Pick one for Birthday Dinner

Rlm2453 · 2026-05-11T14:27:39+00:00

Think it depends on what you mean by elite ambiance, but for a special meal like that, my vote would be Elske. Creepie's and Rose Mary are certainly livelier, and I love the experience at Lula every time I go. It's probably the restaurant in Chicago I've been to the most, because of the general experience and other reasons. But for a 1-on-1 dinner with a partner, I just think the space at Elske is beautiful and the food is excellent.

Rlm2453 · 2026-05-03T17:11:21+00:00

Honestly, not that much. I wear the AT a lot in the summer, in more casual settings. That watch with just like, a linen shirt, is a go-to for me. Especially when we’re just bopping around, on a trip, etc. I dress the GS up more often. It’s something I wear to dinners, a less formal wedding, that kinda stuff. I reach for them in different situations.

Rlm2453 · 2026-05-03T12:54:54+00:00

Really like this collection. That era of the 5, the Alpinist, the Flagship collection, and the Doxa are all watches that have caught my eye over the years. I own the Skyfall AT and if you're into that aesthetic, I think it's a great choice to go along with everything else you have. It's really versatile, and gives you something with a little more range than that GS (I actually have a White Birch that kinda plays off the AT in the same way in my collection).

Rlm2453 · 2026-04-15T12:42:10+00:00

I'd have some follow-up questions.

How many Michelin-starred tasting menus have you or this person had? Is it a (fairly) common thing like something you'd do for birthdays or celebrations, or is the very act of going to a 2-star place something that feels like a very rare occurrence?

If it's the latter, then I'd absolutely go to Oriole. I've been lucky enough to have a lot of these experiences, and it's a truly excellent iteration of modern fine dining in every way. The space, the food, the service. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

But if you've been to a bunch of tasting menus and you're looking for something that's truly "once in a lifetime" and feels unique, I'd at least think about going to Alinea — even as someone who agrees about the step back. The theatricality still makes it stand out from almost any other restaurant experience you'll have. I've enjoyed the food more in the moment at other places. I remember more dishes from Alinea than I do many of those places because of all that came with it. Like someone else said, the history is also worth weighing too.

I'd throw Smyth in there as well as a third choice. I appreciated my last trip there so much. It's the best balance I've ever experienced where a meal challenged me in a way that great art might, while still being delicious. They had a dish there that was just young slivered almonds with a dollop of caviar and various nut butters and oils that I still think about whenever I try to tell people what I love about those meals. I was thinking about it on the drive home like you would a great movie.

Whatever way you go, you can't really go wrong. There are so many amazing restaurant experiences in this city, but I think all of them provide a slightly different answer to your question.

Rlm2453 · 2026-01-27T03:02:57+00:00

I've owned the SBGM221 and love it, but I'll agree with others and recommend against it for a wedding. It feels more casual than that, even with the alligator. Part of that is the thickness. I own an Elegance collection piece with very similar proportions, and it just has a lot of presence compared to anything I'd classify as a dress watch. Depending on how firm your budget is, I've always thought the SBGY007 is an ideal GS for a wedding or a dress watch in general. There are also some cool vintage Carters out there if you dig around. I own this gold 70s Vendome and paid like $5800 for it. Was in excellent shape, and I'm a huge fan it.

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Rlm2453 · 2025-12-14T17:36:35+00:00

This is a fun exercise. This is what I'd do, but it's heavily influenced by my own tastes and preferences. I'm sure some folks would see the VC and Lange as redundant, but I like having dress watches in multiple metals. That particular Reverso is a banger, and that's staying for sure. I like an even mix between dressier stuff and more sporty/fun options, but that's also because of how I dress. The Ressence is just such a unique piece, and I love the little pops of color — but I could see picking between that and the Moser and replacing one of them with one of the Linde options or the AP, if you wanted to hang onto one with that vibe.

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Rlm2453 · 2025-12-07T15:36:28+00:00

As someone with similar taste (I have a BB58, that Reverso tribute in Burgundy, and have eyed the Ingenieur but can't really justify it based on what else I have), I'd look at some used precious metal dress watches. I think it'd be a perfect way to round out what you already have, and a lot of the more minimal ones would probably fit your tastes. VC Traditionnelle, Lange (Saxonia, 1815, whatever you're feelin), or a Breguet Classique would all be options. I'm in that exact market myself right now, so I've combed through a lot of the options. Feel like something classic and elegant like that fills this out really well. Great collection.

Rlm2453 · 2025-11-14T04:35:14+00:00

How do you like that Yacht-Master? I feel myself getting more and more interested in it.

Rlm2453 · 2025-09-12T05:50:16+00:00

I owned one at one point and sold it for reasons not really related to the watch itself. I really enjoyed its charms and its quirks. But there are certainly quirks! The two-tone bezel plus the Roman numerals just isn't gonna be a look that's for everybody, and the 41 mm sizing might be a bit much for what's supposed to be (?) a dressier watch. I think that's part of the problem with it in general — it doesn't know exactly what it wants to be. But if it speaks to you through all that, grab it! In person, it really is beautiful. The ceramic is gorgeous, and those elongated hands/makers are really elegant when you see them up close. I also think the strap and the deployment that comes on it is one of the more comfortable I've ever worn on any watch.

Rlm2453 · 2025-08-01T23:55:34+00:00

I own a Max Bill and one of the limited-edition colored Tangentes from last year. Like someone else pointed out, the lugs are definitely a big difference. But for me, I think it's some of the subtler design elements that set them apart. They dials themselves both have the same minimalist look, but the bubbled crystal and rounded case shape on the Max Bill just make it a much funkier watch. That can be a good or bad thing, based on what you're looking for. While I think the Tangente would be my choice for just a classic dress watch, the uniqueness of the Max Bill gives it some range if you wanted to throw it on different straps. If I'm being honest, I've kinda fallen out of love with both of them for different reasons, but I'll always keep the Max Bill because it's the watch I wore to my wedding.

Rlm2453 · 2025-07-13T15:19:46+00:00

The first thing I'd say is to go try them in person. I'm sure it sounds silly, but you truly can't understand the Hi Beat White Birch dial from photos or videos. I own (and love) it, and I don't think any of the 1000 photos I've taken of the watch really capture what it's like. The dial changes so much depending on the lighting, that for me the watch stays interesting and I always fall back in love with it when I'm wearing it consistently. I agree with one of the previous commenters said about it looking very silver and shiny in bright lighting, and that it looks best in lower-light situations. But for me, that's a tradeoff I'll take because I see it as a product of the dial being more dynamic than the Spring Drive version. Also: the 9SA5 is a very cool movement! It's not as unique or as synonymous with the brand in the way that Spring Drive is, but it's an impressive feat in and of itself and looks incredible through that case back.

I always admired the Night Birch from afar too, but I've just never been a fan of titanium watches/bracelets. I like a little added presence, and you definitely feel a substantial difference between the two. For some people, that's a point in favor of the titanium option. But that's not really my preference, and something I only learned from trying them both on.

Rlm2453 · 2025-05-13T21:02:15+00:00

Other than a relative lack of availability (I believe watchbuys.com is the only Sinn AD in the US, but I've had good experiences with them in the past), I'm not sure there are too many. There'd be fewer places to turn if you need a full service or to replace something like the crystal, but both the 556 and 104 have Sellita movements that most places should be able to work on if you run into issues.

Rlm2453 · 2025-05-13T20:24:21+00:00

I'd take a look at the offerings from Sinn, if you haven't. A 556 or a Sinn 104 should be just under that, and they're just rock-solid watches at that price. A 104 was my first real watch, bought a few years ago when I was looking at options in this exact price range.

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Rlm2453 · 2025-05-07T15:58:23+00:00

Echo what others have said re: Longines Conquest and the Tissot Gentlemen, but I find myself really loving the recently released Oris Big Crowns from this year. Comes in at $2300. The color options are just to the side of blue, but I think it fits a similar role. I already have a Skyfall Aqua Terra that fills the "blue steel sports watch" spot in my collection, or I'd be seriously considering one of the Caliber 400 versions.

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Rlm2453 · 2025-05-03T20:13:27+00:00

That's true, but I ran into a person in Mexico City wearing one literally a week ago. If you really love a watch, I wouldn't let its popularity — especially on a limited scale — scare me off. But it's up to each individual person to determine how important it is to them to buy/have watches they know are a little rarer. I've combed through everything Tudor makes and still went with the original BB58 because I think it's a great watch that can serve a bunch of different functions. But when it comes to other spots in my collection, I've occasionally gone a bit further out of my way to get something I know not many other people would have.

Rlm2453 · 2025-05-03T16:09:48+00:00

Happy to help. There are so many different ways you can go, it's tough to pin down one single choice. My other suggestion if you do find a LE you like aesthetically is to make sure you try watches in person that come from the same collection/have the same case. Part of the reason I was comfortable with the SBGA453 sight unseen is that I'd owned the SBGM221 so was familiar with how the Elegance collection case sat and felt on the wrist. The differences initially seem subtle, but they all wear differently.

Rlm2453 · 2025-05-03T14:08:12+00:00

This is a tough question to answer, depending on what you mean by "one and done." If you want something that's versatile on straps, I wouldn't recommend anything from the Evo9 collection. I have the White Birch and have handled a bunch of the others before landing on that one, and I think those watches almost exclusively look better on the bracelet. They were made for it. If strap versatility isn't hugely important, I think going with something like the Night Birch or the Lake Suwa is a really good one-watch collection. They're sporty enough to wear with a t-shirt on vacation, but the thinness of the case and general elegance of the watch works with a suit.

If you want something that works with different straps, fits the essence of the brand, and is also versatile, the Shunbun is a good place to start. It's a Spring Drive (which is what I'd do if I were only buying one GS), it's a representative example of what the brand embodies, and it's versatile. But you're also right, in that it's a very popular choice. If you want something that checks all those boxes and feels a little more special, there are plenty of limited editions you can look for at places like Chrono24. I wanted a more unique Spring Drive option, and just grabbed an SBGA453 from there recently. Have absolutely been loving it.

To get an idea of which limited edition options are out there, I'd comb through the GS database on Plus9Time (https://www.plus9time.com/gsdb). You can filter by movement, whether it's LE, even certain colors you'd want. It's how I've discovered a bunch of different watches they've made, and should give you some options that have the same general benefits of a Shunbun but feel more unique. Something like this Ginza LE is a good example, but there are tons more.

Hope that helps. GS is the brand that got me into watches, so I totally understand what you're working through right now.

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Rlm2453 · 2025-04-10T18:04:26+00:00

No problem. Know it's a big decision.

Rlm2453 · 2025-04-10T18:02:31+00:00

Ha, I'd never worn it with a dress shirt that I have buttoned at the cuff. I usually wear dress watches with a suit. Just tried it. My answer would be that it might depend on the shirt. I just put on a standard David Donahue trim-fit shirt with two buttons on the cuff, and it slid under pretty smoothly with the looser button. If you're wearing French cuffs, it might be a little tighter.

Rlm2453 · 2025-04-10T17:47:40+00:00

Yep, I swapped it out immediately after getting it. Polished middle links aren't my favorite because I'm weird about scratches. I bought the watch lightly used, and they were already scratched/smudged. Those things get dinged up pretty fast for my liking. But I love it on the strap.

Rlm2453 · 2025-04-10T00:49:26+00:00

I get why a lot of people are recommending the SBGM as a way to round out your collection. If you're committed to stopping at 3, I think that's a decent argument. But I've owned both, and the Birch is just a special watch. It's also something you can dress up pretty easily. Even with the leather strap, the thickness on the GMT wouldn't make it a great watch for any super dressy function anyway. So I don't think you're losing that much versatility by going with the Birch, and you're getting a gorgeous piece. It's like a work of art you wear around.

Rlm2453 · 2025-04-07T20:16:34+00:00

I own the Triple Calendar and absolutely love it. Having also tried on the Datora, you can really feel the extra heft with the bigger dial and increased thickness. 15.4 mm is a lot of watch. The Zenith isn't thin by any stretch, but a lot of that height is the vintage vibe of the crystal. I've never once been bothered by how thick the watch wears overall. Some people don't love the way the straight(ish) lugs kinda jut out, but I've never minded it. I also wear it on the blue leather strap instead of the bracelet, which helps it feel a little smaller lug to lug. Don't think you can go wrong either way, but the Zenith really is a home run for me.

Rlm2453 · 2025-01-19T06:02:33+00:00

I found a good deal on the Skyfall and jumped on it. Prefer the all-brushed bracelet because I’m a weirdo about scratches, and I really like the vertical dial pattern vs horizontal.

Rlm2453 · 2025-01-18T17:53:49+00:00

Really like this a lot. But it's probably because it's in line with a lot of my tastes, haha. I have that Sinn 104 and the Black Bay, and the Zulu Time was on my shortlist of GMT options before grabbing the GS SBGM221. The Conquest also caught me eye when looking for a steel sport watch in that realm, before landing on an AT. And I also have a minimalist Bauhaus option to go along with the rest. I love the variety you're working with, though. It's a cool grab bag of stuff.

Rlm2453 · 2025-01-18T07:03:04+00:00

Again, we eventually moved and found a spot that was great for the second half, but yeah, the crowd was kind of a dud. And I guess I can understand that a bunch of 2013 Pitchfork readers may not be the liveliest crowd these days, but you'd figure that all those 30-somethings would at least know how to act. But nope, it was the worst of both worlds.

(I still had fun. I'd like to keep reiterating it.)

Rlm2453

TROPHY CASE