My perfect watch, almost....

Sounds like you’re describing a Hamilton.

Which one? I'm being picky. Aren't we all? I'm not aware of a hand wind Hamilton with a date complication but I'm very prepared to be wrong. Also, Hamilton (I own one) uses syringe hands extensively or cathedral hands. I like them. But those plain hands on the Oris make me so much happier. Pure. Simple. Clean. Easy to read. Tell me which Hamilton is hand wind, 39-41mm, has a date, and clean hands, and there's a good chance it'll be on my next order. No Roman numerals either. I admit I'm being picky. I've owned enough watches that I can be picky now. I've owned lots of "close enough" watches.

I admit I wasn’t thinking about a specific model, just that the brand in general seemed to be in line with the overall aesthetic. As for one that has all of those specs, I have no idea whatsoever. 😂 I wish you good luck, though!

Hamilton gets close. Hand winding is an irrational desire but I like the idea of the watch being that little bit thinner. And I like the display backs on hand winds. I own a Hamilton. I've owned other Hamiltons. Great watch, and you're right, spiritually close to what I'm looking for. The Oris is the closest I've seen and still I wish it was a tiny bit bigger and a bit less expensive.

Oh, the joys of watch collecting....

I think I like the look of your watch a bit more than the Oris Pro Pilot but I would like to see a more stylish hand set. Dial color is sweet.

Ticks all the boxes except date and lume. Sorry, now that I say that, I'm describing another "close enough" watch, aren't I? Still, this one is lovely, and within your price range.

https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/collections/pacific/products/pacific-52

I might be able to pass on lume. If that watch had a date complication it would be a winner. It's a beauty. It might even be enough for me to change my 8 watch collection to a 4 watch collection of which that one would be the most worn. I like it enough that I might have a 9 watch collection shortly. But. Yes, it's another "close enough" watch that isn't quite TheOne.

Cheers. Let me know if you get one. Always happy to see another Marloe fan onboard. I've loved owning it so far. Bought it about eight months ago.

Have you considered any of the other Oris Big Crown Pointer Dates? I'm thinking of the Cervo Volante in particular. Doesn't have the Oris movement, of course, but comes in at $2000 and looks spectacular.

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/big-crown-x-cervo-volante/01-754-7779-4065-set

The Cervo Volante is also close but I'm not a fan of the hands on it. It's the same reason I don't have a Hamilton Murph. Also, I'm irrationally drawn to a manual wind watch. The 473 is nearly perfect. 1mm bigger and more affordable and I'd own one. I may just have to bide my time and pick one up on the used market in a year or two and maybe the size isn't a deal breaker though I've listed watches for sale an hour after receiving them because I thought 38mm was close enough and changed my mind after putting it on. 39mm is already a compromise. That Marloe though. If it had a date complication it would be perfect.

I don't doubt the asking price of the 473 reflects the workmanship and quality of the watch and its proprietary and new movement. I could probably afford it but I also have vinyl, camera, motorcycle, wine, bicycle, and fountain pen habits to feed. And I want to put a turbo in my Miata next fall. And go to Italy a year from now. Too many distractions.... Love them all.....

I’m drawn to hand wound movements as well. I saw this new Oris on an Adrian Barker video today. Fantastic watch and the movement elevates it further for me.

This Hamilton might be as close as you’ll get from what I’ve seen so far. 38mm and no display back but it might do everything else you asked for.

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-ca/h69439363-khaki-field-mechanical.html

It's always a compromise.... Do I go for the Marloe which is the perfect size, beautiful display back and movement that justifies it, an incredible dial but no date. Or that Hamilton that has the date, better fits the budget, but is a bit small and without the display back?

Another compromise; Marloe makes a 40mm manual watch with date, no display back and it doesn't (IMHO) look nearly as good as the other Marloe linked above. The Meatloaf song plays constantly in my head.... 2 out of 3 ain't bad. But is it good enough?

I have a feeling I'm saving for an Oris 473. And maybe selling a couple of watches. In the mean time I'll keep looking for the perfect alternative.

Have you looked at the other models available from Oris. You could probably get something similar but with less power reserve. I've got a soft spot for the Oris Big Crown Date too.

Yeah, the Wings of Hope is gorgeous and 40mm but auto and no date. It's another one that I might make a compromise for one day. The only other pointer date in the big crown family with the clean, simpler hands is the 403 which is also 38mm and an automatic, and not that much cheaper so may as well go all the way in on the 473 at that point. The rest have cathedral hands. Lovely, but not my taste.

I own an Oris Heritage 65 diver so I've already scratched an Oris itch. No real compromises on that one since I was looking for a classic diver, and 40mm, auto, with date. Every so often you find something that ticks all the boxes. It gives me hope that I'll find the perfect manual wind watch one day; 39-41mm and a date complication, and ideally less than $2000CDN.

Nomos Tangente 38 Date -- might be just over your budget, but it otherwise fits the bill.

It's a competitor for sure. But again, it ticks a bunch of boxes but leaves a few unchecked. Handwound, lumed hands, date, 39-41mm, ideally under $2k (which I think is still a lot of money for a watch, right? but I'd spend more for the PERFECT watch). The Nomos misses the size, and lumed hands. Still beautiful. At least the Oris has the lumed hands but that's a lot of money for one more ticked box. I've bought a few 38mm watches thinking they'd be close enough because they looked fantastic and who notices 1mm? I do. We all do, right? It may as well be 10mm.

I don't particularly like the suggestion I'm about to make for multiple reasons (not the least of which is that I don't think you're looking for what I'm about to suggest, but also due to present day geopolitical concerns), but what about taking a manual wind Vostok Komandirskie with a date and adding a display case back? Should total under $75 and technically meet all of your criteria....you didn't say Swiss made, sapphire crystal or all stainless steel case. 😜

Or there's this one for $210:

https://buyvostok.com/products/vostok-komandirskie-683954-1965-mechanical?variant=42569331769589&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAiA0cyfBhBREiwAAtStHMw0laYWoHy1uEPaoVVCsfLnkX-FWuzjFzMHMSUISbgaFcHABL2t_hoCoCEQAvD_BwE

I've had a couple of Vostok watches in the past. I'm not as sold on their "quirky, budget" approach as many others are. I won't deny they are excellent value watches, but I'll be arrogant enough to say I want something just a bit nicer on my wrist. Not a dig at anyone who loves them for being so accessible and funky. They are pretty neat. I mean, I bought a second one after selling the first one, right? Also, though I don't think Putin is funding his war machine on the backs of the sales of $75 watches, and I'm sure the people who make them are victims of their political circumstance, I still don't like the idea of sending money to Russia. I'm not set on Swiss and sapphire. My last watch purchase has an acrylic crystal and was from France. The one I'm going to buy tomorrow is made in my hometown of Vancouver (any guesses?).

I know I'm being picky. At this stage of my watch journey I think that's reasonable.

Fair enough, I totally understand where you're coming from. I was just pointing out that technically, your requests are fully satisfied by the Komandirskie.

Huzzah! Problem Solved! A Dekla Pilot will do you!

https://deklawatches.com/en/pilot/typea40

Configure to taste, but there are dial options with date windows, the option to use a manual wind and for a sapphire case back.

So close. If you find it I'll give you a finder's fee. But that dekla; must have the single worst illegible hands on a watch I've ever seen. I'm sure I'd get used to it but;

Type B then?

https://deklawatches.com/en/pilot/typeb_40

That's the closest yet. It lacks the elegance of the ORIS and the Marloe, but everything else is spot on. Hmmmm.... I'll need to ponder that one. It's nearly there. Thank you.

https://atlanticwatches.ch/shop/mechanical-handwinding-watches/mechanical-black-leather-3751/

Did the Atlantic fit the bill?

You know, I was mulling it over, trying to decide if I like the silver dial or the black dial more, if I was good with the font, the hand shape and second hand are great, size is perfect. Is the crown a good size? I mean, it's how you wind it, right? You will interface with it every 40 hours or less so it has to be big enough. The Sellita movement looks decent and has a good reputation.... Is this the one? It's really close.

And then an email from Halios showed up in my inbox and I'd been allotted one of their latest edition Seaforths and, well, that's my watch budget for 6 months or so.

But I still know where the Atlantic is. It's on the list.

Good to know. Let me know if you ultimately wind up with it!