I was starting to get into "Russian/Soviet" mechanical movement watches a few years back:

https://wornandwound.com/an-introduction-to-russian-watches/

...but then with everything that has happened politically, my one purchased has remained that; I don't have a real good logical reason for not continuing my collection.

But I started out well (I think) - I ended up getting this particular one (not from this shop - I found it on Ebay):

https://www.russian-watches.info/shop/raketa-24-hours-watche...

...somewhat unique, because it was a 24 hour movement, which I'd never seen before. Plus the unique face color, etc.

Not always. Timex also recently released a reissue of their 1965 Marlin for $200 which is a manual wind watch, this time using a Seagull movement rather than what the original used.

I got a domed sapphire Hamilton hand wind for just over a hundred. And don't ignore used. My favorite was just over 50 USD but it's from the late 60s. Domed acrylic hand winds are the best.