Obviously $5M is a lot of money, but for a lot of middle class people like myself this is attainable in a lifetime after saving for a while. Curious what each person’s choice would be for a “grail watch” that isn’t ridiculously expensive.

  • Zamboni4201@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Tudor Pelagos 39

    Omega Aqua Terra 38 (pick a color).

    Grand Seiko SBGA413 Shunbun It’s over your limit, but ask for a discount, or buy it used.

    IWC Pilot Mark XX

    I have the 1st and 3rd. Fantastic watches.

    Waiting on the Omega in Terra Cotta. The IWC in blue with the bracelet is likely next on my list.

      • infernox@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        I thought the Shunbun would be mine when I saw the pictures but then I tried it on and thought the case was too bulky compared to the dial.

    • Broheimian@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Took me a minute to remind myself it was US dollars Was going to ask where you can get that IWC under $5k as I love my portofino.

    • tribunalStoic141@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Grand Seiko and Tudor have lots of options! Especially when buying pre-owned… Also, Omega SMP 300 - seaweed is stunning and worthy of a grail watch

    • freerangecooter@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      You pretty much hit it for me, too with the Tudor and IWC. The Omega that I’d want, though, is a steel bezel Speedy. Also, if I could find an Oyster Perpetual that’s 35-36mm for that price that I knew was genuine, that would probably be it.

    • CMOx12@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I will never understand the obsession with the most plain, boring watches. No offense, to each his own

    • Spiritual_Beyond3439@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I would add Omega seamaster heritage collection. Though its well above 5k. You might find some pre-owned for less than 5k.

      And kudos to OP for saving up. Hopefully someday I will get there too. Until then can only dream.

      • Zamboni4201@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        GS worldwide is very quiet about sales numbers.

        https://www.watchgecko.com/blogs/magazine/the-most-popular-grand-seiko-watches-according-to-grand-seiko

        If someone were so inclined, search r/watches and r/grandseiko and count hits for the 211 Snowflake, and the 413 Shunbun, it’d be interesting to see the numbers year on year.

        I had spent the better part of a year looking at Spring Drives, trying to narrow it down, and was feeling overwhelmed. I’d thrown out the automatics and the hi-beats, I’d set my sights on a Spring Drive as my first GS. Flake? Omiwatari? Birch? I couldn’t decide. AD was very patient with me throughout that time.

        Web pics of the 413 are awful, I’d discounted that watch early on… until I saw it in the case. And I asked the AD, how is it that I’d never seen that watch before?

        AD said that the first 3-ish years when it was US-only, he was selling them before they hit the display case, and almost exclusively to foreigners.

        January, when I got mine, my AD said it was the first time they’d ever gotten two, and were able to put one on display.

        80 watches in the case, yet the 413 stood out to me.
        It is a completely different watch in person. All GS watches are better in person. But the 413, to me, just stands out.
        The only thing to tell people is to go visit it in person.