Minimalistic watch around USD 1.5K

Of the two Seiko. I like the Junghans, but the case if very thin. $1500 buys you a lot of Nomos which would be my first consideration. If you can find a place to see them, do so, or just trust us. :-) 

I have both..but I like the Seiko slightly better  … the porcelain dial is sooo creamy 🥰

Love them both, but voted for the Seiko due to the porcelain dial. 

Easy win for the seiko for me!

The Max Bill is much more minimalist, but I hate that watch and I hate minimalism, so get the other one. Of course some people like watches that look like they should be attached to blood pressure cuffs, so if that's what you want, that.

Can’t go wrong with the Presage.  I had an Junghans, gold watch.  You really feel and hear the automatic winding when your moving around.  The crown was poor too when manual winding. I sold my Junghans Meister Driver even though I really liked it. I just felt it was kind of cheaply made. 

The presage will pair well with your SARW013😉

The problem with this exercise is telling people what they should like, just because I like something. Both of your choices are fine watches and well-considered. I don't like either of them. I know why the Seiko isn't my thing: Roman numerals. The porcelain just doesn't make up for it. For a minimalist watch, the Junghans takes a maximalist approach to putting clutter on a dial. Neither one moves me.

For the same money you could have a minimalist Mido Baroncelli or Multifort and, and, something from Marloe. The Mido will have every bit the build quality and finishing of the other two, and a much better movement. The Marloe is just a little bit of lagniappe. 

I love the Seiko! I placed an order for this minimalist watch. Sellita sw200 movement watch on sale for $450. 

https://lilienthal-berlin.com/z01-101-b006a

I remember you posting this watch here at WC (We don’t have to many watermelon avatars in our community lol).

I read a few reviews saying that the Junghans looks cheaply made. And I know I can expect great craftsmanship from Seiko (I have a SARW013, similar watch).

As you have both in front of you please tell me, which one is better made?

Thank you!

So this $1500 Seiko…I’m going to love the bracelet, right?

Unfortunately I don’t own a watch which would be comparable to the Seiko, but I can give my opinion on the Max Bill from Junghans. I bought a vintage one and I have never regretted my purchase. So I (obviously) am (very) biased, but I totally recommend this watch. You will own the most iconic model of once the biggest watch producer in the world (early 1900’s)

But whatever watch you choose, I hope you’ll enjoy it every time you have it on your wrist! :)

I am not sure if the bracelet will be THAT bad, I have a SARX055 (also presage line and also the same price range) and the bracelet is almost good.
 

But I am expecting to replace it to a tan leather strap anyways lol

Seiko but you can't go wrong with the Max Bill either.

For $1500 we shouldn’t be discussing whether the bracket will be very bad or just a little bad. 
 

I just don’t think Seiko provides much value anymore, but most people disagree. 

Yeah the thing Junghans has going is the official collaboration with Max Bill. There's a heritage that's meaningful. Still, I satisfied myself as noted above with a minimalist watch. The price was simply to attractive :-). 

Hmmm…well I do think the Seiko is slightly better, the polishing, the dial for starters but the Junghans does not feel cheap by any means, the leather and the case is pretty good… it’s two different watch to me, the Seiko is a little bigger and thicker than the junghans, and i do wish the bracelet can be better but it is ok but I mostly have on a strap nowadays. 
 

not sure if I helped much but both are wonderful watches.

Junghans

Hi OP,

I am both a sucker for Bauhaus and an admirer of SEIKO's overall value proposition with many of their watches. I have owned a Sarb033 in the past and recently switched from a Junghans Max Bill 38mm automatic no-date with plexiglass to a Junghans Max Bill Kleine automatic 34mm with Sapphire crystal. 

If you decide to go for the Junghans in the end, I would consider to pay the premium for the Sapphire crystal (they added the option recently for the different case size versions). It is very well executed and "imitates" the plexi nicely. I personally bought it for the peace of mind and no scratches. The distortions at different angles are also very appealing.

Hope this helps!
smallwristkid

If you want to go minimalism, the Max Bill would be a perfect choice.

The Seiko is very beautiful, too but may I suggest another one? Something that combines Bauhaus minimalism with the style and even a similar dial material as that of the Presage being just a little bit above your price range but not by much.

Check out the Nomos Ludwig 38 enamel white 

https://nomos-glashuette.com/en/ludwig/ludwig-38-enamel-white-237

In my opinion Nomos is the absolute perfect choice for minimalistic watches.