I snagged a Longines Hydroconquest 39mm for $965 from a local AD clearing out the brand. Full warranty and brand new.

I discovered your channel while scrolling the other day, and I’m really glad I stopped to watch. Your presentation is very calm, collected, and inviting. It feels as if you’re talking to a friend about a hobby we both enjoy. You have quickly become my favorite watch YouTuber!

I own a Hamilton Khaki Field Murph as my first “proper” watch and I love everything about it. Not overly dressy or in your face but also VERY handsome. Wouldn’t want any other watch in this price range over it

I love your content so much, no nonsense edits, no stupid intros. Straight to the topic, lots of information and whats most important is that your delivery is always great. I don’t know if it’s your voice, tone or mix of the two but it’s so easy to listen to you go on about watches.

Citizen for their eco-drive quartz watches. Great time-keeping, no batteries to change. Lots of designs to choose from.
I picked up a Certina dive watch and genuinely love it (Bit more than $1K as it is limited edition). There are a lot of great divers and other watches in their catalogue if you want to go the Swatch conglomerate route.

I like the Citizen brand either mechanical or Eco-drive.

Citizen EcoDrive Calibre 2100. I’ve two of these tanks. One is about 23 years old, the other a recent re-issue from one of 2100 pieces. What a specimen. My older one has never been opened, has literally traveled the world, and has never been given a care… keeps perfect time and all functions operate perfectly. Flyback chronograph, an analog alarm, and no batteries. It will still garner a compliment. Right around $1000 nowadays, and it’s worth every penny.

Also a fan of Glycine. I own a Combat Sub and it’s been fantastic.

you can find quite a few Mido offerings under 1k if you look around. IMO they are an over looked brand that offers great watches.

Been surprisingly impressed with some of the Timex reissues being put out recently

Finally a South African perspective! Thank you champion!

My advice? Wait for the sales. Here in the UK, there are huge discounts on watches practically every couple of months. It’s pretty funny—there’s always a ‘Mid-Season Sale,’ ‘End of Season Sale,’ ‘Spring Sale,’ ‘Boxing Day,’ you name it! Discounts can go up to 40%, even on brands like Longines, Oris, and Baume & Mercier. Even Omega and IWC get price cuts at ADs sometimes. Honestly, it stings to see a watch you just bought go on sale right after, so I’ve learned to hold off and wait for those deals.

I recently picked up a Traska Venturer GMT and I am absolutely stunned by the value proposition for around $700. The watch uses the Miyota 9075 travelers GMT movement and is surprisingly thin at around 12 mm. I love the microadjustable bracelet. While i admit its not the most refined method of adjustment it works great for my purposes. I love the 38.5 mm case size as well.

I was on a trip to Edinburgh and a Tudor AD had just received their frst Black Bay 58 GMT. I tried it on thinking I might just buy it right then. But after comparing it with the Traska it just didnt excite me the way I thought so i passed. I own some higher end pieces in the $8k range but the Traska still outs a big smile on my face when i wear it and thats ultimately the only thing that matters.

Tons of options in this price range. Starting with well known brands like Casio, Orient, Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, Junghans and Bulova to some great microbrands like Zelos, Christopher Ward, Farer, Squale, Nivada Grenchen, Isotope, Unimatic, Direnzo, Boldr, Baltic, Circula, Furlan Marri, Henry Archer, Maen, Wise and more.

The SN0144 you showed b roll of is stunning. At $300 shipped to the US, it's a no brainer.

1. Citizen Tsuyosa (& small seconds) under $500
2. Bulova Sutton 96A268 under $400
3.  Citizen Zenshin super titanium （white dial is my personal fave) under $500

The above are all powered by Miyota automatic movements.

4. Raymond Weil Toccata 5425-STC-00300

LLAP 🖖

I like watch movements. If anyone is interested, the Tissot 1938 and MIDO All-Dial are both kind of dressy, COSC chronometers for well under 1000 USD. Tisell offers a traveller GMT (Miyota 9075) diver for 300 USD.

This channel was a big part of my first automatic watch purchase: the good ole Invicta Pro Driver.  Is it a knockoff Submariner assembled thousands of miles from Switzerland?  Yes.  But it lets me have a solid little piece of the craftsmanship and style that this channel has helped me appreciate.

There really are so many cool pieces under $1000. The ADPT GMT springs to mind. Any/every Glycine, seiko 62mas reissue lineup, alpina regulator and the Timex Hodinkee (as long as it's under $150. It's cool but only at a certain price). Yes, I basically just rattled off my collection.

I agree Mike.  I do not understand buying fake watches with so many micro and macro brands offering decent watches within the $500.00-$800.00 dollar range. I'm going to cheat a little and mention Hanhart watches.  They have models right above a grand that punch above their weight class. Anyway, your channel is growing because you are listening to your audience about topics they want covered.  Good man!!