Classy watch under $2000/€1500 waterproof with screw-down crown?

[North]

Hi,

For many years, I have used a Tag Heuer Kirium. In parallel, I acquired the elegant Tissot Couturier for business events.
Soon turning 35y, I am looking for my next bracelet watch for the next 10 years and I need your advise.

I have read through the forum, looked for multiple makers and concluded that the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra fitted my criteria ... but it is beyond my budget, even on the second hand market.



My criteria are:
- Diameter between 39 and 41 mm for my small wrist
- Height below 14 mm
- Automatic
- Steel bracelet
- Shower resistant = Water resistant 10 ATM (100m) or more with screw-down crown
I don't like to remove my watch every day and like to shower!
- No external rotating bezel
- Budget below $2000/€1500
- somehow classy

Optional
- Date, Day and/or GMT
- curved sapphire

Out of my extensive search, I found only few alternatives:
Mido Belluna Gent - the most classy of the alternatives


Certina DS First - on the forum


Sinn 856 UTC


Victorinox Swiss Army Officers Mechanical


I also liked a lot those that do not fit the screw-down crown criteria
Certina DS 1
Union Glashuette Belisar GMT
Tag Heuer Carrera twin time

What would you advise ? Do you have a preference, an alternative ?

[CMTFR]

You've already done your homework and found some fine examples. If you can live without a bracelet or you don't mind wearing a non-OEM one, I would suggest the Longines Legend Diver as another option for you to consider. No external bezel, sapphire crystal, 300m WR and 42mm diameter - but doesn't wear too big - and maybe as classy as a diver can be.



Regards
C.

[North]

Thanks for this advice. Indeed, the Longines Legend Diver is very classy. The two crowns at 2 and 4 make it special and good looking. I spotted it as well and thought about switching the original black synthetic strap with a brown leather one, but there could be a steel bracelet fitting.

[dkouzou]

Union Glashuette Viro Datum series is in your price range. However I'm not sure about the screw-down crown.
Here are two variants...

[Longhair]

If you want the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, then just keep saving instead of settling for something else that looks like the watch you originally wanted.

The majority of Omega owners tend to follow trends and once this watch falls out of fashion, the used market will be flooded with them.

[North]

Based on the Manual of the Union Glashuette Viro Datum, there is not screw-down crown, so it won't make it to option list.

[M.W.]

have you checked out the muhle glashutte 29er? - it comes in two sizes, although they're each a bit above / below the 39-41 mm range you mentioned - still might be worth a look, as it seems to meet your other criteria pretty well ...

29er - Sporty Instrument Watches - Wristwatches | Mόhle-Glashόtte GmbH nautische Instrumente und Feinmechanik

[M.W.]

ball might be another brand to look at - i believe their red label series comes in 40 mm and i think they have screw-down crowns - discount could put a new one close to $2K ...

[North]

Thanks for your answers.
Muhle 29ers is indeed an option I did not consider. it a bit like a small cylinder on a bracelet.


For Ball, I have never been a fan because of the various luminous colors in dark.

[dkouzou]

Are you considering watches that claim 100M resistance but have no screw-down crown?

ball might be another brand to look at - i believe their red label series comes in 40 mm and i think they have screw-down crowns - discount could put a new one close to $2K ...

Most Balls have screw-down crowns and domed crystals. All Balls are tritium, most are multicolored, but some are discreet.


EPOS Sportive series has screw-down crowns. (Ref. 3380 has plain bezel.)

Raymond Weil Parsifal Automatic has a screw-down crown.

btw... the Muhle Glashutte 29er above is beautiful.