Request for assistance on 40th birthday purchase

[playing4time]

Firstly, please go easy on me - this is my first ever forum post (on any forum....)...

It’s my 40th birthday in Oct this year, and I’m looking for a special purchase to mark the occasion (any excuse is a good excuse, right...?!).

A few guiding principles for me: a/ I currently have a DJ 116234 which I love (bought last year to mark a work milestone), therefore I’m thinking about getting a professional series; b/ I have small wrists - less than 6.5inch - so I’m looking for 40mm max (just my personal preference); c/ assume a budget of up to £15-20k (N.B. I will not be buying a £70k Daytona from 1980(!), and I’m not sure I can bring myself to pay the markup for a pre-owned GMT Master II or Daytona steel, etc.)

All this has resulted in my focus on: 1/ the Yacht Master 40 - the year 2016 has meaning to me, so the 116622 (or the recently updated 126622) would work well, probably with the dark rhodium dial; or 2/ something from 1980.

And it’s 2/ I’m hoping to get some help on please... What models from 1980 would everyone recommend?
From what I can see, the Day-Date from that year seems the easiest to get, but while I really love that watch I’m not sure I really want another Classic Series watch right now. I have found other models, e.g. explorer II, Sub, GMT, etc., but they are less prevalent, and I’m nervous I’ll buy something that isn’t in that good condition and will be difficult / expensive re maintenance, or isn’t ‘genuine’. Please note that I’m really not an expert, so apologies if that is a stupid thing to say...

Alternatively, I’m very open to hearing other ideas for a special purchase...

Really looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts - thanks in advance, and apologies if I’ve made any obvious forum posting errors, as I said, this is my first ever forum post, so please do go easy on me....!

Thanks!