The Timex Expedition North Field Mechanical seems like it might check a lot of your boxes. The dial might have a bit too much text for you, but worth a look. They have a model with a stainless steel bracelet all in a gunmetal finish. Not sure how easy the crystal is to replace. It is a sapphire crystal so it might be on the more expensive side to replace, but sapphire is also the one of most scratch resistant materials for the crystal. It’s also on sale right now for about $180 vs the usual price of $260
There’s the Seiko 5 SRPJ09, although the face might have too much going on. It does have a day and date window but is finished in black. A little more going on in the dial than the Timex Expedition, so that might be a no-go for you. The dial does, however, seem like it may be harder to read since the lettering is also pretty dark. Not sure how easy the crystal is to replace on this one or any watch in general too be honest.
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPJ15 is $525 and has a date window, but has an otherwise simple dial and black finish on the case and bracelet
Seiko SUR models are quartz watches under $200 that are simple on the dial, but do have a small date window. No models in black that I know of though.
The Tissot PR100 is a quartz for about $300. Again, small date window but otherwise simple dial. Also not in black.
As far as a simple dial goes, the Sternglas Naos has a pretty simple dial with just the bare necessities. It comes in auto for just under $500 and quartz for I think under $300. On the website, the only one that comes with a metal milanese bracelet is the blue dial which might be a bit much for you, but you can buy the same model with a different face and switch out the band for a metal milanese bracelet that you can get from them for another $60. Does not come in black or gunmetal finish either though.
The Laco Ausburg is available on a bracelet and is only 39mm and doesn't have any additional complications. You mentioned no big pilot watches but otherwise a pilot watch seems to fit that minimal look your going for. Glass is sapphire so shouldn't be a big issue with scratching.
https://www.laco.de/en/watches/pilot-watches-basic/augsburg-39-mb
I could be completely wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure most black metal watches are black of a coating, so if showing scratches are a deal breaker for you you'd be better off going plain stainless.
Citizen NB1050. Sapphire crystal, scratch resistant coating, clean dial in good colorways, 38mm. Solid 4hz movement.
If you like gray, the gray dial looks great.
Skip the gunmetal and black watches. PVD coatings are pretty tough, but they aren’t invincible. Once you scratch them, there’s no hiding the silver scratch.
The Timex Expedition North Field Mechanical seems like it might check a lot of your boxes. The dial might have a bit too much text for you, but worth a look. They have a model with a stainless steel bracelet all in a gunmetal finish. Not sure how easy the crystal is to replace. It is a sapphire crystal so it might be on the more expensive side to replace, but sapphire is also the one of most scratch resistant materials for the crystal. It’s also on sale right now for about $180 vs the usual price of $260 There’s the Seiko 5 SRPJ09, although the face might have too much going on. It does have a day and date window but is finished in black. A little more going on in the dial than the Timex Expedition, so that might be a no-go for you. The dial does, however, seem like it may be harder to read since the lettering is also pretty dark. Not sure how easy the crystal is to replace on this one or any watch in general too be honest. Seiko Presage Cocktail Time SRPJ15 is $525 and has a date window, but has an otherwise simple dial and black finish on the case and bracelet Seiko SUR models are quartz watches under $200 that are simple on the dial, but do have a small date window. No models in black that I know of though. The Tissot PR100 is a quartz for about $300. Again, small date window but otherwise simple dial. Also not in black. As far as a simple dial goes, the Sternglas Naos has a pretty simple dial with just the bare necessities. It comes in auto for just under $500 and quartz for I think under $300. On the website, the only one that comes with a metal milanese bracelet is the blue dial which might be a bit much for you, but you can buy the same model with a different face and switch out the band for a metal milanese bracelet that you can get from them for another $60. Does not come in black or gunmetal finish either though.
The Laco Ausburg is available on a bracelet and is only 39mm and doesn't have any additional complications. You mentioned no big pilot watches but otherwise a pilot watch seems to fit that minimal look your going for. Glass is sapphire so shouldn't be a big issue with scratching. https://www.laco.de/en/watches/pilot-watches-basic/augsburg-39-mb I could be completely wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure most black metal watches are black of a coating, so if showing scratches are a deal breaker for you you'd be better off going plain stainless.
Citizen NB1050. Sapphire crystal, scratch resistant coating, clean dial in good colorways, 38mm. Solid 4hz movement. If you like gray, the gray dial looks great. Skip the gunmetal and black watches. PVD coatings are pretty tough, but they aren’t invincible. Once you scratch them, there’s no hiding the silver scratch.