Next watch purchase

Christopher Ward C63 Automatic, you won't find a better finished watch at that price. The come in blue, black, green, or white depending on your preference. 

They are $895 USD on a bracelet, or $770 USD using the code 125LOUPE25 to save $125 dollars. 

Have a size in mind first that fits you and is comfortable. Most dive watches start at 40mm. Try on some watches locally to establish what features you like and comfort level. Suggestions here will be all over the spectrum without that.

Seikoluxe.com in their Prospex line

I wouldn’t rule out German watches or Seiko, or Orient

some much better watches for the money than anything which says “Swiss” on it
 

https://www.rzewatches.com/

I would imagine Hamilton would have a lot that would appeal.  The khaki aviation converter and pilot pioneer/day dates are excellently made and, I believe, generally below or around $1000 at retail (which means less on the grey market).  I bet you could probably even get a pre-owned aviation converter GMT (with a jumping local hour hand!) within budget. 

The Certina DS action GMT (another true GMT) has a very strong field watch aesthetic, particularly in the black and green motif.  They, of course, make very competent divers as well.  The ph200m has a lot of spec and a lot of vintage character for the price range (vs say comparable Tissots and Hamilton's).

Brew, a microbrand from NY, has some interesting pieces. Their watches all center around espresso and coffee 

Check out Certina divers! 

A few suggestions:

If you want a more edgy retro style dive watch, then you can't go wrong with Zodiac. They are Swiss made (owned by Fossil), use a Swiss made STP 3-13 automatic movement, and have a range of colorful and more traditional dive watches in their Super Sea Wolf line. They also have a mineral glass bezel which gives it more of a vintage bakelite-style 1950s/60s look.

Here are a few that I have in the collection - I paid between $800-1,000 for brand new box/papers - you can find these for less than list if you hunt around (except for the super popular references like the Watermelon) - case size is 40mm so should fit average wrist sizes and thickness is between 13-14mm so not too unfriendly for your shirt cuffs:

Tissot 329 for a Automatic Chrono 

900 bucks

Alpina 700 to 800

900 Alpina SeaStrong

Glycine Combat Sub 400 and up

Ive just ordered this, limited to 120, in budget and hand made.

https://www.ecandersson.com/product/poseidon/

May I suggest a Swiss made compressor style diver 

direnzo Drz5 Solaris 

you can get it with or without a date 

 lots of options out there. Do you have a style in mind, colormorderenfe. Size, etc?   
 

Seiko SPB143 is a great looking and versatile dive option.   not a micro, but great value and be had preowned under 1000.  

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/im-celebrating-my-one-year-anniversary-with-the-seiko-prospex-spb143-by-answering-your-questions

For a more vintage look. baltic is offering sime nice pieces near the bottom of your price range. A few examples:

I would keep a hold until I came across something that's calling your name rather than going out to burn some amount of cash. Just a thought ☺️ No judgment

I am in the same research but more on the 500€ and less segment. 100m water resistant at least and a short lug to lug (as close as 44/45mm as possible) and here are few of what I found : 

Phoibos Voyager 3

Geckota Airstream gen 2

Relio Solstice

Van Banner VBAO

Montage Diver

York & Front the Burrard

Biotic Formicidae.

I love what Dietrich watches makes but more in the 1000$ segment, you can watch Orion too.

And, if you want to take a look at :

Clemence Photic

Lorier

Zelos

Rze

Farer Universal (I own one, very nice piece)

...

Have a great search !

Field watch: Hamilton Khaki Field automatic is a good option, as are the Nodus sector series of watches and Farer watches.

For sport watches, I would look at Lorier or Traska for micros. Seiko Prospex watches (usually around the $750 price) like the alpinist series would be good too. While it's more of a modern flieger, you can find Damasko DS30s for around $800 used, which are a great value imho.

For dive watches: seiko's midrange divers (turtles, tunas, etc) offer great value around the $450-600 level while their SPB line offers great value in the $1,000 range. I agree with the other person who suggested a Longines Hydroconquest, which is around $1,000 or $1,200 as another good option. Tons of micro divers too that seem interesting - like the new one just release this week by Long Island Watch. 

Love Oris I have 2 of them.  Aquis calibre 400 green dial and pointer date.  Considering the propilot X with 5 day pwr reserve.

Don't think you can go wrong with the Tissot PRX.  If that's not your jam then check out Brew and Lorier.

Impressive list. Some names on there that I have not heard of, my search continues....

great suggestions bro

Hamilton “Cooper” £800 Day/Date Complication 

Yeah the search never ends.   To many great watches and not enough money to buy them all lol.  Have a great weekend 🍻

Watch looks supercool, but over US$800 for a microbrand homage to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms running a basic Seiko movement is a little steep on the price side. 

I checked out all the details - looks like only ten left for pre-order. I just couldn't pull the trigger at that price.

Would love to hear what you think of it when you get yours.

I’ll let you know👍, I’m a sucker for a FF :-)

Fifty Fathoms is beyond question my favorite dive watch - if I could only keep one watch, I would definitely not let my Fifty Fathoms go.

Even though I have a proper Fifty Fathoms, I have been suckered in by some other homages that are pretty tasty and cool - here are a few to consider:

Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms customization (you can order these from a dealer on eBay):

Seiko FiftyFive Fathoms Barakuda customization (same dealer on eBay):

And, of course, the inexpensive Spinnaker FF homage:

Love them :-) 

Ive got a few too, I love the Barakuda but it’s so expensive now.

Here’s my FF’s

RG

Amazing collection 

Wow, just wow

I love the Resolute Super Compressor. 

I’d check out Muehle-Glashutte, specifically the SAR Rescue timer. Or the Nomos-Glashütte Club. 
 

Tuseno Shellback, Farer Watches, Christopher Ward, Serica.