Probably closer to 10 - 15k usd. It's https://www.ochsundjunior.swiss/watches/annual-calendar/ which starts at CHF 8’800 / 10.3k USD.

It's not completely custom, i.e. ochs und junior is using their own design, but the blog post is a lovely showcase of why he loves the watch, and watches in general.

I know a fair amount of people with watches in this range or above, none of them custom. For a custom one this is fairly OK, I'd even say cheap...

(I live in .ch, where people love watched a bit more than I've experienced elsewhere)

Ouch, that watch does not have a $20k polish to it. Nowhere close. Neither the dial, nor the hands, nor the case.

$20k is in a ballpark of a Ressence watch [1], which, given a choice, I would choose without any hesitation.

[1] https://ressencewatches.com

If you value polish, go with your Ressence. If you value a custom watch that matches exactly your specifications, OP's choice is perfectly fine. It's obvious he will get more enjoyment that way of his money spent. Nothing wrong here.

Reading the article, the unpolished finished is part of the aesthetic he seems to be going for.

Those don’t conform to the authors requirements.

The reason he landed on that design is pretty well detailed in the article too.

Spending 20k to talk about "my own design" hipster watch. Must be nice to be that rich.

Not cheap, but if you look at what other expensive watches cost, it's actually comparable.

And that comes with a custom watch w/ a design cycle. I guess instead of paying for a store-front, sales people, advertising - this is where the cost would live.