[Recommendation Request] Exhibition caseback around $500
Hoping Reddit can steer me in the right direction with a few different options. I’m looking for an open/exhibition caseback mechanical (manual or auto) watch for my brother-in-law’s 30th birthday.
It would be an everyday wear, so something for the office (he is an engineer) as well as less formal at the weekend. Looking to spend up to $500, but could stretch if something perfect popped up. Like the look of the Nomos watches, but can’t stretch that far unfortunately.
What would you offer, if you were me?
I think most budget watches have an exhibition caseback like the seiko 5 sports models, orient bambino or maestro.
The beautiful movements in this price range come from seagull and there are some chrono movements like the st19 but also regular 3 hand movements too like the st36 (these are handwind only and feel very tactile when winding). There are also skeletoonized variants of this movement.
You can find good watches with these movements from sugess.