Horological Meandering

One I’ve wanted for such a long time but just never gotten around to it.

Vintage Tudor, vintage Seiko, vintage military watches. Those you mentioned were pretty perfect as well.

There are some incredible watches.  

Or reeditions like Navitimer or Nivada. A Gerald Genta, big name only some people know.

Sorry the images uploaded out of order. Some of these obviously don't qualify for under 10K. Just for fun as it all is, these are some of the more famous watches documented in publications. 

No one I know (100 most active Longines enthusiasts[author's, historians, hertage museum]) has ever seen another Longines Jean Finger Double Boitier Hermetique case. Plenty of Rolex, IWC, Eberhard, etc., but I don't think there are any other Longines Jean Finger.

But what is a collector as opposed to someone that buys many watches? 

is also someone who has a thesis and logic for buying and they are passionate about watches.

I think that is a good characterization of a collector. I think often the term watch collector is over used and loosley used. I come across many individuals that just like to buy new, old, weird, etc. A G-Shock buyer or Timex buyer will then be a collector as well, but very little depth to the reasoning for buying the watches except for some appeal they have. Which is as good a reason as any to buy watches. But in your question about secretly trying to weed out a "collector" with what you are wearing as a secret sign that you too are a "collector", well I think we need to be clear about the kind of fish you are baiting for with your hook.

If it’s in great shape you know the person is focused on condition (a give away).!that it’s a brand that no longer exists eliminated all but collectors, and it’s not sufficiently different from a lack of complications that would have anyone but a polerouter collector owning it.

Another : Cartier Tank New York ( pre consolidation of the houses ). Now too expensive, but only a collector would care about that history.

Another: IWC Hermet
Arguably the first water resistant watch. The owner would have to have considered the history of cases to choose that over any other 3 hand subdial

All of these signal an intentionality that wouldn’t necessarily be the case with an older Rolex sub which would be could to be passed down as opposed to sought out. No one ever passed down a polerouter.

There's a better way to identify a collector. Aurel Bacs and Livia Russo come out to shake your hand. No appointment needed. Not me but my friend, I am just taking the picture. The other person in the white pokadot shirt is the worlds most famous Longines pilot watch collector, you can see the Lindberg on his wrist. 



Philippe also was window shopping. 

Ochs & Jr.



IKEPOD

The logic being most people know what a Speedmaster is, this is the lesser spotted iconic chronograph, for me...

. . . for every self-professed watch guy.

Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto... sure you are 'flashing' yet it is not, well, ummmm, **relatively speaking** of course, it is not much in modern cheap currency.