Do I feel pressured to get my collection “right”? No.

Do I buy impulsively? Yeah, on occasion. There’s been a few under $500 watches that I just bought without thinking. I’ve gotten a lot better about this, though. I fall in lust almost every day, but I let it marinate for a while. If, after weeks or months have passed, I’m still thinking about it, then I’ll probably buy it. Most of the time, I find I forget about whatever it is I was pining after within a few days.

I think it’s impossible to pick the perfect watch. After years of collecting and selling, I’ve learned you’ll refine what you like and go through phases. It’s all part of learning and enjoying the hobby. Stop watching review videos and collection videos and just enjoy the watches you have. Suddenly, the pressure will be gone.

Citizen watches with an eco-drive movement. They’re solid, reliable for years, and accurate. With dive watches, chronographs, titanium, gps, atomic sync, etc… There’s something for everyone.

The movement looks right. See the little screws holding the jewels in place? Those were used from 1924-1929. The jewels used after 1929 were friction fit.

As others have said, the dial looks a little sus. That orange color is a little too vibrant for what I’d expect to see on an original dial. I’d ask about it.

Case looks right. The price is probably on the high end for what I’d be looking to pay. That said, if the movement had been serviced, that’s worth something.

I had a chat with an old coworker not that long ago. He asked me why I just don’t save up $2k - $3k and buy a Rolex.

When I was in Mexico, I was complimented on my “nice and expensive watch” when I was poolside. It was a Citizen BN0151 that I got years ago on Amazon for like $99.

The average person has no clue.

I don’t think there’s any rule when it comes to luxury goods except if you can’t afford it. Don’t go into extreme debt for something as silly as a watch.

My unregulated, luck-of-the-draw, Seiko 6R35 runs around +1.2 s/day. It’s not even off a full minute after a month of wear.

My, regulated to 3 positions, Selitta SW200 Elabore grade watch runs around +5 s/day.

Go figure.

Unless you buy a watch that has been certified for accuracy, it’s just dumb luck and possibly your wearing habits. For me, as long as my watches are running within +/- 15 s/day, I’m pretty happy. Beyond that, I might do something about it.

I’m into the same stories, OP.

Check out Marathon’s steel navigator. It’s basically a reissue of their 1986 pilot watch that was used by the US military.

Also, the Citizen NY0040 has a fun story. That watch was issued to the Italian Navy. And it’s super affordable.

Squale and Panarai have a similar history with the Italian military.

The Bulova Milships is basically a one for one copy of a prototype watch that was never produced until now.

No shortage, friend. Enjoy the hunt!

Everything that youtube reviewers crack on aren’t that important. If every watch had a sapphire crystal, an adjustable clasp, 200m WR with a screw down crown, was “value for money” and had good lume… well, we’d all be wearing a dive watch from a microbrand.

I like the variety of watches out there.

That voice is in your head because the silly industry puts it there. We’re so used to seeing a men’s and a women’s category at the top of every website. Then, brands like Tag go and ruin everything by making a smaller Aquaracer and a smaller Carrera and adding diamonds and pastel colors. Maybe a guy with smaller wrists wants to rock a blue 36mm Aquaracer or a 36mm Carrera that doesn’t have rose gold indices and a pink dial.

I’m not bitter.

Enjoy the JLC, my friend. Square and rectangular watches often wear a bit bigger than their dimensions imply. I wouldn’t go by what ref it is. Just if it fits or not. It’s a dressy and classy watch. There is nothing wrong with rocking a smaller size.

That’s not the normal way a chronograph works. I’m not aware of any off the top of my head. There may be a weird one out there somewhere, but it won’t be a modern watch.

If you like a ticking center second hand and some other sub dials with visual interest, look for field watches with a 24-hour display or something like the Maen Brooklyn, which has subdials for the day and date.

Dude. Wait till you find out about Oris and Panarai with their 5-day power reserve.

Timex MK1 40 mm with an aluminum case and time only. Cost less than $20 on Amazon. The funny thing is it has an acrylic crystal and soft aluminum case and only 30m of water resistance. I wore it when I used to do land survey work. It got rained on, knocked around, dirty, and generally beat on. Still works great.

See, I already found your choice of words sus given this is one currently available. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, don’t listen to me, man. A watch has value if you find that it has value to you. If you like it, and it’s in your price range, and it will make you happy, then buy it. Wear it and enjoy the hell out of it.

I’ve heard the owner is a bit, shall we say, controlling, with the narrative of his reviews. And for the $400 price point, I don’t think the watches are anything to write home about. They’re a pass from me.

He generally only has specific watches on sale. It’s not a blanket sale on the whole site. The watch you’re interested in may or may not be on that list. The discount percent varies too. It’s not far away, so it’s worth a wait and see, but don’t be shocked if it’s not on sale.