I agree, if you want a nice automatic watch you're going to have to move the decimal point in your number. Or at least budget $2000-2500, as you mentioned.
If not, I just got one of these for fun, at about $550. They're kind of cool and have a nice backstory, but really they are just the high end of department store watch.
And they said the battery will last a long long time. 
This is my favorite "non dress" style watch: Breitling super ocean heritage with the diver band. Might be more than you want to spend though.
