 ($280).

It is a clear homage to the Jardur Bezelmeter 960 that De Niro wore in Ronin, so it’s up there in terms of “cool”. It wears 41.5mm, and has a Miyota 6S20 quartz chronograph movement with smooth seconds, so it could pass as a classic movement to the untrained eye.

Similarly, if you want a watch with the older chronograph setup, but slightly different in terms of execution, then Undone have a few options like this Vintage Killy for £250. You can customise as well on certain models, if you want that personal touch.

So, a cheeky 4-watch collection for under $3000, with a classic masculine theme.

DOXA 300T (Orange or Aquamarine) - $1890

Serica 4512 - $600

Apple Watch - I don't know the versions, something mid strength

But ask again tomorrow and I'll give you 3 different watches

Alrighty i love these. so this is My take 

1. CW C63 GMT (39mm and around 1000€) this would be the everyday watch honestly this would also be my pick for a one watch collection if I could pull that of.

2. Furlan marri chrono 38mm 600€ I think. this would be my dress option  because it looks really dressy and is quartz so I don’t have to set it:) 

3. Seiko ginza Alpinist 38mm 1600€ or 700€ at retail but yeah that’s not possible I guess. So that would be another you can do it all watch

But if we are only talking about retail I would also throw the Oris big crown pointer date in the mix instead of the seiko

cheers 

I don't think it will be hard to spot the theme of my collection.

1. 1936 Omega Art Deco Pocket Watch ($600)

2. 1942 Omega HS↑8 Navigator's Watch for Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm ($1200)

3. 1962 Omega Manual Wind (Seamaster 30?) ($500)

Since I was also born in 1962, I can say that nothing newer is any good :) And, yes, my wife was born in 1961 and my daughter is the exception that proves the rule.

There’s way too many variables to make a perfect list. Wrist size, use case, occupation, etc. But off the top of my head:

Longines Spirit 37mm Silver $2000

Seiko Cocktail Time $400

GShock DW5600 $50

You could switch out the Longines for a diver but this is a pretty well rounded collection. 

I can’t seem to find this watch and only a few in Chrono24 what’s the exact ref# on this i plan to get a yellow and green one I think there’s a green one

Yellow is NJ0150-81Z and green is NJ0150-81X, I believe there is also a black and something else.

Thank you now the search continues!!!

Somehow I missed this before - that Pook Nitrogen III is so cool. Love the dive watch Tudor Heritage Chrono mash-up with black PVD. Of course, the price is pretty stellar as well.

You've just sent me to the Pook web site - had to add one of these to the collection.

Thanks!

I want one but it will have to wait until after Christmas.  I am spending a lot on home improvements now.