Before we begin, some important ground rules:
Dive Watches:

Seiko SRPC91 "Turtle" Save the Ocean Edition

Seiko SRPB53 "Samurai"

Seiko SRPD51 5 Sports

Seiko SBDY033 Prospex Monster Vintage

Nodus Retrospect II

Timex Navi XL Automatic

Orient Kamasu

Orient Kano

Dufrane Barton Springs

Dan Henry 1970

Spinnaker Bradner

Raven Solitude

Glycine Combat Sub

Traska Freediver

Citizen Promaster Dive Automatic

Vostok Amphibia

Zelos Hammerhead 2 1000M Bronze Midnight Blue
Specification: Price: $449, Case Size: 44mm, Thickness: 17mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 1,000m, Movement: Seiko NH35 Automatic Power Reserve: 31 Hours, Crystal: Domed Acrylic.
The robustly built Zelos Hammerhead dives even deeper than the shark that it's named for — 1,000 meters, thanks in part to its built-in helium release valve. This version has a rugged 44-mm case made of bronze, a material with a long history of maritime use, in diving equipment like helmets and in the hulls of ships. Behind the nautical blue dial is a self-winding movement sourced from Seiko, protected behind an attractive solid caseback with an engraving of the deep-sea predator from which the Hammerhead model derives its name.
Timex Navi XL Automatic Gunmetal Case
Specifications: Price: $259, Case Size: 41mm, Thickness: 13.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Mechanical Automatic, Crystal: Mineral.
An alternative to the black IP-coated version of this watch covered above, this gunmetal-gray-finished model has its own style of masculine appeal. It's got the same white-on-black date display, big luminous markers, and military-inspired 24-hour inner scale but sports a synthetic rubber strap in place of the all-black model's leather strap, a better option if you're actually planning to go diving with it.
Dress Watches:
Bulova Sutton Skeleton Stainless Steel
Specification: Price: $400, Case Size: 43mm, Thickness: 12.15mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 30m, Movement: Miyota 8N26, Power Reserve: 42 Hours, Crystal: Domed Mineral
Rocking a skeleton watch is a great yet none-so-subtle way of broadcasting to the room that you're wearing a watch with a mechanical movement, and fortunately for those horological exhibitionists on a limited budget, ever-reliable Bulova offers one for under half a grand. The 43-mm stainless steel case houses an openworked version of the Japanese Miyota self-winding movement that offers a power reserve of 42 hours. The watch is mounted on a handsome three-link bracelet that fastens securely to the wrist with a push-button deployant clasp.

Seiko Presage Series SRPB41 "Cocktail Time"

Seiko Presage Series SARY055 and SARY057

Seiko Presage SSA405 "Blue Moon"

Sternglas Naos Automatik

Bulova American Clipper

Timex Giorgio Galli S1

Orient Bambino Version 5

Orient Sun and Moon

Orient Bambino Version 4

Tissot Gent XL Swissmatic Black Dial Beige Strap
Everyday Watches:

Boldr Venture Sand Storm

Nodus Sector Field

Undone Cali Basic

Marathon General Purpose Mechanical

Laco Aachen

Laco Casablanca

Baltic HMS002

Lorier Falcon Series II

Timex Marlin Day-Date

Timex M79

Swatch Sistem51 Irony

Seiko SRPE53K1

Orient Maestro

Tissot Everytime Swissmatic

Bulova Hack Watch
Just Missed the Cut:

Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm

Hamilton Khaki King

Tissot Visodate Heritage

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After looking at hundreds of watches, with the intention of adding a sub-$500 auto to my small but varied collection, I landed on the Wenger Urban Metrpolitan Automatic 01.1746.102. What stood out about this watch was its marriage of art and function. No extraneous, design, bells, or whistles, incredibly straightforward face, but with a really subtle aesthetic. The Sellita SW 200-1 movement is solid, hacking and hand winding are encouraged, and the Pedigree of the Wenger company is well established. But did I mention the clean lines and beautifully minimalist design? You’d be hard-pressed to find another watch like it anywhere on the planet, and with the ubiquity of watches, flooding the market, that saying something.
After looking at hundreds of watches, with the intention of adding a sub-$500 auto to my small but varied collection, I landed on the Wenger Urban Metrpolitan Automatic 01.1746.102. What stood out about this watch was its marriage of art and function. No extraneous, design, bells, or whistles, incredibly straightforward face, but with a really subtle aesthetic. The Sellita SW 200-1 movement is solid, hacking and hand winding are encouraged, and the Pedigree of the Wenger company is well established. But did I mention the clean lines and beautifully minimalist design? You’d be hard-pressed to find another watch like it anywhere on the planet, and with the ubiquity of watches, flooding the market, that saying something.