Looking to purchase a new dress watch that can also be used to dress down?

[lindstd]

Thanks everyone for you help and suggestions. I am 35yrs old and I have to wear a suit everyday for work however I am a total jeans guy after work and on the weekends. I am looking to purchase a new dress watch that can look great with a suit but also a nice pair of jeans. My budget is under $12k and ideally I was thinking of something clean, classic and timeless. I am not a very fashion forward dresser and I have 7.25 wrists so I feel that I can pull off a little larger watch than 40mm if needed. I have been looking very close at the IWC Port Auto 42mm 5001-07 (Blue numbers w/blue strap) or the 5001-09 (Black dial w/black strap) or a JLC Master Chrono 40mm or potentially a Glashutte or something else. I am open for opinions and help. I have made a previous watch purchase that I regret and I am on thin ice with my wife because I am selling my 5 month old Rolex Sub Ceramic. With that being said, I just don't want to make another mistake and I am looking for that watch that will hopefully "stand the test of time" in terms of looks. The IWC 5001-07 is my first choice but I am a little concerned if the dark blue strap would still be cool 10 yrs from now? I don't know if a dark brown or black strap would look appealing on that watch with dark blue numbers or not? I guess I will admit that I have always been a black or brown strap kind of a guy but that dark blue strap is really growing on me. As I mentioned thanks for all of your help and I really appreciate it!

[3th3r]

The IWC is a gorgeous watch, and I don't think the dark blue accents will be a problem to change the color of the strap. Take a look at this thread, it shows the watch with brown straps. And this thread shows it with a black flieger type strap. It looks great in all straps.

[Jidonsu]

You have a lot of options with that budget. I have the 5001-07 myself, but I do find that it's dressy, but not so much that it looks out of place with a nice pair of jeans. You can swap it out for a brown strap too. The 5001-09 is a lot dressier, and will probably not work. I had mine on a brown gator for sometime. I attached a photo below.


Have you thought about the classic Royal Oak at 39mm? It's definitely both classy and sporty. It'll look good years down the line, and it's at home under a suit and with short sleeves in the summer. You should be able to buy a gently used one for a little over 8K. You can then even score a nice Glashutte Senator Sixties for when you feel like a strap. Heck, you can even just buy a nice strap for the Royal Oak.

[v76]

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 -


H. Moser & Cie Mayu -


Or, a Chopard LUC Twist -

(all images borrowed)

[doris1976]

Those are some very nice watches. Wish I could afford one for my husband.

[HPoirot]

I'm gonna throw my lot behind the AP RO. Looks nice with a shirt, just as suitable with jeans and tshirt or even berms and a polo.

[lindstd]

Thanks everyone! I am thrilled with everyones support to help. It is pretty cool that you all are taking the time to give some great advice. I never really even thought about a JLC Reverso but I am going to an AD tomorrow to check them out. I don't know for sure but I think I am a round dial kind of guy so I am assuming I am not going to be a huge fan but I am going to give it a whirl anyways. I guess I am kind of leaning towards the IWC Port Auto 5001-07 however I am wondering if the IWC Port Chronograph 3714 would be a nice choice as well? I guess what I am trying to ask is if you all had the extra money is the IWC Port Auto 5001 worth paying a few extra thousand compared to the IWC Port Chrono? Lastly, I like the AP's as well, but I do not have any AD's locally to look at them in Minnesota. I have a hard time putting that kind of money down on something without seeing the watch in person. This forum has been great. I can honestly say that. As I said already, thanks for taking the time to read my post and give good helpful advice. I am happy with the responses in regard to the strap options because that was one of my biggest hang-ups if I got sick of the dark blue strap however some the response have been the brown or black still looks great. I

[tom_hanx]

Of you are into IWC, I suggest you take a look at 5445 and 5454, similar, yet different and the ultimate in dress up/down I have come across sub-$10k

On the other side of $10k are tons of Vacheron, Audemars, Patek and a few Lange.

If you are a man of confidence and wish boutique and top of the line niche, I suggest you look at Speake-Marin.

I also can suggest a Nomos Zurich + a trip to *any* destination with the change. Worthy contender on all fronts.


Have fun hunting, this is the best part of the journey ;)

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