Owner of the previous gen Skyquest here, can’t recommend Monta enough! Great customer service and superb quality. By far my most worn watch of 2022, mostly due to the comfortable bracelet and highly legible dual.

My boss’s boss has a collection with multiple Omegas, Rolexes, and a Tudor and he’s planning on buying the Skyquest because it’s that good.

Oh man these look good, I’ve been on the fence about Erika’s but looks like that’s for the best as these are what I’m really looking for. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome, excited for the Yacht Racers to ship soon!!

I have several microbrand watches but Monta is by far the standout. The quality and finish seriously punches above their weight. I also just got the Straum Opphav in, it’s really cool and fantastically finished for the price. That being said it’s not on the same level as Monta.

I have zero experience with Baltic and Farer but those will probably be the next two micros I try.

If you can swing it, I say go for both! I think they’re different enough to both sit in the same collection.

The Grand Seiko GMT is a great idea! It sounds like you're leaning towards a GMT/world time watch, perhaps an Oris Aquis GMT or the Oris Big Crown Pro Pilot Timer GMT if you're feeling crazy. There's also the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT.

Aside from GMTs, Monta is a great brand (I feel like a broken record on this, every other post/comment I have here is about how much I like them lol). There's also the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 with the steel bezel, I really like this one, reminds me of 90s TAG.

Norqain might be worth looking into, their designs aren't really for me personally but their quality is supposed to be good.

There’s so much action under $3k, a great time to be into watches in this price point! I’d echo @TheSharperTheBetter’s point, what type of watch are you looking for? I struggled with this before buying my first luxury piece, ended up being between the Nomos Metro and Speedmaster, couldn’t be two more opposite watches lol 😂.

Also are you interested in smaller companies/microbrand watches, or more mainstream?