If you had to choose just one watch up to £2500 for all occasions what would it be?
The £2500 can be new or pre-owned.
Just one!
Used or new? I'd go for either a Breitling Aerospace Evo or Onega Speedmaster. Both could be had new for around that.
Or or perhaps an Omega Seamaster ceramic?
Definitely NOT the planet ocean, lovely to look at, exc quality but compromised due to its thickness.
Aqua Terra 8500 if used or as Wayne said, Breitling Aerospace.
As said earlier, PO 8500 45mm.
I would go for a new nomos glashutte club auto. Suitable for almost any occasion.
The last Tudor Sub, a 79190, in blue.
I know, it has sapphire and not the more characterful plexi, but it really could do anything, dressed up or down. Especially if you managed to get the silver and blue bezel inserts.
D
Polar Explorer II
My day to day is a 38.5mm AT. It looks great with casual dress and with a more formal setting.
Would def get my vote for that price bracket. Close second would be a Black Bay but definitely not as versatile.
To be fair to you... One sold last year at 2300 but it was missing everything... Box papers, bracelet.
AT 8500 gets my vote. What's not to like?
Sport and casual,
And dressy,
Seamaster Professional, with Ceramic bezel.
Stunning watch and perfect for every occasion.
If you could get the Polar Explorer 2 for that money then it would be that as I have one as my everyday watch anyway and I love it.
Second choices would be good condition Rolex Air King (3,6,9 preferably)/Oyster/Date, failing that a Tudor Heritage Chrono (Blue).
Another tick for the PO but a 14060 must be a consideration.
Paul
Another shout for either a 42mm PO or AT..... What about a pelagos for the larger wrists folk?
I would Sinn good with that kind of budget
“Don’t look back, you’re not heading that way.”
No question it would be an Explorer1 36mm. My grail.
Easy. Just echoing above with a PO.
Acqua Terra for me...its beautiful and versatile.
Explorer I
Any iteration of it. I'm sure they'd be available for £2500
Any of my three - Fortis B-42 Cosmonaut LE, Speedy Pro, Omega SMP 2264 - could probably do the job. I like chronos (preferably centre minute type), good lume, turning bezels, quickset hour hands and decent WR; but it's hard to combine all those in a daily wearer. My Fortis is a superb all-rounder and light in titanium, but at 16mm, a bit tall. I would probably choose that out the three, though if I could agree to live without a chrono, the SMP 2264 is very hard to beat. Once on the wrist, it stays there for weeks.
The Breitling M1 could do the job, but it's as tall as the Fortis, slightly wider, and a bit ugly, which is not what you want in a daily wearer; the Rolex GMT II would be a contender, but it's outside the price range. If it's someone else's £2500, I'd follow the herd, and go Omega, with one of:
- SMP GMT, with sword hands (which means a mod to the 2535.80 "Bond" type, or the 2234.50)
- Planet Ocean 8500 - the titanium version would be nice, but probably too pricey
- SMP 2264, and spare cash
- Speedmaster Solar Impulse GMT Chrono - if I could find one for the money
A three hander Grand Seiko...
(From http://www.seiyajapan.com/products/s-sbgr073)
IWC Aquatimer - wearing it now!
The Explorer 1 is also a good call (among other good calls above) ive owned one but prefer a 40mm size and quite like a date although it's not a deal breaker.
i
6900 solar atomic on bracelet.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Maybe Omega Planet Ocean with black dial white numerals.
I believe the OP stated 'up to' m'lud...
but seriously, I bought it around four years ago from our esteemed Dave E ( as in 'E's are good, E's are good, all Dave E's are good ) , i have worn it nearly every day, it does everything I want from a watch ( unlike all my other watches , which all have some missing or superfluous functions ) it is well comfy mate innit , it doesn't look too bad if you can swallow the star wars stoomtrooper styling, and it is incredibly reliable. Been with me four times around the globe as well as numerous school runs and trips to morrisons , etc )
Last edited by seikopath; 21st July 2014 at 10:05.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Would have to be a seamaster ceramic for me.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
i dunno about that - my daily wearer is a 16600 and while i sometimes wear a G in place of it that's only cos i fancy a change really. can't think of anything missing there (that i need at any rate.)
the polar explorer 2 fits the one watch bill well. its a bit thinner and lighter than the SD so very comfortable and with the white face might be slightly better off with a suit being a little less overtly sporty (i have no issues with a suit and the SD personally)
i don't know what a 16600 is but i suspect it might be one of the rolex divers everyone is on about. it misses the backlight , second time zone and atomic timekeeping functions of the 6900 s/a all of which i use every day.
I've got a polar exp ii. it was my grail - until i got one. don't think i ever worn it.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
yes, its the sea dweller. the hands glow enough in the dark for my purposes, i dont need a singe time zone (i regularly use a whole bunch and my phone comes in handy.) Atomic timed precision is certainly not a daily necessity for me and i should be interested to learn why it is for you? (again my phone app can provide such if required.
bit of a pity not to wear a grail?
one of the things i wear a watch for is to tell the time. accuracy is important to me, that is why i value the atomic timekeeping. i never need to check or set my watch when within reach of a transmitter. ( when I'm not within a reach of a transmitter that level of accuracy isn't so important, but thats a different story ..)
i hardly wear any of my watches apart from the g . it doesn't mean i don't enjoy having them. i also am firmly in the 'watches are to be worn' camp , and that none of what i say may be logical. obviously, the exp ii is no longer a grail for me, for several reasons. once you possess a grail and all that .... that is the whole point isn't it, of having one? not so much that the journey is the goal , but once you find what you were seeking all that time you realise that what you were actually seeking was there all along etc.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
The Rolex Explorer II, or the Rolex Sub, if you can find one for that budget. If not, I'd choose a Omega SMP Bond (2531.80).
Totally agree. I've often said that the SMP is pretty much all the watch I'll ever need. It does everything. On the bracelet it is smart enough, it works with casual dress or a suit, it is small enough to tuck nicely under a shirt cuff so can be hidden away. Get the rubber strap and it gives you a great casual look too.
Omega Speedmaster Professional, as much as I hate the way the brand is going these days (so buy pre-worn, don't fund the brand!!!)
A great watch, for casual wear or dressing up.
Greg.
Last edited by gregory; 21st July 2014 at 11:21.
For that price, I'd have to go with the Seamaster Professional as well. In fact, I have one that I wore every single day for about 10 years, until I got into the multiple watch game….