30th birthday - recommend a watch!

[hhcave]

Hi all - long time member of the forum but haven't checked in for a while. I am turning 30 in November and wanted to celebrate with a special watch purchase (I am also celebrating graduating from business school starting a new life in London this year).

I currently own a Sea Dweller 116600 (the discontinued one) as a one watch collection and love it. I previously owned an Explorer 214270 but traded it (plus cash) for the SD. I have small wrists and the Explorer looked a little big with its dial (Submariners are probably my upper limit in size - Royal Oak 41mm lugs overhang FYI)

I am pretty open to ideas (any brand, sports or dress, complications or simple). I am looking to purchase new and have a budget of up to, say, US$20k (this is flexible - don't have to spend the full amount or could go over for something special).

Watches I have been interested in the past (before they shot up in secondary market pricing) included: FP Journe Chronometre Bleu, AP Royal Oak Jumbo, Speedy Pro (hesalite, manual wind), Patek Nautilus

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

[blada4life]

Maybe you can find a pre owned Daytona? Any color. Sadly most of the watches you liked are still selling substantially over sticker. Prices may be on the rise again actually. I was just in David SW and the modern models are up.

Maybe consider a Kermit. You can try to find a good condition model with a full set for $12-$14k. The prices is as low as it’s been for awhile now. It’s got one of the looks you like.


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[Solo118]

You have your sport watch, you need something dressy

Datejust 41 is a top choice for me, but if you want something with a bit of sportiness the Daytona takes the cake.

[subprimero]

H. Moser perpetual or JLC Master Ultra Thin perpetual.

[just1time]

Originally Posted by hhcave

Hi all - long time member of the forum but haven't checked in for a while. I am turning 30 in November and wanted to celebrate with a special watch purchase (I am also celebrating graduating from business school starting a new life in London this year).

I currently own a Sea Dweller 116600 (the discontinued one) as a one watch collection and love it. I previously owned an Explorer 214270 but traded it (plus cash) for the SD. I have small wrists and the Explorer looked a little big with its dial (Submariners are probably my upper limit in size - Royal Oak 41mm lugs overhang FYI)

I am pretty open to ideas (any brand, sports or dress, complications or simple). I am looking to purchase new and have a budget of up to, say, US$20k (this is flexible - don't have to spend the full amount or could go over for something special).

Watches I have been interested in the past (before they shot up in secondary market pricing) included: FP Journe Chronometre Bleu, AP Royal Oak Jumbo, Speedy Pro (hesalite, manual wind), Patek Nautilus

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

No such thing as a One-watch Collection...:) People need to stop throwing the word collector/collection around loosely :)
(Flame Suit On) ;)
You can have 20 watches and still not be a collector....Its not about the quantity.

From what you described, I would opt for a AP 15450...The size should look good on your small wrists and AP in my opinion fits and looks better on younger dudes while Patek looks better on older guys.
Kind of like the Big Body Mercedes S550.

But these are just opinions. Get whatever speaks to you the most.

[benny88]

Not a watch recommendation but a personal recommendation - be careful wearing any watch of value in London. Yes yes you can have a nice watch stolen anywhere in the world, but London over the past few years has been pretty rife with watch theives, a relation of mine had a JLC reverso taken off them not too long ago. I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, and many congrats on your graduation and enjoy your new life in London

[macrowatch]

For HK home base and age, I vote AP RO or ROC. Maybe negotiate a used ROC down to around 23k to get close to budget.

[Maiden]

Grab a datejust to compliment your diver. A million configurations to choose from, find what works for you.

[watchwatcher]

Special watch? DD, of course.

[Oyster Sauce]

If you don’t mind, could you post a representative wrist shot with your Sea Dweller? You mentioned small wrists and the Exp being too big...it would be nice to know how your current watch sits on wrist (would inform your style preference and by extension help with recommendations).

[hhcave]

Thanks all - some great suggestions so far! Spending some time combing through chrono24 for prices and options. Here’s a photo of my SD on the wrist as an example of how it wears

[hhcave]

[hhcave]

[IMG]<a href="https://ibb.co/ByPX1wW"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pfPtmnV/E16-F907-B-ABAB-45-D0-BF9-E-CF189-DF3-B67-D.jpg" alt="E16-F907-B-ABAB-45-D0-BF9-E-CF189-DF3-B67-D" border="0"></a>[/IMG]

[porschejeff]

I think submariner is a very under the radar watch and a fine addition.

[hhcave]

[zjd168]

Yg dd

[Oyster Sauce]

Originally Posted by hhcave

Thanks all - some great suggestions so far! Spending some time combing through chrono24 for prices and options. Here’s a photo of my SD on the wrist as an example of how it wears

I’m not sure the picture got attached. Another question: what level of significance do you attach to this particular milestone? If it is super significant, then something high horology might make sense. If more of a normal remembrance, something Mid-tier like Rolex or Omega makes sense. I agree with the others that a different style would probably pair nice with the SD, but depending on the milestone not sure if something like a DJ will suffice. From your original list I favor the Omega Speedy at this point.

[hhcave]

[hhcave]

I can't get the image upload to work unfortunately. This is a big milestone for me so I would agree that perhaps the speedy or DJ may be a bit too under the radar.

At the moment I am leaning towards a DD40 (YG/RG) - that sort of tier. A dress watch/special occasions watch would pair nicely with the SD

[Oyster Sauce]

Originally Posted by hhcave

I can't get the image upload to work unfortunately. This is a big milestone for me so I would agree that perhaps the speedy or DJ may be a bit too under the radar.

At the moment I am leaning towards a DD40 (YG/RG) - that sort of tier. A dress watch/special occasions watch would pair nicely with the SD

I like that idea...sounds like a winner.

[hhcave]

Just to add another layer - I have some reservations about a DD40 being too flashy for the office. Any more under the radar options?

[garyk]

Got a sub for my 30th. 39 years ago

[calebb90]

If you like Journe, you can still get a Chronometre Souverain at reasonable prices.

Forget the Royal Oak and Nautilus anywhere close to your budget. Maybe a Royal Oak chrono but that’s still several thousand more.


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[timemaestro]

You should get a Submariner. A classic elegant watch.

[redtigers]

Originally Posted by subprimero

H. Moser perpetual or JLC Master Ultra Thin perpetual.

Hard to argue with those two options...

[campfire]

Too many options. As others have said anything from a DJ to a Sub could work.

Not sure what your new work environment will be like, but you can get a new/used Calatrava in that rough budget. ALS like a Lange 1 preowned as well. As someone mentioned, JLC Perpetual too.

Lots of routes you can go. But sounds like a fun project. Have fun. Congratulations on your graduation.

[Mifune]

Reverso...

[Oyster Sauce]

If the flashiness of the DD is a concern (which I agree with after some thought), I like what some the examples that have been shared: PP Calatrava, Lange 1, etc. Or for something dress-sporty, the VC Overseas is an option.

[Benzsiam]

Try Sub. Date, DateJust or AP15450ST and see which one sing to you, get that one.

[Santiago79]

AP royal oak is absolutely stunning and I also suggest Datejust blue dial. One of these along with your sea dweller is all you need in your collection for now.
Good luck man