Picked up one of these a couple of weeks ago:
http://www.jackgeorges.com/elements-collection-4403-triple-gusset-flap-w-open-back-pocket.html. Pretty happy with it so far. Well-made, good leather, looks good. Guess the guy used to be Coach's designer. Got a return on eBay for $200.
Did a bit of comparison, inspired by this thread. As mentioned, Tumi, Coach, and Saddleback are all high-quality. The Fossil and Kenneth Cole bags I looked at were much lower quality. Fossil price point is especially disappointing for what you get.
I was also impressed with reviews on Filson, Tusting, and Custom Hide bags.
Basically, you're gonna spend $200-$500 for a quality briefcase or messenger. The cheaper brands seem pretty prone to giving out fairly early, so you're better off in the long run dropping an extra $100 (or, in the case of Fossil, getting a Jack Georges online for a comparable price).