Posted: 4/11/2026 11:47:35 AM EDT
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I’m getting ready to retire later this year and am thinking about getting a watch to celebrate. I currently have an automatic dive watch and am looking for a watch that is versatile enough not to look out of place with a suit or with jeans and a polo shirt. My budget is $7,500 or so, but it looks like there are a lot of watches in the $3K-$5K range that look like very good options. I’m primarily looking for an automatic watch with a case that is roughly 40-43 mm in diameter and no more than 14mm tall. I live on water, so I would like to get something with a screw-in crown that has at least 100m of water resistance. I would also like a more modern movement that has a power reserve of at least 60 hours. I would also like a watch that has a COSC or similar certification for accuracy. I prefer to have a simple 3-hand watch. A date or day/date field on the dial is not a plus or a minus. I definitely don’t want a chronograph. I also have a slight preference for watches where it is easy to change out the bands and with a rotating bezel. I haven’t seen any of these watches in person yet, but I want to see: • Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (fantastic watch, at the upper end of my price range) • Tudor Black Bay 68 • Tudor Ranger • IWC Pilot Mark XX (not noted for having an accurate movement) • Oris Aquis 400 (a little larger than I am looking for an is not easy to use with a NATO strap) • Longines Spirit/Zulu • Longines Legend Diver Do any of you all have experience with these watches or other watches I should also look at? |
| This is at the top of your price range. Complete class and all the depreciation is gone as new it's $20k. |
Make crime illegal
The Explorer is exactly what you've described and within in your budget if you shop used. 
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Be warned the Oris 400 movement has had some issues and Oris has been bipolar on warranty. There are a couple of threads on the WatchUSeek forums. I would not touch an Oris 400 right now. I have the Oris Aquis 733. Not as long a power reserve as the 400, but the 733 is very accurate. I really like the Aquis, at 43.5mm it wears smaller and is lighter than my 42mm Chris Ward GMT. The Aquis thickness does bother me a bit by making the watch top heavy. It flops a bit. |
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In your budget, i would look at: Preowned Cartier Santos large. There is a very nice 2021 full set local to me for $7000. So they can be found for your budget. Preowned Omega Speedmaster with sapphire in a flavor you like is an easy find in your budget. They wear smaller than the 42mm. I was in Vegas 3 weeks ago and i hit every AD i saw. The two above were my favorites, but the Bell & Ross BR05 has my attention. I didnt think i would like the rounded square case, but that is a very wearable watch. Jomashop has some deals on the Omega Seamaster 300 heritage, link. Remember Jomashop and Watchmaxx have their own 2 year warranty. No factory warranty at gray market dealers. Edit: Most of the above don't hit your 60 hour reserve. I missed that. |
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Rolex 16570 Explorer II with black dial. It’s my most worn watch by far and I’ve worn it with everything from a suit to shorts and a hoodie. It’s been on my wrist from snorkeling in Hawaii to mountain climbing in Montana to cave exploring in Kentucky to the finest restaurants from Dallas to Miami to DC. It’s the perfect blend of classical styling with modern engineering. Rugged, yet elegant, understated luxury tool watch. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
“It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men”
- Samuel Adams
- Samuel Adams
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Originally Posted By BrianC: I’m getting ready to retire later this year and am thinking about getting a watch to celebrate. I currently have an automatic dive watch and am looking for a watch that is versatile enough not to look out of place with a suit or with jeans and a polo shirt. My budget is $7,500 or so, but it looks like there are a lot of watches in the $3K-$5K range that look like very good options. My #1 choice was be the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, specifically ref# 231.10.42.21.03.001 which is the Blue “Teak” (Spectre 007) version. Just a beautifully made watch that can go anywhere and be worn with anything. My other thought being, if your going to go big then go big and get the one you really want. If I decided to let cost factor into it then my second choice would be the Longines Spirit/Zulu. I think quality wise they are right up there with some of the more expensive options but priced much more reasonably. Just my $.02 |
On going to war over religion: "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." - Richard Jeni
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Thanks to all that posted. I’m definitely need to compare the Pelagos and the Black Bay watches in person. I had a slight preference for the Black Bay watches based on a visit to a watch shop a few years ago, but will re-compare them. I’m starting to monitor the DavidSW site for used watches. So far, I haven’t seen a Blancpain 50 Fathoms or a Rolex Explorer in my price range yet. @CCRN, that watch is stunning. The aesthetics of the Aqua Terra are my favorite of all the watches on my list so far. @gotigers, I had not heard of the issues with the Oris 400 movement. Thanks for the warning. Pictures of the Santos don’t do anything for me, but I’ll try to find one to see in person. @airgunner, I think we have very similar tastes. At this point, my top 2 choices agree with yours. |
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I was able to go watch shopping and got to see and try a few really nice watches. One of the first watches I saw was an Omega Constellation Globemaster with a steel case and a leather strap. This watch impressed me a lot with its elegant proportions, pie-pan shape and subdued design. It had a fluted bezel that contributed to the overall elegance of the watch. The bezel was made out of tungsten to ensure it didn’t get scratched up. I could see wearing as my “dress up” watch with a suit and being very happy with it. It would likely, however, look out of place with jeans and a polo shirt. This watch is no longer being listed for sale on the Omega site, but the dealer I went to still had it in inventory. I also got to try on an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m with a 41mm case and a black lacquer dial. It is was a beautiful watch with a finely polished case. The applied silver-colored indices over the black dial really popped. According the specs, the watch is 13.4mm tall, but it felt larger than that. I was expecting to walk out with this watch, but it didn’t make me fall in love with it. It seemed a bit too polished and a bit too tall to be a nice do-everything watch. Next, I took a look at the IWC Pilot Model XX watches. I really liked the dial and hands on this watch. The hands are large and completely covered in lume. The case size was very attractive as well – 40mm wide and 10.8 mm tall. It wore much nicer than the Aqua Terra. It also had a quick strap/bracelet change feature. I have several NATO straps and it would make changing from the bracelet to the straps very easy. The watch also had a 120 hour power reserve which is about 3 times what my current daily watch has. I asked about the accuracy standard of the watch and was unhappy to hear that IWC’s standard is +0 to +7 seconds per day. My current watch averages about+2-4 seconds per day. I know there is the luck-of-the-draw with how any watch will do on my wrist, but allowing up to +7 seconds a day seems excessive. The Longines Conquest watch was very sharp looking, but I didn’t like the shape of the hands or the small amount of lume on them. The fact the silver color hands didn’t contrast much over the anthracite color dial didn’t help any. From my on-line research, I had high expectations for the Longines Pilot Zulu watch, but the hands were too skinny and when the GMT hand is pointing in the same direction as the hour hand, it easy to lose track of where the hour hand is pointing. Also, the rotating bezel only had 24 detents around the dial. I was hoping it had 60 so I could use it to time things for cooking – which is what I usually use a rotating bezel for. Next on my list to view: Tudor Black Bay 58, Oris Aquis and Grand Seiko SBGA413. There were a couple of other aspects of the shopping experience that I didn’t expect. Some of the stores had armed guards at the doors and the guards would only let a small number of people in the store at any given time. I had to wait for a few minutes at a couple of the stores for someone to leave so I could enter. Also, at a couple of the stores, I would tell them what I was interested in and what my budget was and they completely ignored me and brought watches that I didn’t ask for and were way over my budget. One salesperson insisted that I had to get a gold watch or at least a two-tone watch since I wore a gold wedding ring. Perhaps I should not have been surprised by the salesperson trying to upsell me. |
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Originally Posted By BrianC: I was able to go watch shopping and got to see and try a few really nice watches. One of the first watches I saw was an Omega Constellation Globemaster with a steel case and a leather strap. This watch impressed me a lot with its elegant proportions, pie-pan shape and subdued design. It had a fluted bezel that contributed to the overall elegance of the watch. The bezel was made out of tungsten to ensure it didn’t get scratched up. I could see wearing as my “dress up” watch with a suit and being very happy with it. It would likely, however, look out of place with jeans and a polo shirt. This watch is no longer being listed for sale on the Omega site, but the dealer I went to still had it in inventory. I also got to try on an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m with a 41mm case and a black lacquer dial. It is was a beautiful watch with a finely polished case. The applied silver-colored indices over the black dial really popped. According the specs, the watch is 13.4mm tall, but it felt larger than that. I was expecting to walk out with this watch, but it didn’t make me fall in love with it. It seemed a bit too polished and a bit too tall to be a nice do-everything watch. Next, I took a look at the IWC Pilot Model XX watches. I really liked the dial and hands on this watch. The hands are large and completely covered in lume. The case size was very attractive as well – 40mm wide and 10.8 mm tall. It wore much nicer than the Aqua Terra. It also had a quick strap/bracelet change feature. I have several NATO straps and it would make changing from the bracelet to the straps very easy. The watch also had a 120 hour power reserve which is about 3 times what my current daily watch has. I asked about the accuracy standard of the watch and was unhappy to hear that IWC’s standard is +0 to +7 seconds per day. My current watch averages about+2-4 seconds per day. I know there is the luck-of-the-draw with how any watch will do on my wrist, but allowing up to +7 seconds a day seems excessive. The Longines Conquest watch was very sharp looking, but I didn’t like the shape of the hands or the small amount of lume on them. The fact the silver color hands didn’t contrast much over the anthracite color dial didn’t help any. From my on-line research, I had high expectations for the Longines Pilot Zulu watch, but the hands were too skinny and when the GMT hand is pointing in the same direction as the hour hand, it easy to lose track of where the hour hand is pointing. Also, the rotating bezel only had 24 detents around the dial. I was hoping it had 60 so I could use it to time things for cooking – which is what I usually use a rotating bezel for. Next on my list to view: Tudor Black Bay 58, Oris Aquis and Grand Seiko SBGA413. There were a couple of other aspects of the shopping experience that I didn’t expect. Some of the stores had armed guards at the doors and the guards would only let a small number of people in the store at any given time. I had to wait for a few minutes at a couple of the stores for someone to leave so I could enter. Also, at a couple of the stores, I would tell them what I was interested in and what my budget was and they completely ignored me and brought watches that I didn’t ask for and were way over my budget. One salesperson insisted that I had to get a gold watch or at least a two-tone watch since I wore a gold wedding ring. Perhaps I should not have been surprised by the salesperson trying to upsell me. If you're up for a road trip - go visit Teddy's shop on the West side of Cleveland, OH...he's a Tudor dealer. I was up there (from TX) a month or so ago and had a GREAT experience!! You might have seen my thread about it on this subforum. It's interesting how we all have a watch as being "right" but when you see it in person / try it on, well, not so much! That's why I LOVE to try them on! Good luck with your quest!! There are no *wrong* selections! |
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BrianC: I decided to see how useful (or not?) AI can be when it comes to watch shopping selection...I took your initial post and then the followup and here are several replies...these are NOT my recommendations...they are from several different AI models...enjoy!! (hopefully!) -- Claude: Sounds like a productive first outing — and your reactions tell us a lot about what you're actually looking for. Let me work through what you saw and set you up for the next round. The Globemaster is a gorgeous watch, but you already know it's not the one. Too dressed up for half your life, and apparently no longer in production. Moving on. The Aqua Terra surprised me a little — it's usually the consensus "do everything" answer at that price point — but your reaction makes sense in hindsight. At 13.4mm it's thicker than the spec sheet makes it sound, and the highly polished case gives it a dressy formality that works against the versatility you're after. The fact that you were expecting to walk out with it and didn't is actually useful data. Trust that instinct. The IWC Mark XX is interesting because it clearly wore well and checked a lot of boxes — 10.8mm thin, 40mm case, full lume hands, quick-release straps, 120-hour power reserve. That's a genuinely impressive package. The accuracy tolerance is a fair gripe. IWC's +0/+7 standard is looser than COSC, and for a watch at this price point that's a legitimate knock. That said, the tolerance is the ceiling, not the target — a well-regulated example will typically run much tighter. If you land one that's running +2-3/day in practice, you'd probably never think about it again. Whether that uncertainty bothers you is a personal call, but go in with eyes open. The Longines Pilot Zulu disappointment makes complete sense now that you've clarified you want the bezel for practical timing. A 24-detent bezel is essentially useless for that purpose — you need 60 clicks for any meaningful elapsed-time tracking. That eliminates it cleanly. For your next visit, I'd really focus on two watches: **Tudor Black Bay 58.** At 39mm and roughly 11.9mm tall, it's going to wear much closer to the IWC experience than the Aqua Terra did. The snowflake hands are heavily lumed — I think that's going to land well after what you described with the Longines. COSC certified, 70-hour power reserve, screw-in crown, 200m water resistance, quick-release straps, and a 120-click rotating bezel that will work perfectly for timing your pasta. Strong vintage dive watch DNA that somehow reads as equally at home dressed up or down. It's also well under your budget ceiling, which is never a bad thing. **Grand Seiko SBGA413.** This one's worth your time as a wildcard. It uses Grand Seiko's Spring Drive movement — a mechanical-quartz hybrid that achieves roughly ±1 second per day accuracy, which embarrasses COSC and isn't far off quartz precision. No COSC certificate, but the actual real-world performance is in a completely different league from anything else on your list. The dials are stunning in person — textured, almost landscape-like — and it sits in your budget. Before you make the trip, verify the specific reference has a screw-in crown and rotating bezel, as Grand Seiko varies those details across the lineup. The Oris Aquis 400 is still worth trying on just to confirm — the movement is legitimately excellent (±1.5 sec/day, 5-day power reserve, 10-year service intervals) — but I suspect the 43.5mm integrated bracelet is going to reinforce what you already suspect about the fit. One more thing: don't let the salesperson who insisted you needed a gold watch because of your wedding ring live rent-free in your head. That's not a rule anyone with actual taste follows. Steel with gold jewelry is completely normal and looks great. For the next visit, walk in and say you've narrowed it down to two or three specific watches and want to put them on back-to-back. It cuts through the upsell theater pretty quickly. --- ChatGPT: After hearing your impressions in person, I think the Aqua Terra is probably off the list. It checks a lot of boxes on paper, but if it felt too polished and wore taller than expected, that matters more than the spec sheet. If you expected to love it and didn’t, I wouldn’t force it. The one that really sounds promising is the **IWC Mark XX**. From the way you described it, the case size, thinness, dial, hands, lume, quick-change strap system, and long power reserve all really worked for you. The only real hang-up is the accuracy standard. If that is something that will bother you every time you wear it, then I’d keep looking. But otherwise, it sounds like one of the strongest contenders so far. Your reaction to the **Globemaster** was interesting too. Even if it’s probably too dressy for what you want, it says something about your taste. It sounds like you really respond to good proportions, understated design, and a watch with a little character in the bezel/case without being flashy. At this point, I’d put the **Black Bay 58** at the top of your next watches to try. My guess is that it may hit the balance better than the Aqua Terra did: less polished, more casual, still dressy enough, and with a bezel you can actually use the way you want to use one. I’d still check out the **Oris Aquis** too. It may lean a little sportier than ideal, but it could end up feeling more honest and purpose-built on the wrist than some of the others. The **Grand Seiko SBGA413** is definitely worth seeing, but I have a feeling it may end up being more of an “admire it” watch than the best true do-everything watch for you. So based on what you’ve said so far, I’d probably focus most on: **IWC Mark XX** **Tudor Black Bay 58** **Oris Aquis** Of those, the **IWC** sounds like the one you liked best in person, while the **BB58** may end up being the best overall match for your original brief. And yeah, the store experience you described sounds pretty typical. I definitely wouldn’t let the “you need gold because of your wedding ring” sales pitch influence you at all. Buy the one that feels right on your wrist. -- Gemini: Great write-up, and congratulations on the upcoming retirement! Hunting for that perfect milestone watch is half the fun, but it sounds like you are already zeroing in on what really matters for your daily wear. ### The Boutique Experience First off, navigating the high-end ADs and boutiques can definitely be an exercise in patience right now with the tight security and limited entries. Good on you for trusting your instincts and holding your ground. Insisting you need a two-tone watch just to match a gold wedding ring is a classic salesperson tactic to move higher-margin inventory. ### Thoughts on the Omegas and IWC It makes complete sense that the **Omega Aqua Terra** felt too thick and flashy in person. The polished center links and glossy dial push it slightly out of "do everything" territory if you want something that flies under the radar. The **Globemaster** is an absolute masterpiece, but you are right: that fluted tungsten bezel is inherently formal and fights against a casual polo and jeans. Regarding the **IWC Pilot Mark XX**, it is a shame about their accuracy standard because that 10.8mm profile is incredibly comfortable. IWC calibrates their movements to +0/+7 seconds so the watch *never* runs slow (being late is a cardinal sin in aviation). However, if you are used to a tight +2 to +4 seconds, that variance will absolutely bother you over time. ### The Longines Legibility You are spot on about the **Longines Conquest** lacking contrast. If legibility is a priority, I've always found that a crisp opaline or silver dial paired with striking blue hands and numerals solves that issue instantly. You are also exactly right about the **Zulu Time**. A 24-click bezel is strictly designed to track hours in a second time zone. If you use the bezel for timing the grill or cooking, you absolutely need a traditional 60-click or 120-click dive bezel. ### Your "Next Up" List * **Tudor Black Bay 58:** This might be your Goldilocks watch. It is much thinner than the Aqua Terra at 11.9mm thick, has a 60-click bezel for timing, and the entirely brushed finish makes it much less flashy. * **Grand Seiko SBGA413:** This one will completely redefine your expectations. The Spring Drive movement will blow your IWC accuracy concerns out of the water (it is often accurate to ±15 seconds a *month*). It is 100m water resistant, and the titanium makes it wear incredibly light and comfortable. * **Oris Aquis:** Fair warning on this one since you mentioned liking NATO straps. The Aquis uses a proprietary integrated lug system. Putting it on a standard NATO is practically impossible without clunky aftermarket adapters. ### A Sleeper Pick to Add Since you are planning to look at Tudor and Grand Seiko, you should absolutely try on the **Tudor Pelagos 39**. It is Grade 2 titanium with an entirely brushed finish, meaning it has zero of the polished flashiness you disliked on the Omega. It sits at a fantastic 11.8mm thick, features a 60-click ceramic bezel, and boasts a COSC-certified movement with a 70-hour power reserve. Best of all, the matte black dial with stark white, heavily lumed snowflake hands offers unmatched contrast and legibility. It is the ultimate "do everything" tool watch that still cleans up perfectly. Good luck with the rest of the hunt! -- |
As a do anything, I’m partial to these. 
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The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
| OP - At the risk of sounding like a broken record, check out the Black Bay 58. The glint is the best of the bunch, and the newest model is even slightly improved over the OG (but honestly not by much). If you want a slightly bigger watch look at the Black Bay 41mm Monochrome - it's equally awesome. I personally think the BB 68 is a little big, but worth checking out if you find the other models too small. I'm a 7 inch wrist guy and the BB58 hits perfectly for me = exactly like a modern 5 digit Sub. Likewise, the Pelagos 39mm, while a more modern take vs the 58, is a baller tool watch. Tudor is really what Rolex was 25 years ago, it's a watch you can daily at work but also wear with a suit. The BB58 will be my summer daily for the foreseeable future, probably forever. |
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Originally Posted By 5thLegion: OP - At the risk of sounding like a broken record, check out the Black Bay 58. The glint is the best of the bunch, and the newest model is even slightly improved over the OG (but honestly not by much). If you want a slightly bigger watch look at the Black Bay 41mm Monochrome - it's equally awesome. I personally think the BB 68 is a little big, but worth checking out if you find the other models too small. I'm a 7 inch wrist guy and the BB58 hits perfectly for me = exactly like a modern 5 digit Sub. Likewise, the Pelagos 39mm, while a more modern take vs the 58, is a baller tool watch. Tudor is really what Rolex was 25 years ago, it's a watch you can daily at work but also wear with a suit. The BB58 will be my summer daily for the foreseeable future, probably forever. @5thLegion, I keep going back to looking at the Tudors. I currently wear a Sinn U2 dive watch daily. I plan on keeping the Sinn and want the new watch to be something a bit different. |
So, I've continued to shop and look around. I can't get the Omega Constellation Globemaster out of my mind. It has everything I want -- even stuff I didn't know I wanted. It is, however, quite a bit over my planned budget. I've been looking for a good used example on the 1916 and DavidSW sites. I'll probably expand my search to other auction/resale sites as well. I like the understated elegance of it and admire the high quality of the movement and the finishing. I totally did not not expect this  I did visit another watch store today and got to see Oris and Grand Seiko watches in person. My assessment of Oris watches reversed 100% after seeing them in person. On the web, the Aquis watches looked well sized and well finished, but the '65 Divers looked poorly finished and had weirdly small proportions. In person, however, the Aquis watches looked comically large and shiney. The bezels are far too big for the case and make the watches look unbalanced to me. The '65 Divers though, looked much more well proportioned and with higher quality finishes. I may never look at watches on the web again. I also tried on an Oris Big Crown Pro Pilot X and while I didn't like the skeletonized dial at all, It looked good and fit very well. I may have to find a non-skeletonized version to try. ETA: there isn't a non-skeletonized version of this watch in 44 mm. I also tried on two Grand Seiko SBGA watches with Spring Drive movements. I like the +/- 1 spd accuracy of these watches and the long power reserve. The first had a Titanium case and a white "snow" dial. It was gorgeous to look at and very light. The bracelet was very comfortable. The other watch was in steel and had an attractive dark blue dial. It was notably heavier than the Ti watch, but not too heavy to wear comfortably. I've heard that some people don't like these watches because there is not enough contrast between the color of the dial and the color of the hands, but I don't see how that could be an issue. I asked the sales person if there were other watches in the store that I might want to take a look at. He made half-hearted suggestions for me to look at the Cartier watches and the Breitling watches. He also commented on my casual dress (jeans and a sport shirt) and said he didn't think there would be any other watches in the store I would be interested in. The store had a large section for Rolex watches and I'm guessing I didn't meet their minimum dress standard for that section or they were concerned I would dirty the fancy red carpet. In short, I am enjoying the journey and look forward to the destination. |
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Originally Posted By BrianC: @5thLegion, I keep going back to looking at the Tudors. I currently wear a Sinn U2 dive watch daily. I plan on keeping the Sinn and want the new watch to be something a bit different. Brian: check this one out, tried it on today, comes with the nato strap with gold hardware and a brown croco strap. Very stunning / different. Tudor Black Bay 58 18K Gold. Ouch point at $22k but so caught my (wife’s) eye! 
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Finally grabbed this, Jesus Christ it is close to perfection!
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The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Originally Posted By airgunner: I'm close to your age range and have spent the last couple of years seriously looking for pretty much the same watch. In my case, I'm came to the conclusion that spending that much on a watch at this point in my life just doesn't make any sense but if I had decided to proceed... My #1 choice was be the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, specifically ref# 231.10.42.21.03.001 which is the Blue “Teak” (Spectre 007) version. Just a beautifully made watch that can go anywhere and be worn with anything. My other thought being, if your going to go big then go big and get the one you really want. Originally Posted By airgunner: Originally Posted By BrianC: I’m getting ready to retire later this year and am thinking about getting a watch to celebrate. I currently have an automatic dive watch and am looking for a watch that is versatile enough not to look out of place with a suit or with jeans and a polo shirt. My budget is $7,500 or so, but it looks like there are a lot of watches in the $3K-$5K range that look like very good options. My #1 choice was be the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, specifically ref# 231.10.42.21.03.001 which is the Blue “Teak” (Spectre 007) version. Just a beautifully made watch that can go anywhere and be worn with anything. My other thought being, if your going to go big then go big and get the one you really want. I think that is my next watch. |
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Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: Very nice!! And the PRICE is DEFINITELY right!!! So much VALUE in Longines!! And great history too! Yeah the past six months have seen me go from having just this:  To adding these:   
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The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Globemaster is an awesome watch. I don't wear mine as often as I should, but I can never bring myself to seriously consider getting rid of it. I just got a Mark XX a couple weeks ago. Mine was dead nuts on the exact time a week after setting it according to the exact time website. However, that was while worn. It gained 6 seconds in 24 hours sitting dial up. I've noticed if I put it crown down it holds time really well, but dial up it gets speedy. I guess the answer is just wear it if I want perfect time. Honestly I've been enjoying the watch so much that now I've got half a mind to get one of the old 36mm IWC pilots watches that came with the JLC movement. Aqua Terra is really kind of a favorite of mine, but I'm not as happy with my 41mm AT as I am my 38.5mm titanium AT. That one feels perfect on me. Good luck on the hunt. Half of the enjoyment is the search. |
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Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: Brian: check this one out, tried it on today, comes with the nato strap with gold hardware and a brown croco strap. Very stunning / different. Tudor Black Bay 58 18K Gold. Ouch point at $22k but so caught my (wife’s) eye! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/520287/IMG_1097-3761167.jpg Captain Buddha, that watch is nice, but the mere view of all that gold caused my inner accountant to squeal like a tied up pig at a BBQ. |
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Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: Very nice!! And the PRICE is DEFINITELY right!!! So much VALUE in Longines!! And great history too! Yes! I was not very familiar with Longines watches before I started this search, but they have a LOT of really good watches. I could see myself being happy with several options from their catalog. |
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Originally Posted By Elvis121: Globemaster is an awesome watch. I don't wear mine as often as I should, but I can never bring myself to seriously consider getting rid of it. I just got a Mark XX a couple weeks ago. Mine was dead nuts on the exact time a week after setting it according to the exact time website. However, that was while worn. It gained 6 seconds in 24 hours sitting dial up. I've noticed if I put it crown down it holds time really well, but dial up it gets speedy. I guess the answer is just wear it if I want perfect time. Honestly I've been enjoying the watch so much that now I've got half a mind to get one of the old 36mm IWC pilots watches that came with the JLC movement. Aqua Terra is really kind of a favorite of mine, but I'm not as happy with my 41mm AT as I am my 38.5mm titanium AT. That one feels perfect on me. Good luck on the hunt. Half of the enjoyment is the search. Elvis121, is your Globemaster on a bracelet or a strap? If it is on the bracelet, what do you think of it? Is it as comfortable as the bracelet on the Model XX? |
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Originally Posted By BrianC: Elvis121, is your Globemaster on a bracelet or a strap? If it is on the bracelet, what do you think of it? Is it as comfortable as the bracelet on the Model XX? Mine came on leather, haven't gotten around to getting the bracelet yet, although sometimes I think I should. I can't imagine it wears nicer than the Mark XX since the IWC bracelet has one of the coolest micro adjusting clasps I've seen. The Globemaster bracelet looks pretty nice though, I like the link geometry on it. |
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Originally Posted By Elvis121: Mine came on leather, haven't gotten around to getting the bracelet yet, although sometimes I think I should. I can't imagine it wears nicer than the Mark XX since the IWC bracelet has one of the coolest micro adjusting clasps I've seen. The Globemaster bracelet looks pretty nice though, I like the link geometry on it. Elvis121, thanks. I've read that bracelet on the Globemaster does not have any fine adjustment, but the bracelet for the Model XX has an excellent fine adjustment system. |
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Originally Posted By BrianC: Elvis121, thanks. I've read that bracelet on the Globemaster does not have any fine adjustment, but the bracelet for the Model XX has an excellent fine adjustment system. It is excellent, but it isn't a very subtle bracelet. Been wearing mine on a velcro strap since the bracelet is a little too bling for work. I'll put it back on after I finish this job and go home.  Sailcloth strap with a deployant clasp is about the perfect everyday combo for this watch though. 
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Originally Posted By HiramRanger: Yeah the past six months have seen me go from having just this: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/1BB8235A-9876-4B1C-BCB3-5FE3D88E1BD9-3453263.jpg To adding these: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/IMG_4744-3759108.png https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/IMG_4169-3718906.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/IMG_3743-3686426.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/IMG_4575-3751481.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/218/IMG_4782-3761359.jpg ALL stunning!! |
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Originally Posted By BrianC: Yes! I was not very familiar with Longines watches before I started this search, but they have a LOT of really good watches. I could see myself being happy with several options from their catalog. You’ll find yourself asking: is that the right price?! As in, that low!? It’s refreshing! |
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Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: You’ll find yourself asking: is that the right price?! As in, that low!? It’s refreshing! Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: Originally Posted By BrianC: Yes! I was not very familiar with Longines watches before I started this search, but they have a LOT of really good watches. I could see myself being happy with several options from their catalog. You’ll find yourself asking: is that the right price?! As in, that low!? It’s refreshing! Yup for me it was a question… $9-$10k for a Submariner OR Longines Zulu Time like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $1,800 Longines Conquest Chronograph champagne dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,200 Longines Conquest Chronograph white dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,800 Longines Hydroconquest Blue, very good, box and papers, remaining warranty $800 Longines Hydroconquest Black, good, no box or papers, no remaining warranty $725 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle, very good, no box or papers or warranty $1,000 I have $9,325 invested in six watches which Chrono24 puts the estimated value at $12,995 No brainer to me, and like I said, I like VARIETY! |
The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Originally Posted By HiramRanger: Yup for me it was a question… $9-$10k for a Submariner OR Longines Zulu Time like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $1,800 Longines Conquest Chronograph champagne dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,200 Longines Conquest Chronograph white dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,800 Longines Hydroconquest Blue, very good, box and papers, remaining warranty $800 Longines Hydroconquest Black, good, no box or papers, no remaining warranty $725 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle, very good, no box or papers or warranty $1,000 I have $9,325 invested in six watches which Chrono24 puts the estimated value at $12,995 No brainer to me, and like I said, I like VARIETY! Where are you picking these up from? |
I create no joinder in the EE. Any attempts to create joinder in the EE initiated from this profile should be considered fraudulent.
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Originally Posted By 94TBlazer: Where are you picking these up from? Originally Posted By 94TBlazer: Originally Posted By HiramRanger: Yup for me it was a question… $9-$10k for a Submariner OR Longines Zulu Time like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $1,800 Longines Conquest Chronograph champagne dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,200 Longines Conquest Chronograph white dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,800 Longines Hydroconquest Blue, very good, box and papers, remaining warranty $800 Longines Hydroconquest Black, good, no box or papers, no remaining warranty $725 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle, very good, no box or papers or warranty $1,000 I have $9,325 invested in six watches which Chrono24 puts the estimated value at $12,995 No brainer to me, and like I said, I like VARIETY! Where are you picking these up from? WatchUSeek classifieds, Reddit watch forums, Chrono24 |
The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Originally Posted By HiramRanger: Yup for me it was a question… $9-$10k for a Submariner OR Longines Zulu Time like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $1,800 Longines Conquest Chronograph champagne dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,200 Longines Conquest Chronograph white dial like new, box and papers, remaining warranty $2,800 Longines Hydroconquest Blue, very good, box and papers, remaining warranty $800 Longines Hydroconquest Black, good, no box or papers, no remaining warranty $725 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle, very good, no box or papers or warranty $1,000 I have $9,325 invested in six watches which Chrono24 puts the estimated value at $12,995 No brainer to me, and like I said, I like VARIETY! Absolutely LOVE it!! Well done!! |
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Originally Posted By Captain_Buddha: Absolutely LOVE it!! Well done!! Thanks, my only problem is I have so much variety that I often feel that certain watches don’t get enough wrist time, but then again, it is easier to swap out a few and continuously update my collection to keep it fresh. Many $10k-$20k watches I like, but would they hold my attention long enough that I wouldn’t regret acquiring it. |
The duty of a patriot is to protect his nation from its government.
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
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Grok says: Tudor Black Bay 41mm (e.g., M7941A1A0NU-0003).  Fits all specs: 41mm case, 13.6mm thick, 200m WR with screw-down crown, MT5602-U movement (70h PR, METAS/COSC certified), simple 3-hand + date option, unidirectional rotating bezel, quick-release straps/bracelets for easy changes. Versatile diver style suits suits or casual. ~$4,500–$5,500.  Strong alternative: Omega Seamaster 300 41mm (Master Chronometer, 60h PR, 300m WR, ~13.85mm thick) if you prefer no rotating bezel.  Both in your $3K–$5K sweet spot. |