While not always true, you probably find the seikos, citizen and orient to be a more properly designed watch but with hollow end links than the AliExpress watches.

AliExpress watches to me somewhat feels like someone theorycraft a watch and just executes it with practically no consideration for design language. Part A not available? Oh let's just roll with an alternative (or cheaper one). Do this for a few parts and you get an AliExpress watch. Again, not always true.

"my adhd brain just saw button and clicked"

Master oogway "there are no accidents"

Same, I have small wrist as well at 6.5" (but the surface the watch sits on is more like a 6" wrist size). Tried went from 42mm to 40mm and realised how much better it fits me. Then I went down to 38mm and it's even better. Now I would be looking out for 39mm and under watches.

Davosa, if you would even consider that a watch brand.

In my opinion, having the blue screws on gun metal finish feels strange. I think most people are about "blue screws are objectively better", sure but how it all comes together is more of a concern here I believe.

Definitely voting for standard screws and more industrial look.

Yup, but I got them on the bracelet

I just received my dune GMT a month ago now (I think). Given your criteria, I think dune GMT definitely is a strong contender, but like many people pointed out here, there a lot of other options that fits your criteria. I think the important question is if you like the looks of it.

I don't own high end watches but so far the CW bader bracelet is the best bracelet for me. I only have experience with full metal gshock and Seiko bracelets for context.