Following. I think we’re looking for the same watch.

 

Borealis Sintra?
Probably too big.

 

Sinn 556?

 

I second the Sinn as well. If you are looking to sell your Lorier Neptune, DM me

 

Don't write off the Presage range.

I'd be happy to buy your SARB when you have to divest yourself of it.

Had one, but sold it a while ago, now wish that I hadn't.

 

Don't write off the Presage range.

I'd be happy to buy your SARB when you have to divest yourself of it.

Had one, but sold it a while ago, now wish that I hadn't.

Funny you should mention it, I have both a 033 and a 035 and decided a while ago that I don't need both. I'm keeping the 035 and I've been meaning to list the black one but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

Save for a Sinn 556.
In the meantime get a Citizen nb1050 in white.

Citizen Collection NB1050-59A | Sakurawatches.com

Buy Citizen Collection NB1050-59A. Official packaging and warranty. Fast delivery from Japan. Accepting PayPal.

www.sakurawatches.com

 

The Formex Essence 39 gets good reviews but is over your price point. Good luck. I'll be following to see what else is recommended to you.

 

The sealander is a great choice. You may also want to look at the SPB241

 

I bought mine used for $850. Granted, no bracelet, but still. Don't rule out the possibility of finding a 556 within your budget.

Also the hands aren't too short. 😃

 

If you’ve admired the Sinn you should get it. I’ve had mine for 11yrs, still an almost daily driver. It’s on the H bracelet but just got leather that will also fit my new watch. Watch looks great and works great. That simple dial design is so efficient…I can do a quick glance down and tell the time where as on my new watch it takes me a bit to figure it out (I have a speedy now, dial is much busier so maybe not a good comparison). I’m not bored with it, I only got a new watch because the wife got it for me as gift (I got to pick and shop which is half the fun!). I’m also not planning on getting rid of it…the Sinn is a keeper.

 

You probably won’t find a significant upgrade within your price range.

You may need to consider the 1500+ range to get something noticeably better than the sarb.

The next “watch crush” will likely find you organically. If it doesn’t, then I wouldn’t try forcing it.

 

A few different straps for your SARB might quiet the urge for a different watch. Mine mostly stays on a Zuludiver padded sailcoth. Leather, rubber, perlon, etc, etc all work well.

EDIT: If you don't already have other straps...

Otherwise, the CW Sealander is a great choice as are the Seiko Alpinists, if you favor Seiko.

 

Sealander is worth the upgrade for the bracelet alone. Seiko bracelets generally are crap, but the SARB is a particularly egregious one. Alternatively, there is a left field option: make an SPB King Seiko. Don't buy one (they're still about $1300, so over budget) make one.

The case and dial are $600-ish. You could use AM "Grand Seiko style" hands which will look better than the OEM ones. The SPB King Seiko uses a 28.5mm dial, so any standard Seiko mod hands will drop right in. NH38 movements are not expensive. You could build one (without the bracelet) For maybe $850, including the cost of having a watchmaker put it all together. The bracelet would be another $300, so still over budget, but less over?

 

My vote goes towards the C63 , seems pretty versatile if you fancy wearing it on a strap at later stage i.e can dresse up or down and has that sporty explorer vibe. Would look pretty cool on NATO me thinks.
Can't see much in this price range or actually significantly more beating it on quality either.

 

Another vote for the C63

 

And another one:

 

Any of the Orient Stars (usually above 400) would be a nice change.

Loads of quirky things - power reserves, open hearts... If you go on the dress route with them, just make sure you're comfortable with butterfly clasps... I hate these things. Sadly everybody is putting them on dress watches now.

 

SARB035

 

OK what you get with a CW sealander is a very versatile strap monster that's finished to quite a reasonable standard and is a complete strap monster. Idk if personally it's better looking than the SARB. Especially not with just twin flags and for that reason I went nb1050-59a. I do have a c60 trident for the versatility I just spoke of tho

 

Sinn 556. The one with some arabics

 

It's a smidge over budget, but in your shoes I would order a Serica 5303. Choosing this model would be easy for me; choosing between the black vs white dials would be difficult for me.

I like that you're keeping open the possibility of doing nothing.

 

The Sealander is a great option because it will give you a nice upgrade in finishing and bracelet. CW exceeds its price point, like the sarb did.
Keep in mind if Seiko came out with the sarb today it would be $700. So a Seiko for $1k will give you little more than you already have.

 

Keep in mind if Seiko came out with the sarb today it would be $700. So a Seiko for $1k will give you little more than you already have.

So true. There's really nothing that Seiko offers in the under $1k range that would even be worth considering over the SARB033. How about...a Longines Conquest?

 

Don’t let the 39mm size of the Sealander put you off. If I’m not wrong the difference between the SARB033 and Sealander lug to lug sizes is just 1mm or so. I think the Sealander comes in at 45.5mm whilst the SARB033 comes in at 44mm. Should still be a great fit for your wrist.

 

Sealander 39 has a much larger dial and longer hands than the SARB, so it will visually "wear larger".

 

There is nothing better at under 1000. Well, may be Rockface Alpinist at 800, but it is 39mm?

 

Even a preowned Sinn 556 is well beyond your $1000 budget. However, the King Seiko can be had at roughly $1300. Diameter of 37mm, no-date, silky smooth 7-link bracelet that glitters in the light. The black dial reference is SPB281.

Image of brown dial SPB245 from Fratello.

The biggest con is the lack of lume which took me some getting used to.

 

Make sure you take a lot of photo's of your new Sinn.

 

If you like micro brands, might check out Venezianico.