[Hydronconquest] Thoughts after 24 hours of my first watch purchase

Just wanted to share this for other newbies getting into watches for the first time

For background, I'm mid 30s and owned and wore plenty of 'mall' brand watches in my early to mid 20s then started wearing an Apple Watch which was basically my only watch for the past 8ish years.

Late last year I decided I wanted to get an automatic watch and started my search and gave myself a hard budget of $5K CAD. I didn't have a particular type of watch in mind but I just wanted something I really liked since I wanted this to be my GADA watch.

So after looking at many many many watches in person and countless hours of searching and watching videos, I came down to the following shortlist which you'll see are at various price points:

• Longines Hydroconquest
• Tudor Ranger
• Seiko Alpinist GMT
• Hamilton Khaki Murph

The Hydroconquest was the one I really wanted but every store I went to, it was sold out and I couldn't even find one to see in person or try on. So I continued my search and fell in love with the Longines Spirit Zulu Time and ordered it on the Longines website.

Few days later the watch came, I opened the box with so much excitement and.... felt nothing toward the watch I had been looking at non stop online. I tried it on, waited for it to grow on me and nothing lol.

So I decided to return it and wait till I can find what was my favourite out of all them - Hydroconquest with black dial, blue bezel.

Took a few months but I finally got it yesterday and it definitely gave me the feeling that I didn't get with the Zulu Time despite it being an incredible watch.

So what did I learn

• You don't have to get the most expensive watch in your budget - The Zulu Time and Ranger are both pricier than the Hydroconquest
• You may not like in person what you fell in love with through pictures
• The feeling the watch gives you after buying it and wearing it should be the most important reason you buy it - provided it is within your budget.

FWIW I really really liked the Tudor Ranger and came close to getting it. When I can justify spending again, I definitely will pick that one up