The AquaTerra is one of the most underrated watches. You really have to see it in person and try it on to appreciate it. I passed over it a bunch of times without a glance. Once I actually stopped and tried it on, I realized how great a watch it actually is. I haven't bought one yet as I've gotten into independents but I love them.
The new Oris Chronos Limited Edition looks pretty nice and fits not have a proprietary lug /bracet system so will be able to change straps. Comes with the new Calibre 400 movement with 5 days of power reserve. I like this alot.
Picture of the Festina so we have an idea of your tastes or some general guidelines. Need it to be somewhat professional, sporty, dressy? Any certain complication you use.
For closer to 2k, Oris gives you a lot of quality. For just over $3k the new in-house Calibre 400 is a big upgrade. 5 day power reserve. 10 year service interval and 10 year warranty. Either way, excellent watches for the money.
https://www.oris.ch/en/collection/big-crown-propilot?filters=all,col32
Oris has some great options for 3k and under. Sinn or Damasco for a tool watch. Farer for something a little different with some color. Oris really is killing it these days. Great new movement and lots of great designs, not just the Aquis diver. Brellum has some nice stuff, as does Norqain.
RubberB and Everest for rubber straps both have really good reviews. I bought a cheapo Borealis. I liked it then the buckle broke and I've never gotten around to fixing it. I bought an Artem sailcloth for my Speedmaster. It's nice but was pretty stiff. The Speedmaster lug width (Racing at least) is about 21mm, and the 20mm strap just wasn't quite big enough. Not bad looking but not a perfect fit. So I've never broken it in. I'm sure it's great after that.
Delugs makes nice straps. I'll go back and get you some names. The Artem sailcloth I got was pretty decent for the money. A little stiff but will wear in over time.
Looking for something exotic, I've bought several from Lonestar Leather on Etsy for pretty cheap and they are quality. There are some expensive bespoke strapmakers as well.
In some sense, any watch is total nonsense. But if you actually depend on a watch to tell time, then anything more than a $5 quartz watch is total nonsense. I'm betting not many people here wear a $5 quartz watch.
That said, none of those are something I'd wear. I just get the appeal. A cool mechanical piece of art that will likely increase dramatically in value over time.
The worst part about Swiss Francs is when you convert them to USD, it's more USD. Irwin, about 6 years ago I did not own a working watch. I bought my wife a nice watch for a birthday/anniversary. 5 years ago I made my first "luxury" watch purchase, an IWC Spitfire. At the time they had a blue Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph for sale for just over $20k. I thought that was insane and there was no way anybody would ever WASTE that much money on a watch. It was the most beautiful watch I had ever seen and one of the most beautiful things I had seen. But $20k was outrageous and nobody in their right mind would spend that for a watch. That watch is worth at least double that now. I'm any event it can be a slippery slope. Right now the watch market is crazy, so there's definitely an opportunity to get a watch at pretty much any price point without a large drop in value the second you walk out the door. Obviously the brand and model matters. Some are better than others. But it's a good time to be buying a watch. If you're interested in something or would like recommendations I'm sure some of the people in this thread will be happy to recommend something. Also, if you're interested in trying out a higher priced watch but not sure. Breitling has a subscription service that let's you try out 3 watches over a year and you earn some points that can go towards the purchase of the 3rd watch. Not for everyone, but might be worth looking into if you like Breitling watches. Interesting concept at least. But Breiing has been down for a while with, imo, some large, gaudy, ugly designs (and that's saying something if you've seen some of the stuff I've posted that I love). They are on the way back up and they have a good heritage and the designs are starting to really improve. Watches - a strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
I keep telling my friend this. Don't cheapen your art by selling at lower prices. He doesn't make volume pieces. All luxury items are going crazy right now. All it takes is one person or maybe a couple, to fall in love and they don't care if its $2k, 5k or 10k or more. They are getting a brand new, unknown artist with some absolutely incredible art. That is luxury. That is something nobody else has. And that's worth something. It's like high end unique pieces in the watch world. Prices go crazy because all it takes is a couple people with money to decide they want to be the only one in the world who has it. It's tough to put a value on that. And you get to set the floor for how much it's worth. Because if its that unique, there will be some other rich person who wants it and they know it's going to be more than the original price. He has friends who have a lot of money. Fuck you money. And he can't bring himself to change them for his art.
Keep with it, it sounds like something you are very passionate about. I don't know how to work through something like that but I hope you find it. And share some of your work with us.
Well, I fucking love these. That top one is FINE. Off to search Patricia Qualls. Now, if you're feeling that you aren't giving it the proper space and lighting, I'd be happy to just hold onto it for you.
I also just bought another Ken Bonner piece. F. My wife will be PISSED. It may have to go in my office for a while before I break the news.
My friend would absolutely dig that. Art is so personal and it really is just something where the piece either grabs you right away or it doesn't. And some is about beauty and others are meant to provoke a visceral reaction. And while I may not love or even like something, I still appreciate it and the fact the artist is putting themselves out there.