Watches are status symbols and because it’s a scene dominated by men we can’t accept them as jewellery and attempt to intellectualize the topic. I don’t see women justifying a Chanel bag because of the specification of the leather stitching. Just get over it. It’s ok to just like watch a more than watch b

Don’t look for a ‘good’ microbrand on Chinese market stores would probably be a good idea. It’s like asking - where can I find a decent bottle of wine in the petrol station. You don’t.

Don’t get sucked in by notional value or quality of a brand name. Find a watch you like enough to buy it within your price bracket. Microbrands with little to no name recognition often make brilliant watches. Rise above the marketing!

Rado make some pretty abstract but cool ceramic quartz watches.

Accutron are also a bit off the beaten path but damn cool if you’re bored of the usual parochial watch designs.

Yeah 3k isn’t really enough for a watch. Need to get up to 10k. Use your phone to tell the time for now.