I ended up opening my banking app, looking at the number, sadly closing the app, and realized I won’t be making an expensive watch purchase for at least a couple of months, if not longer. 💀 Additionally, I wasn’t sure if the GS would keep me interested for long, I feel like I would get bored of it quickly.

Anyways, based on your responses, it seems that you lean more towards the GS side. And I’d agree with you on that. No shade to the Sealander, it’s a great watch! But if this is your first luxury purchase, why not make it from a reputable and storied brand like GS?

Have you considered a Longines VHP 36mm? They’re a tad hard to find but they are out there. The rabbit hole goes deep: 2000s Credor HAQ watches, the Sinn 434 St, 2000s GS models…I love and hate watch collecting all at once.

I posted this same exact poll months ago; great minds think alike, eh?

Anyways, it really depends on what you want. Do you value accuracy, brand prestige, and are generally gentle with your watches? Then get the GS. I'm a stickler for accuracy, and GS's 9F quartz is amazingly good. You can find preowned SBGX061s (double-branded Seiko/GS dials) on eBay and Chrono24 for around $1k in great condition. However, I hear the zaratsu tends to scratch quite easily.

Alternatively, do you value mechanical movements, Swiss (sort of) watchmaking, and love a true sports watch? Then get the CW. I owned a 36mm Sealander in 2022 and I adored it. It felt great for the price and was exceptionally finished. That being said, movement accuracy is a luck of the draw; CW doesn't regulate the "entry-level" C63's.

If it were me, I'd get the GS purely for the movement alone. It's a very special one and you won't find anything else like it. The SBGX is sedated and arguably, a tad boring, but it's such a classic look that it will never look out of place with any outfit.

As an alternative, look at Omega quartz watches from the 1990s and 2000s. They range anywhere from $750 to $2,500 depending on the model and condition. The Omega 1538 quartz movement isn't as accurate as the 9F, but they're well-built and high-quality movements.

You can find quartz Seamaster 120s for just under $1k, Seamaster 300s for around $1200, and even Aqua Terras for around $1500. I prefer Omega as a brand over GS due to its history and prestige, but with neo-vintage Omegas, you also have to factor in import fees, the lack of service history, service costs (Omega charges $700 for a quartz overhaul! Yikes!) if the second hand hits the markers, etc. But if you find a good example, I wouldn't hesitate to grab one!

It’s gorgeous but a tad too big for my wrist. Absolutely love the dial color and bracelet!

A Seiko SNKL45. Ran dreadfully slow out of the box, tried to regulate it myself and now it’s way too fast. Still wore it daily for nearly 2 years. It looked awesome for $150.

Hamilton. Absolutely nothing in their current lineup interests me. Well-made watches, but very boring, in my opinion.

I have the black dial version of this watch, the SNKL45. It was my daily for nearly two years, beat the crap out of it. I found an oyster bracelet on Etsy with end links that fit pretty well…I wonder if it’s still out there.

Yup, I know the exact feeling. I’m caught between like four models right now. Worst part is that they’re all neo-vintage/discontinued, so I can’t just buy one new. What is your shortlist?