Alright, let's calm down here.

I understanstand that you want to scratch an itch, and that you have an opportunity here, but buying an expensive watch in a rush, especially when your finances are not good is never a good idea.

Don't buy a watch if you cannot financially replace it right away. You just start the hobby, so more opportunities will show up.

But at the end, it is your money, your wrist, your collection, your opportunity. Just make sure you'll have no regrets.

Let us know what you decided.

A two-tone Cartier Santos would do the job. But a quality steel watch would work too, even if it is not a dedicated dress watch (ex: Speedmaster).

Just wear a meaningful watch. It will become even more meaningful.

I personnaly wore a Seiko SARB033 at my wedding, as I was starting the hobby in 2017.

And congratulations!

The Seamaster Diver is a very capable diver, from this era, at least.

I like to set the time on my watches before wearing them (go away watch winder!)

I hate taking my watch off to set the time because the time is off after few days.

The accuracy matters to me (ok quartz, you win on this one..), especially when the watch is expensive.

Unfortunately, the price of a watch doesn't mean anything in this topic, especially non-quartz ones, which gives me a harder time to put money on the table when I do purchase high horology mechanical watches.

Fortunately, we are heading to more accuracy with time.

8 watches collection

Goal: shrink to 5.

Might take more than a year though..

Depends where you go, what you plan to do, and what watch you want to have memories (because this watch is special to you and that you will never sell).

If it is downtown a big city, take something cheap, if you plan to dive... you know the answer, but I am sure you won't go that deep, right?

I would (if I had your collection) personaly go with the explorer.

Let us know what you decide

Like you, my wife is not into watches.

For her, it is like a tool, and it should not be exmensive. I don't blame her, she cannot understand other people interests, like me. It is like if she tells you about her purses collection, at some point, you will think that you don't care. Same for my wife and my watches. I won't force her, it will just bring arguments, otherwise.

Of course she likes that I wear a nice watch, but that's it.

Just leave it.