When it comes to luxury watches, one of the age-old debates among watch enthusiasts is whether to go all-in on a single high-end timepiece or assemble a collection of more affordable options. A recent article from WIRED posed this question: would $4,550 be enough to buy a single premium watch like the Tudor Black Bay GMT, or could you build an impressive collection of swanky watches for the same price?
For our money, we'd say go with the former – the Tudor Black Bay GMT is an absolute stunner. The stainless steel case and 41mm diameter make it perfect for both formal and casual wear, and its COSC-certified movement ensures precision timekeeping. It's also a nod to traditional watchmaking with its clean design and subtle details.
But if budget wasn't the only factor, we'd say go for the affordable option – after all, who wouldn't want six watches in their collection? We started by picking up a Baltic Aquascaphe ($730), which boasts a domed sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance. Next came the Dennison Midnight Aventurine watch ($690), perfect for formal occasions where you need a stylish but discreet timepiece.
We then looked at other brands to round out our collection, including Hamilton's Khaki Field "Murph" ($995) – a compact automatic that's as versatile as it is affordable. For travel, we opted for the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer ($1,490), which brings its own unique dial and 200m water resistance.
Finally, to really make our watch collection pop, we added the Brew Super Metric ($475) – a quirky hybrid mecha-quartz chrono that's sure to spark conversation. With all six watches together, we're just $65 over budget, leaving room for one more special piece.
So there you have it: while the Tudor Black Bay GMT is undoubtedly the centerpiece of our watch collection, we'd say go with the affordable option if you want a veritable horological smorgasbord. And who knows? Maybe the allure of having six swanky watches on your wrist will prove too great to resist – after all, as anyone who's ever splurged on a luxury item can attest, sometimes it's worth going all-in for that ultimate thrill of indulgence.
For our money, we'd say go with the former – the Tudor Black Bay GMT is an absolute stunner. The stainless steel case and 41mm diameter make it perfect for both formal and casual wear, and its COSC-certified movement ensures precision timekeeping. It's also a nod to traditional watchmaking with its clean design and subtle details.
But if budget wasn't the only factor, we'd say go for the affordable option – after all, who wouldn't want six watches in their collection? We started by picking up a Baltic Aquascaphe ($730), which boasts a domed sapphire crystal and 200m water resistance. Next came the Dennison Midnight Aventurine watch ($690), perfect for formal occasions where you need a stylish but discreet timepiece.
We then looked at other brands to round out our collection, including Hamilton's Khaki Field "Murph" ($995) – a compact automatic that's as versatile as it is affordable. For travel, we opted for the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer ($1,490), which brings its own unique dial and 200m water resistance.
Finally, to really make our watch collection pop, we added the Brew Super Metric ($475) – a quirky hybrid mecha-quartz chrono that's sure to spark conversation. With all six watches together, we're just $65 over budget, leaving room for one more special piece.
So there you have it: while the Tudor Black Bay GMT is undoubtedly the centerpiece of our watch collection, we'd say go with the affordable option if you want a veritable horological smorgasbord. And who knows? Maybe the allure of having six swanky watches on your wrist will prove too great to resist – after all, as anyone who's ever splurged on a luxury item can attest, sometimes it's worth going all-in for that ultimate thrill of indulgence.