Suggestions for first luxury watch around 2k?
Hi guys, great to find a growing and friendly community. I've been scratching my head for many moons on this one.
I'm looking to get my first luxury watch around 2k. I'm going for a bond villain look so a auto diver with a ceramic bezel that fits a small wrist is the goal.
The top contenders are:
Longines Hydroconquest
Oris Aquis date
Raymond Weil Freeelancer
Pre-owned 90s Omega Seamaster (not ceramic but I'll let it slide for the watch history and brand)
None seem to be the right purchase in my mind. Any other suggestions would be more than welcome!
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doitforthedial
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Cheers for the suggestions mate, I will look into them! I think I might be restricting myself a bit too much with the need for a ceramic bezel. It's a shame I'm a sucker for the shine!
Luxury by build or luxury by brand perception?
Luxury by build, I say Oris, Sinn, and Seiko make amazing technology under this mark. You are starting to hit their more impressive watches at this price point.
By brand perception- look at used pieces in IWC (dress watches), Omega, Tudor, and (god save me) old Tags. Tag is mostly name brand but still favorable to the public perception who don't know watches.
I suggest you try them on, see how you like them. Some of these wear big and I'm not sure how you enjoy your watch sizes.
I started my collection with a watch from Mido (a Diver in full Titanium). I think Hamilton and Mido both are offering a very good value for your money. You get COSC watches from Mido below the 2k EUR range. They are brands from the swatch group, so in my opinion they are a good basis to start with.
I was thining "Hydroconquest" before I got to your list of candidates. I'll probably take some heat for the following statement: I think Longines Hydroconquest is a more attractive watch than the submariner. It is absolutely beautiful. Longines has really been striking gold lately.
If you're willing to take a couple steps away from divers, the Tudor 1926 is a gorgeous watch that I could imagine gracing the wrist of Bond villain. Only a single step away from divers is the Longines Conquest, another beautiful watch. You mentioned that none of the candidates in the list feel "quite right", so maybe something that is similar but not quite a diver is what will scratch the itch you're feeling. :-)
If the diver thing is non-negotiable, two other options that may fit the bill are are Aquascaphe by Baltic or the D7 Swiss Atlantic by VAER. These two are significantly cheaper than the $2k mark, but they're still fantastic dive watches.
The $2k field may not be as well-populated as the sub-500 field, but there are still countless options. Good luck in your search!
I believe you can get a Tudor Ranger for that money… also, there are a few Seikos for around 1 - 1.5k that are great…
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/spb237j1
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/spb143j1
Take a look at the Longines black sector dial on a beads of rice bracelet. Saw it the other day and absolutely loved it.
Look at the Sinn 104. Own one and the quality exceeds the others on your list.
Definitely more toolish but Sinn quality for the $ is above everything else I have owned.
The Longines.
Seriously. It's boss.
Depends on your lifestyle i suppose, for the past couple of years i personally steer away from the bling bling stuff and adore the more low profile, utilitarian side of things. If that rhymes with you, i suggest looking into the germans.
I think the 90’s seamaster is a great value and is destined to become a classic. However, there is something special about buying a “new” luxury watch. If buying new, I would look at Longines, Oris, and Doxa.
Cheers for the suggestions mate, I will look into them! I think I might be restricting myself a bit too much with the need for a ceramic bezel. It's a shame I'm a sucker for the shine!
If your planning on wearing it all the time, I'd be weary of ceramic. Looks nice but it's quite brittle and can chip and crack quite easily. For me it takes away from the tool aspect of a watch and makes an otherwise good diver appear a bit dressy and limp.
Oris Diver 65’s are gorgeous in my opinion. But that Longines is hot also
I own both an Oris Aquis and a Hydroconquest. Oris has the extra factor of being an independent which I think is important and if I was forced to choose between the two I'd pick the Oris... just. Lots of brands do good stuff in that price bracket. Muhle Glashutte have some worth a look
If you like German watchmakers then, Sinn and Nomos have some really cool pieces :)
Real diver pedegree and a talking point on your wrist. £1800 new at the moment.
I would go for the Hydroconquest.
Take a look at the Longines black sector dial on a beads of rice bracelet. Saw it the other day and absolutely loved it.
I’ve seen it in person as well, and it looks like a much more expensive watch. I’m usually a hard no on retro-vintage styling for modern watches, but that watch makes me reconsider.
If you go for tool watch aesthetics, look to Sinn or Hamilton brands. There are some fantastic watches to be got there. For something more elegant, try Longines or the Seiko spb275j1.
Bond villain? Perhaps the Mühle Glashütte Seatimer, as black as your soul...