Best watch at every price point $500-$5000

Good picks, Max! What about an Orient Kamasu/Bambino or a Tissot PRX Quartz for that sub-500 range?

Also, can you really pick up a new Santos for $6000? 

Orient definitely plays in that segment. I was also trying to think of a microbrand.

I'm just going by what Google tells me on Cartier prices 😅

I think you might want to go for microbrands for the sub $500. Or Timex. They have great watches under $500.

Casio Duro MDV! 👍

Yeah I question that Cartier price too. Cheapest medium Santos is $6800 on Cartier website. 
 

Sub $500… Tissot Seastar, Hamilton Khaki, Scurfa Diver One, Orient Star, Citizen Promaster Diver, Islander ISL-09, Baltic HMS, Vaer A5, Zelos Swordfish or Hammerhead V3, Timex M79

I would still take the Seiko GMT as best value under $500 by far though. 

Orient, islander, casio, and citizen all have some great sub 500 watches. 

For microbrand maybe a brew chrono, a lot of the other microbrands I can think of come in at $499.

Hi Max great list! Mine would be a little different:

< $500 Sternglas Naos Automatik or Citizen Tsuyosa

$500 Tissot PRX or Seiko Alpinist Reinterpretation
$1000 Farer Lander or Mido Multifort Chronometer
$2000 Longines spirit (absolutely agree)
$3000 Nomos Ahoi Neomatik
$4000 Tudor Royal
$5000 Omega Aqua Terra (absolutely agree)
$6000 Rolex Datejust 36

PS: I forgot the range 500-1000, added two alternatives.

I was surprised there wasn't a GS on your list, my best watches are the ones I wear the most.

Was gonna say Scurfa too! 

Look closer 😉. Of course there is

Sternglas naos is a great suggestion, just overlaps too much with the Junghans 

The Black model is 8000$. Not that I checked yesterday 🤭

Agree, but i always wanted to buy a Junghans and always bought sth different. I couldn't find them so proper in price/value ratio perspective. If you go higher in their price range, then Nomos comes to my mind :) 

btw i've seen that I forgot the range 500-1000, added two alternatives ;)

Totally agree with you

<500 I’d include Seagull 1963. Affordable mechanical chronograph with a beautiful looking movement, fun vintage dial, and interesting history. If you’re just getting into watches, it’s quirky, wallet-friendly, and mechanical, with actual watch nerd cred. 

For under $500 you cant go wrong with the Casio DW5600.

Dan Henry

Wow thanks for putting this together. Lots of more obscure choices.  I especially dig that Sinn 👌

Zelos has a knack got making solid watches for the price. I remember looking at a skeleton watch (hard to make a good one at the sub $5k price point) they had awhile back and then the dive watch with the outstanding depth/$ metric.

Sub 500 hmmm... I'll sell my LE John Mayer Gshock for under 500 lets see how about 499 😂

I know my review is overdue but haven’t worn it enough but these watches are well under appreciated!! off course the dial alone is amazing!! Plus the price point !! For sub 700 you cannot go wrong!!!

Since this comment is way to late and far down the list, I will excuse myself for not actually checking price points and totally guessing on most of these.  I suppose it's what I think these things should cost...

BTW - being GS nerd have to mention to @Max it's SBGA not SBGM 

without further ado:

sub 500 Timex Marlin Peanuts, snoopy hugging an earth

600 to 400 SARX089 (red hemp leaf) or SRPE41  (red cocktail time)

1000 Zodiac Super Sea Wolf, COSC model like Aquamarine Dream , or, Mulle Glashutte Panova also screw crown and 100m

2000 Sinn U50.  

3000  🤔

4000  IWC Top Gun chrono, Lake Placid

5000 Sbga 469 Katsushiro!  Armor! Blue Purple!

 6000, Sbga463 or Omega Seamaster 300, or Louis Errard x Alain Silberstein

There, perfect list!

They came out with a 34 mm version in white, but it may have already sold out (like the green 40mm one)

I spent way too long thinking about this, especially since I can’t imagine ever spending so much on a watch. Still fun to think about

500: Hamilton Ventura 
1000: Junghans Max Bill 34mm handwinding

2000: Sinn 556A

3000: Cartier Tank Solarbeat

4000: Tudor Pelagos 39

5000: Omega Speedmaster 38

6000: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36

Some have been mentioned, but here is my take ... fun post, thanks @Max and your list is a tough one to follow.   (Note:  Prices are best guess balancing retail and AD / Grey Market discounts)

$500 - The new Seiko GMT would also have been my pick.     If not,  the Hamilton 38mm Automatic    Clean yet interesting dial, dress it up or down and can be found discounted below $500.     For a micro brand and a little dressier, Baltic HMS 002 sector dial.   

$1000 Sinn 556   I used to own the 556ib (blue).   38mm, great build quality and brand.  Dial is so versatile!  With the 20mm strap options, could easily be your one and only watch for all occasions.     

$2000 I like a Longines as the pick around 2K.   But instead of the Spirit,  I'm going with the black and steel BigEye Chronograph. (I used to own the blue titanium).   Great dial, great backstory, and a column wheel ETA movement!    This watch gets a lot of hype,  deserves it and I've never met an AD that didn't sell it at a significant discount.    Alt:  Oris is so good in the 2000 / sub 2000 price range.    My pick, the Big Crown Pointer Date in steel blue. Love the font on the 4 hour market too.   Or Oris Aquis if you prefer a more sporty option.

$3000 Tudor BB58.  Spot on and can't think of a better option at this price point.   Put on a BB58 and call it a day.  Tudor owns this spot.    I used to own a BB58 blue and imagine I will again at some point. 

$4000 The GS 221 is also a great pick.    But I think in the 4000's, I'm staying with Grand Seiko but  a spring drive heritage SBGA437, SBGA439, SBGA465, and SBGA467.   40mm, 100m water resistance and a rock solid (and really cool imo) movement.  Pick your favorite of the four dial options and dress up or down as needed. 

$5000 Again you've got some great picks especially here with the AT.  But I'll save Omega, and go with the new IWC Mark XX.    This watch seemed ordinary to me, until I had a chance to try it on. Simple, wears well at 40mm, but the sunburst blue dial is wonderful and makes even more special.  And hey, throw in 100m water resistance and screw down crown.  

$6000 Ah the Santos.  I've tried this watch on so many times and love everything about it.  I even prefer its look after its been worn and a little scratched up (or a lot).   Came very close to buying it preowned from my AD, but it's just too dressy for me and I know a lot of people feel the same way.  So at this range, I'm going with  OMEGA Speedmaster Professional.     It's a classic with history and anything I write will have already been said (many many times over).     

I’d probably put a Seiko5 Sports at the sub $500, and substitute the PRX at that $500+ range… but its all a toss up and think you’re spot on with all that you listed.

Citizen NB1050-59E or NJ0150 line for <$500

I made a list of 128 watches under 500 (including grey market) about a year ago and the prices have changes, oh boy, they have. But still some of the list would be:

Hamilton Khaki Field 
Glycine Combat Sub
Orient Star SAF020 
Seiko Prospex Mini Turtle-SRPC37K1
Bulova Hack 
Citizen Promaster Diver 
Citizen Eco-Drive Super Titanium Armor 
Citizen Automatic Titanium NJ2180-89L 
Citizen Promaster Nighthawk 
Frederique Constant Quartz FC-235M4S4 
Orient Triton 
Orient Bambino 2nd Gen 
Orient Kamasu 
Seiko SKX 007 
Seiko Flightmaster 
Seiko SNXS79J1 
Seiko 5 Sport SRPD Series
Tissot Heritage Visodate Automatic 
Tissot Seastar 1000 
Tissot Gentleman Quartz
Casio G-Shock GA-2100 
Casio G-Shock 5610 
Casio F-91 
Casio CA53-A 
Casio Royale Casio AE1200 
Baltic HMS 002 
Brew Retrograph 
Brew Metric 
Dan Henry Watches 
Deep Blue Diver 1000 
Dufrane Barton Spring 656 
Lorier Falcon
Lorier Neptune 
Lum-Tech Combat B46 
Spinnaker Fleuss 
Sternglass NAOS Automatic 
Straton Comp Driver 
Unimatic U4 
Zelos Swordfish 
Zelos Blacktip 
Zelos Hammerhead 
Zelos Mako 
Hemel Track 
Helm Vanuatu 
Tissot PRX Quartz
Rotary Super 7 
Scurfa Diver 1 
Bulova Pilot Automatic 
Seagull 1963 
Vostok Amphibian 170548 
Vostok Amphibian 120512 
Hamilton Khaki King 
Laco Augsburg 
Marathon Navigator 
Seiko Presage "Cocktail time" 
Axios Flagship 
Laco Aachen 
Seiko SRPD 25 Monster 
Phoibos Eagle Ray Compressor 
Traser P59 
HEMEL Mecaquartz Chronograph
RZE Endeavour 
RZE Resolute 
Boldr Venture 
Corniche HERITAGE L’ÉTÉ 
Dufa Elemental
Vaer Tropic USA Diver D5 
Vaer Pacific USA Diver D5 
Vaer Arctic Solar Diver D4 
Vaer A5 Heritage 
Draken Tugela 
About Vintage 1926 
About Vintage 1844 
Nodus Retrospect 
Nodus Sector Dive
Victorinox I.N.O.X. 
Orient Maestro 
Timex Marlin 
Junghans Max Bill Quartz 
Timex Navi XL 
Bulova Lunar Pilot 
Citizen Automatic Titanium NY0100-50XE 
Melbourne Watch Company Fitzroy

Max, great list. But I have a question. If I already have every watch on your list in my collection, should I:
a) Feel really good about myself.
OR
b) Seek professional help for financial planning.

Regardless, thanks for the validation and great content. Please keep it up.