Guidance needed on choosing a watch please!

[CIS121]

My current watch is pretty old and dying and I'm looking to replace it. I like the idea of soemthing subtle, an analogue with a black leather strap. I have a few questions to give me an idea before I start looking around jewellers:

Do all watches need a service every few years?
I'm looking for soemthing high quality that's going to last and age well. I'm put off Rolex's which are a bit too flashy for my liking. On a budget of 2 to 4k, what makes should I consider?

Thanks in advance folks!

[tertius]

CIS121 said:

My current watch is pretty old and dying and I'm looking to replace it. I like the idea of soemthing subtle, an analogue with a black leather strap. I have a few questions to give me an idea before I start looking around jewellers:

Do all watches need a service every few years?
I'm looking for soemthing high quality that's going to last and age well. I'm put off Rolex's which are a bit too flashy for my liking. On a budget of 2 to 4k, what makes should I consider?

Thanks in advance folks!

2-4k will give you an absolutely huge choice.

Any advice you get will typically be rather partisan, so I shall get in first with my subjective recommendations of brands to look at in that price range:

Jaeger Le-Coultre; Blancpain; IWC; Zenith (though most of the new ones are vile the older ones can be very nice); Union Glashutte (v hard to find though) and Dornblueth (if you are very patient).