The Nomos Tangente 38 in all those crazy colors

The package has to be solid all things summed. If a watch cuts corners at a price point where none should be cut, I’m not buying it. Fit and finish in every area are key factors for me.

For €50 this is really hard to beat

I’m choosing the Seiko because the Alpinist always struck a chord with me. My only issue is the overall quality. Seiko watches aren’t particularly well made and I’m not sure I can count on the movement being clean enough to ensure longevity. My SKX desperately needs maintenance after 2 years of light wear, and it’s been in a drawer since 2021 since I can’t find a competent watchmaker that repairs Seiko.

If San Martin was to make a GMt Alpinist clone with multiple dial colors in 38mm I’d blind buy it.

The 40mm PRX is soon releasing in a gradient dial going from vibrant purple to a blue so dark it looks black. Still, it’s a PRX so I wouldn’t count on it to be reliable

Glorified fashion watch from a jewelry-based brand. I like a modestly sized vermeil silver Tank, but that’s a steep price for a modern model that’s been entirely machine made from head to toe apart from the strap and clasp. Yay for vintage, nay for new.

That’s not to say Cartier isn’t a worthwhile brand (I believe the exact opposite) but when €6000 only gets you an exercise in design that wasn’t really much of an effort, no way bro. I’d seek out a 30 year old model for a couple thousand less.

Nah. I recently sold a mod watch that had a Pagani Design inner assembly and used a 5 digit sub case. Buyer loved the fit and finish, and everyone that had something to say about it on my wrist said something along the lines of “that’s cool, kind of looks like a Rolex, right?”

Never bothered me, really. What bothers me is when snobs attack watch modders because they can approach the look and feel of expensive watches without spending the wad of cash previously needed.