As several others have stated, the returns are in the eye of the beholder.

A YouTuber (I Like Watches IIRC) did a macro shot of the steel bracelet of a San Martin and a Grand Seiko side by side and the finishing was very comparable. Few hundred dollars versus a few thousand dollars and Grand Seiko are world class in finishing. This is NOT to fault the finishing of Grand Seiko, it’s the cheaper watch that has exceptional finishing for the price.

Quartz is more accurate than automatic, but generally much cheaper. 

A G-Shock is in many ways arguably objectively superior as a timepiece compared to the vast majority of luxury watches. It’s much tougher, has been to space, can snorkel and dive, is cheaper, more accurate, has light, alarms, dual time, can be solar, etc.

You have to think about what you are personally interested in and what you like. Don’t think that more expensive is necessarily any better, it could easily be objectively worse. So don’t go up in price, unless the more expensive piece “speaks” to you.

Given what you are considering, I think that you should maybe take a look at the Baltic Aquascaphe. It’s an automatic retro diver that you can also use as a sports or dress watch, especially if you change the strap to suit the occasion. It’s around 750’ish USD. I think it’s very tasteful and versatile. That being said, it’s of course completely wrong if you don’t like retro divers.

Edit: Sorry, I didn’t see that you wanted a quartz. Some posts were added while I was responding.

Edit 2: Tissot has the PRX both in quartz and automatic and the integrated bracelet on that is very nicely done. Less than 1K, but I very much doubt that 1K or 1.5K is going to be a guarantee for better finishing. 🤷‍♂️

I am very interested in San Martin watches. I am pretty sure that I will end up getting one or two of them, just have to figure out which one(s).

The datejust homages look very nice and I would like to try the custom logo option, especially if I can combine it with their applied logo. Not really too keen on the font they use below the center. I think I will try the two-tone or the all steel/white/silver one.

I wish that I really liked one of their original designs.

I spend an inordinate amount of time gawking at San Martin watches on their website.

I am not really a huge fan of expensive watches, but with a billion I’d probably not be able to stay away from a Grand Seiko snowflake. Even without winning the lottery that one is tempting to me.

Consider an inelastic NATO strap too. You want to make sure it’s loose enough. My son (8) also loves watches and yeah, Casio is an amazing brand for light watches.

Orient also have some very nice automatic divers, which are widely praised for punching far above their price point.

Either a dark green DW-5600 or a blue San Martin BB58 homage.

A green DW was the first watch I went scuba diving with. This was 30 years ago? 😬 The resin shroud has now given up, it broke apart completely when I cleaned it. I am toying with the idea of changing out the screws and wearing it with a 3rd party strap.

I am curious about San Martin. I heard a lot of positive things and my initial contact with the company has been a very good experience and I want to try their custom logo service. I really like the idea of trying to “design” a dial print. I never tried that before and I am also curious about the PT5000 movement.

🤔 I wear an automatic diver the vast majority of the time.

That being said, I think it somewhat depends on your “dress code“ at work.

I think for true super almost-never-take-it-off versatility, you’re probably looking at something like a 10 bar dress watch. 
 

If you don’t have any requirements like that then a digital 10 bar watch or a G-Shock. Set it and leave it on, change the entire watch or just the battery every 10 years or so. Casio 800, 1200 or 5600, all candidates for GOAT if you don’t regularly wear a suit and a 1200 might even be able to pull that off, albeit with a bit of tongue in cheek. 😊