CONTEST: Best 5 dress watches under $5000.

[LA Guy]

Vote in the Poll. You have until Friday the 13th.

Winner will get a shell cordovan watch strap from Leffot and a title. TWAT master for most, and Pernicious Enabler for one.

Cheers,

Fok.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Ok, this isn't an entirely serious entry to Fok's contest as I'm a complete watch noob. Since I probably don't know enough about watches to come up with 25-50 words I thought I would just post these 5 (which haven't been posted already) and let others chime in why they are good, ok, or awful choices, especially if they are awful. I'm looking to pick up something in the under $5K range too, so this has been a very helpful thread for me so far anyway. The Tangomat Datum is probably my current fave of the above.

1. Mühle-Glashütte Antaria Kleine Sekunde
42mm. Not sure of list price, but around $2,500 online.
http://www.muehle-glashuette.de/en/...al-timepieces/antaria/antaria-kleine-sekunde/


2. Eberhard & Co Extra-Fort Reserve de Marche
39mm. $3,612? (old list, might be higher now)
http://www.eberhard-co-watches.ch/?product=extra-fort-reserve-de-marche-41036-41136-1


3. IWC Portofino
40 mm. $4,500.
http://www.iwc.com/en/collection/portofino/IW3565/


4. Zenith Captain Central Second
40mm. Maybe this is cheating since the suggested retail looks to be over $5K, but it can easily be found under $4K.
http://www.zenith-watches.com/en_en...ntral-second/captain-central-second-5543.html


5. Oris Artelier Jumping Hour
40.5mm. $4,100 CHF ($4,580 USD) Just for something completely different, a jumping hour.
http://www.oris.ch/en/watches/oris-artelier-jumping-hour/01-917-7702-4051-07-1-21-73fc


Again, feel free to educate me if any of these are terrible choices. There may be something completely obvious to most of you that I'm just unaware of as a watch noob. Thanks!

This one was the one I like the most. I don't like Cartier's, so the lists including them for me was no-no. Sorry.

 

[mimo]

Betel! You of all people!

 

[blank]

I'm curious to know why Stowa isn't represented? Are their watches not considered "dress" watches?

 

[Coxsackie]

Stowa are mostly represented at a lower price point, with stock ETA movements (at the higher level of supplied finishing, admittedly). Nice designs, sure, but most of the watches listed here are a step up.

And I say this as a proud Stowa owner.

Some great lists here gents. Surprised that the base Portofino scraped in under 5K. That is the winner for me, lay-down misère. As for the lists, they were all good, including the one from the "noob". (Clearly not a noob.)

 

[DLJr]

I'm curious to know why Stowa isn't represented? Are their watches not considered "dress" watches?

They are. I own a Marine Original, but frankly, at least for my list, it doesn't really compare to any of my other options. Don't get me wrong, I like Stowa, but if the budget is MSRP $5K, there is so much more you can get for your money IMO. And this is coming from the guy who offered a lot of stuff way under budget.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Betel! You of all people!

Forgive me mimo!

 

[blank]

It is wonderful that everyone has such different taste. I own a Stowa Marine Original -- not only was it well priced at around $1000, but in my personal opinion, it's the nicest of any of the watches we've looked at thus far. Only one watch (the Nomos Metro Datum Gangoreserve -- WOW!) appeals to me.

 

[mimo]

I love Stowa, and Cox's watch exactly (the Marine Original in white, Arabic numbers, on the mesh bracelet) is right on my wish list. But as he said, it's a lower price point, so even thought the MO would be an awesome dress watch in my opinion (and it's the same size as the Nomos Zurich), I figured I should hit five that wouldn't also enter the "best five under $1000 category" or similar. I like the Baumuster a lot too...and the Antea's a very pretty "proper" dress watch, a lot like the Nomos Tangomat and so cheap...

 

[Prince of Paisley]

I think the Junghans Max Bill is a fair option for a <$5,000 watch. Actually <$2,000; they run at about $1,500 for memory.

 

[mimo]

The Max Bill is under a grand for most models, even the mechanical ones, so again I kind of put it in another place. But totally agree, great value.

 

[Harryd14]



This one was the one I like the most. I don't like Cartier's, so the lists including them for me was no-no. Sorry. 

I'm with you Bête on this one. I am not a fan of the Cartier watch. I am not a big fan of rectangular watches to begin with so there is some bias in my opinion but there are some watches like that that I do like more than others. The Cartier watch I do not really enjoy.


On another note - what are ppls opinions on Bell & Ross? I think they make beautiful aviator style watches and they are under the $5k price tag.

(Please excuse my ignorance, I am rather new to the watch game, so be gentle

 

[LA Guy]

I'm with you Bête on this one. I am not a fan of the Cartier watch. I am not a big fan of rectangular watches to begin with so there is some bias in my opinion but there are some watches like that that I do like more than others. The Cartier watch I do not really enjoy.


On another note - what are ppls opinions on Bell & Ross? I think they make beautiful aviator style watches and they are under the $5k price tag.

(Please excuse my ignorance, I am rather new to the watch game, so be gentle

I was also surprised to not see Bell&Ross, but these are not my lists, and I don't know anything about good watches, but they do look nice to my untrained eye.

If someone had made a list of pretty much anything apparel or accessories, however, that would have been a different story.

 

[CHRK33]

Frankly, I think Bell and Ross, at least their common aviator instrument models, would not be considered dress watches by many die-hard watch enthusiasts.

 

[mimo]

I think they are hideous. That would be my principle objection.