Searching for a dressy(ish) GADA watch

I love the #grandseiko, but I actually voted for the #nomos for this poll. very underrated brand with a beautiful dial with well-executed sub seconds.

I love the Nomos. My only reservations are the price and that there might be too many polished surfaces for my liking. I get the PCL, but why polish the clasp too??

I would recommend looking into the Monta Noble as well. I have an Aqua Terra and despite the design similarities, I recently pulled the trigger on the Noble as a different color alternative due to the upgraded Selitta movement that is regulated to +/- 5 seconds per day and the highly regarded bracelet. 

Specs are nearly perfect for most wrists too. 38.5mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, with a fully articulated, very well finished bracelet with glidelock clasp for on the fly adjustments and exactly in your price range if you don't care about brand recognition.

I've been looking at 3 of those watches myself and I'm on the fence about the Spirit 37mm and the Club Sport. I'm not very practical, so I completely ignore quartz watches these days. The Club Sport is a bit too polished for my taste (especially for a sports watch that's supposed to take some beating), but on the other hand it's hard to find automatic watches that are as slim as the Club Sport. On the positive side - whatever you get it will be a great watch. :-)

You might take a look at some Christopher Ward options. The just-released Dune or the Sealander might fit your requirements.

try them all on and pick the one you can not put back. 

From your description I think that both the Omega AT or the Nomos would make you happy. I selected the AT because the Nomos case and lug design isn't universally liked while the AT has a more conventional shape.

Take a look at the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander in 36mm. It has a bit of an Aqua Terra vibe about it and the bracelet is excellent. It's also quick release so you can pop on a vintage leather or hybrid rubber strap. It looks great on all of them. The Aqua Terra is nice though. 

I would disqualify the Nomos and the Longines because of their long lugs especially the Nomos where they are quite straight. The Omega seems a perfect GADA, Chritopher Ward is on your budget with I think the Omega vibe

If you are considering the GS, you might also look at the Citizen AQ4080-52L. Similar design and price, but crazily accurate (+/-5 sec/year) solar quartz movement with perpetual calendar and jumping hour hand:

https://www.gnomonwatches.com/products/the-citizen-eco-drive-sunray-blue-ref-aq4080-52l

Another possibility is the Wempe Iron Walker 36 quartz. Marketed as a women's watch, but design is completely unisex. Don't have any direct experience with this watch, but it looks very nice and is in your price range: 

https://www.wempe.com/en-us/watches/wempe-glashuette-i-sa/iron-walker/iron-walker-quartz-women-wi000003 

Looks like we have similar taste! I'm working towards my first "big" purchase (more than ~$1k), and I was looking into almost all of the exact watches you proposed. I think I have settled on the Longines in 40mm, though. For a few reasons:

1. Vibe and Heritage -- IMO Longines has nailed the "retro-modern pilot" look, and I think it will age well, not to mention they have the brand history to back up the gorgeous aviator looks.
2. Movement -- I love a good quartz (especially heard great things about the 9F62 in the GS), but at the end of the day, if I'm buying my first legit luxury watch, I think I'd regret it if I didn't go mechanical.
3.  The option for a 40mm case; Love the Nomos, but their 42mm Neomatik look a bit disproportionate to me (and jumps the price up substantially).

The only other watch in the running, was an Oris Big Crown Pointer Date, but 90% of the time I'm a bracelet guy, and I think the Longines on a bracelet makes it more versatile as a GADA.

FWIW, these are just my thoughts/reasoning since I'm facing a similar decision. Hope find that you find the perfect option for you!

Of these I'd go for the GS. I have an sbgx261 unbelievable value, perfect size, super accurate 

The Longines and Nomos are both beautiful but I'd definitely find a way to try them on first. Both (especially the Nomos) have longer than average lugs which makes them wear larger than you'd expect. The GS is beautiful but the bracelet isn't as good as the Nomos and Longines which both have microadjusts.

Some pics  to follow up!

Dune 38mm

Sealander 39 mm

Sealnder 36 mm

Definitely the GS ❤️

For me personally I would go with the Longines spirit, it’s sporty yet classy enough to wear with a suit and tie, take it off the bracelet and put on a nice leather strap and it should look great with jeans and a t-shirt.

Have you considered anything from Sinn, possibly a 556 or Tutima, there are some excellent German brand watches. 

All great choices. On the quartz side, I would consider something like the Citizen AQ4080-52L.

Out of these, in your position, I would buy the Nomos, with the see through case back, on a strap, and get a selection of straps to use with it.

I own (or was gifted as an engagement present) the Omega AT 36 quartz, but with a black dial. I love the watch for many sentimental reasons, but I also love it for its accuracy, elegance, and versatility. It'd be my recommendation because, even though I wish it was a co-axial and/or chronometer and all of that...I still think it ticks all of the boxes you list (better than the Longines or Nomos that both don't hold up to the AT's timelessness--especially after seeing them in-person).  I was very close to asking for the GS,...but the lack of lume was the death knell for me. The Omega also flirts w/ being too dressy (but that's because you can't really match its case proportions with the any of the sized-down rubber bracelets I've found). 

To tell you the truth, my San Martin BB58 homage was 80% of the Tudor. I didn't know whether to be sad or laugh ;-). 

1. Longines
2. Nomos
3. GS
4. Omega

I cross shopped the Oris BCPD Cervo Volante as well before deciding on the Spirit myself.

If you are going for quartz, the GS is the way to go. Just superior and if you are going to spend a heft on quartz why not just go for the best. 

If you like the Aquaterra more, I would save up and get the automatic version and it is well worth it. Its a great watch for every situation. 

The Longines Spirit 37mm would be my automatic choice, you can pick it up for well under the retail price and it is such a great watch overall for the price. Spend the rest on good straps. 

The Nomos is great but the polished bracelet and those extra long lugs on this club model just not worth it. 

I have the silver dial Triumph from Monta, and very impressed with the quality and customer service from them.

Wow, you read my mind!!! I am also looking for a GADA watch in blue and have been exactly looking at the Longines Spirit 37mm, Omega Aqua Terra and the Nomos Club! I’m leaning towards the Spirit because of the value aspect, nearly just as good of specs for less money. I think there are so many details to the Spirit that it punches way above its class. 

The 556 is a little too minimalist for my taste, though I do have the fully tegemented U50 on my radar to potentially replace my dive watch at some point.

My search came up with three of your choices. I bought the Spirit 37mm. Lugs are a wee bit long but otherwise I cannot fault it. 

It's got a commanding lead in the poll, so maybe I should go with the wisdom of crowds

Have you considered the Tudor Royal? Gorgeous blue dial and hits your criteria dead on...

I hadn't. Thanks for the suggestion. On first impressions, I'm not wild about the Roman numerals, but I'll have a trawl through the internet to get a better idea of what it looks like in the metal. 

Let me tell you a story :)

One day a guy decided to buy his life-long do it all piece for up to 2K eur. After digging very deep he reduced the options to two. He wanted to see both of them at the same time. On his wrist. One of them was Spirit 40mm and the other one was Nomos clubsport 39mm white. He went into the shop, immediately asked for both the pieces. Even though he thought that he already gave his decision on the Nomos, when he saw the spirit, the layers, the depth of its dial, the build quality. He felt that Nomos is an incredible piece, but not as much as Spirit. :) 

Hi @skandahooligan,

I think whichever piece you select, it will be a great choice and will adorn your wrist for the years to come. 😊 I have seen a few folks suggesting some models that were not in your list, so I'd throw my 2¢.

Grand Seiko has some fantastic everyday models, which are Japan-only (JDM - Japan Domestic Market). I had the luck to purchase and wear one of them a few years ago, the SBGX209:

It has been my daily watch for 4 years, until very recently, when I bought the SBGP017. Why I really love it:

• Clean and elegant design. It looks good with different dressing styles and colors.

• Accuracy of 10 seconds per year.

• 36,5 mm case size.

• 10 bar water resistance.

• 3 years battery life (which can be replaced in any ordinary watchmaker).

• Superb build quality.

• Best-in-class finishing (better than watches that cost x4, compared side-to-side.

• Service interval of 50 years (!!!).

• Warranty is really irrelevant. It is "bulletproof" and seems it will never ask to visit a GS service center.

You can buy it from a JDM dealer (for approx. £1350), or second hand in UK/EU/US for $1200.

It looks very simple, but looking it in person makes it really irresistible. Here is also a very nice and poetic review I found online:

https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?487688-Esoterica-Japanomania-and-the-Grand-Seiko-SBGX209

Hope it provides some inspiration. 😉