IWC Mk XVI/ Seiko GS/ Seiko Springdrive?

[wisbechlad]

Thinking of buying myself a watch later in the year as a well done present (well, if I do manage to complete current project successfully/ on time)

Looking for something understated, simple (date is all I need, no requirement for stopwatch function), but very overengineered, and not big. Sort of watch that makes me smile at the amount of skill, expertise & effort that has gone into making it, but doesn't make others stare at my wrist for the bling. So far like the look of the IWC Mk XVI and some of the top end Seiko's. Budget would be around 4-5000 US. Know very little about watches, so any other suggestions? Second hand a possibility as well.

[Adrian W]

No contest www.dornblueth.com but if you order it today you will have to wait seven months before you see it on your wrist.

[wisbechlad]

Ooh. Email sent for price list/ catalogue

[Mr E Driver]

If you don't want something big then don't get a Spring Drive. I know this is a chrono but the ordinary ones are a similar size. I have a fairly small wrist and it's not too big but it is quite thick at around 16mm ish.

[matc]

Out of that choice I would go for the IWC, tried one on a little while ago and was very tempted by it.

[ShadownINja]

IWC Portofino?

[CardShark]

Adrian W said:

No contest www.dornblueth.com but if you order it today you will have to wait seven months before you see it on your wrist.

I like the idea of a Dornblueth You say that you're working on a project of sorts yourself and, going by your watch selection criteria, I'd guess that the quality of the outcome correlates directly with the effort that you put in - it's exactly the same as DB. Each watch receives personal attention from a master of the craft of watch making and should you order one the only reason why that watch would exist is because you, in effect, commissioned it.

I'd like to think that any watch within your budget would be built to the highest standards and there are many quality pieces out there (I see that you're in HK where I know that there are many high class jewellers), however none of those you see would have been crafted with you in mind.

Edited by CardShark on Wednesday 26th January 11:33

[wisbechlad]

Update. Have contacted Dornbluth & Henschel - but only Dornbluth have replied so far. Will check out Seiko this weekend to try GS on my wrist.

The Dornbluth 42mm watches probably too big (6.7" wrists) so will also try on a 34/35mm watch to see if the Jasmine will look good. He's positioning it as a womans' watch, but the style is pretty much just a scaled down 99.1

In the interim, ordered a Damasko DA36, as any of the above will be an end of year deliver/ purchase. Will post pics when it arrives...