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Editor’s Note: We pause on reader submissions to the Three Watch Collection for $5,000 series temporarily this week to make room for Devin Pennypacker, Worn & Wound’s Media Manager. Devin is a watch industry veteran with a penchant for tool watches, but that doesn’t mean he won’t class the place up a little from time to time, as you’ll see in his three picks below.
When Zach Kazan throws down the “pick three for $5,000” challenge gauntlet, you take it up. As a watch enthusiast and collector who has never felt the need to round out a collection but rather trusts a gut instinct, I figured this would be a fun opportunity to boil down what I would look for given the hypothetical. For my picks, I tried to think about what type of watch I wore the most and what those picks said about me. Looking primarily at the manufacturer’s price, I struggled to come up with a variety that spoke to me within the pricing restraints, often wandering too far above the line. So, I will admit that one of these picks is a pre-owned option. With my shame out in the open but integrity intact, let’s take a look at the picks.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph
A bit of an odd pick heavily overshadowed by its titanium, and above this budget, sibling. Despite some contention, there can be no denying that the TAG Heuer Aquaracer collection is an iconic one. Instantly recognizable with a badge well known, the Aquaracer Professional can easily find itself serving as an adventure watch as well as the one you throw on in the boardroom. It is an excellent grab-and-go option with 200 meters of water resistance and the inclusion of a solar quartz movement. At 40mm in diameter with a thickness under 10mm, it has a visual presence without the noticeable heft associated with a traditional dive watch. Add in a toned-down steel bezel and pop of color for the seconds hand and dial text and what you have is a capable tool watch that feels a bit more refined. This is my pick for my everyday grab-and-go watch.
Tissot Sideral S Red
Every collection needs to have that one piece that is just for fun. Since its introduction last year, the Sideral has been on my short list of favorite modern watches for under $1,000. Standing out visually, this piece brings flair and creativity to the collection while offering innovation, reliability, and peace of mind. A reinterpretation of the archived resin cases, the modern Sideral opts for forged carbon fiber making it a unique and lightweight option. Bezel action is quite decent on this model which when combined with the 300 meters of water resistance and sporty secure strap make this a fun tool watch just begging for summer holidays. The secret party trick occurs on the dial when the lights go out as the unique application of colored lume springs to life putting on quite the show. What may not be instantly apparent though is that the Sideral is also a regatta timer. Those blocked markers on the dial are meant to both call back to vintage models while acting as a timing mechanism for the start of a race. I have taken this watch sailing a few times and though the complication may be somewhat useless, it is a romantic one. So there it is, my weekend sailing watch for when I need to interject a bit of whimsy.
Seiko Presage SARW049
Here is the cheat pick, the only pre-owned hunt among the trio. To be fair, the hunt for the perfect grey market piece is one of the aspects of watch collecting I relish so it would make sense to put one in anyway. For those keeping score on the pricing, I found this piece hovering around the $1,000 to $1,500 price point so it still fits into the budget. The SARW049 would be my special occasion and dress-up piece. While the mix of the elevated handset, date and power reserve complications, and Roman numeral dial layout may initially draw your eye into this piece, the whole reason for this pick rests with the dial itself. Crafted from Arita Porcelain, the creamy surface holds a fine gloss texture shifting from hues of pale blue to pure white in the light. To add to my mysterious background, I have spent some time studying and practicing fine arts including glassblowing and ceramics. Hence, the choice of dial material speaks to my artistic pursuits. It is a unique in-the-weeds pick, a fun conversation starter, and can be paired with more elevated straps to suit the occasion.
