I agree on the Tag's, I bought this one 5 or 6 years ago and am still very happy.
http://www.amazon.com/TAG-Heuer-Mens...tag+heuer+link
I've had a rolex and just didn't wear it much, I wear the Tag every day. The rolex screams pretentious to me.
Like Phobia said, you can find a new tag for under a grand. EBAY is selling used ones for $1500 so the prices might have gone up over the last few years.