Check out Lorier. They have several well-built vintage-inspired watches at the $500 price point. They’re very versatile and can be worn in both casual and professional contexts. My pick would be the Neptune IV, but you can’t go wrong with the Falcon or the Astra if that speaks to you more.

I’d get the Lorier Neptune IV for $500 and bank the rest for a future purchase. (I own it, love it, and it has sufficiently quenched my desire for the BB58, which is saying something).