Well I'll admit something. I like watches. I collect them.
I have 3. What? You don't have to have a lot of something to collect it.
But I've spent a fair amount of time on watch forums and the like here and there.
First, understand appreciation of watches is done for a variety of reasons. I tend to like Japanese automatic movements for whatever reason.
That said, my favorite watch is my Casio Tough Solar Mudman. It weighs nothing, it's super comfortable, it's big enough (I do have a big manly wrist XD), and I've had it for years now.
It's quite fancy, I honestly don't need half of its capabilities but no digital watch exists that seems to match my exact needs perfectly so I expect surplus features.
The cheaper G Shocks from Casio are probably the height of a watch that's actually functional, to be honest.
I have one watch that's from a weird little run from a government surplus with a Miyota movement. It's a super simple pilot's style face. I love how gloriously simple and analog it is. It has no date, no chrono, just one knob. Rugged as all get out too, but admittedly a very silly purchase.
The watch I wear to the office the most is a Seiko Orange Monster. Admittedly it's silly to not be a diver and wear a diver's watch, but the things that make it a good diver's watch also make it a good regular all purpose watch. This one is about the style, function, design, etc. and it's considered a classic men's watch, and every watch enthusiast seems to have at least one.
I'm not sure how long I've had it but they're known for their longevity, there's people who got theirs in the 1970s still wearing them. The way they're styled isn't for everyone but it's timeless.
That said it's not really a very dressy watch, I don't wear it to important meetings.
None of these are horrifically expensive, but they're not cheap either. They're all much nicer than you actually need for everyday functionality but the analogs should outlast their next owner, or possibly next two owners if you get them maintained once every 2 decades.
I do kind of want one more watch eventually, a socially acceptable "dress watch", and I think my Miyota watch with the right strap would work, but I'm in no hurry. Honestly I'm pretty happy with these. I might not get another one. But I most recommend the Seiko Orange Monster (or Black Monster if you don't like orange) or a Casio G Shock if you like tough watches or those with interesting designs. I'm not really an expert on the pretty watches, I like the functional ones, though I like the Orange Monster's styling personally.
You just sort of either get it or you don't with watches and I accept it's indulgent but reading about the movements and how they work and the history of the companies and the different kinds of movements and complications is a fun little pastime. It's funny to me I take as much pleasure in my small relatively inexpensive collection as some do in their large very expensive collections.
And I'll confess I don't wear one every day either because I'm surrounded constantly by clocks all day, but I used to wear one of these all the time.
When I'm out and about or otherwise at large I tend to wear one though.
