patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
33515
Not a good daily...
I don't think this watch was built to be a good daily. As a daily, these watches are unreliable. So much force is used to accelerate and brake the discs, and I think this mechanical force adds a lot of wear and tear.
CONS
1. Reliability - they do seem to break if worn regularly.
2. They're super painful to wind. It's a thick mainspring. And I feel that they should include a crank to wind this watch. Maybe a crank like the 31-day Lange watch! Bring on the Wimpy fingers jokes!
3. Servicing costs are sky high - this watch is in the "upper" category.
4. They're super thick watches. I have Zeitwerk cufflinks. And I can't get the cufflinks on because the watch is so thick!
5. Did I mention it's super painful to wind? #2 and #5 are the same, but that's how bad it is!!!
6. It's a gimmick. Wear this as a watch on special occasions, you're pretty cool. Wear this watch often and regularly - and I'd laugh.
7. Watch is big, heavy, and needs to be worn tightly on the wrist to prevent somersaulting on the wrist. Which does make the watch less comfortable. Especially in warmer climates where your wrist size changes as you go out of air conditioned rooms.
8. Watch is big and heavy and strap is not quite wide enough to distribute the weight. So not the most comfortable watch. A wider strap would've been nicer.
PROS
1. It's cool. (But only if you don't overdo it by wearing it too often).
2. Mechanically it's brilliant.
3. The newer version is slightly easier to wind and more reliable (but still not reliable - it's like saying a Ferrari is reliable).
4. You don't tire of it in the same way you would tire of an annual/perpetual calendar. Those watches don't "interact." Whereas this one kind of interacts with you by giving you a substantial show every minute and hour. Watching the three discs change every hour is reasonably fun.
Zeitwerk Pro and Cons?
Hello Everyone! Almost 10 years ago I took this photo at the Lange Boutique in Dresden. I did not buy the Zeitwerk as it was a bit outside by budget back then...fast forward to today it is even more money 😄 (at least the new model with black dial in Rose ...
I owned one for about a year…
1. They are quite a bit cheaper “used”. Don’t buy new. 2. Go for the newer reference with the preloading issue fixed. 3. The case really sucks imo. Incredibly boring. 4. It’s fine to wear daily if you want. I had no issues. 5. The finishing, and unique co...
thank you for your honest assessment !
I usually buy new, not many used from trusted seller. I did find one but the price gets closer to the new which might be better due to the additional power reserver and quick setting. Will consider all your excellent points! Thanks Christian
I love mine in Platinum! It's not like anything else in my collection.
Its a great combination of an unusual digital time display, the remontoir complication and very fine movement finishing! ...
Hey Christian.
I strongly agree with Points 1, 2 & 5 from m2's reply to you. I would also note for you that it can be difficult to read in very low light and - of course - impossible in the dark. Now: all other (non-striking!) Lange's can't be "read" in the dark eit...
Not an owner but…
…like you I’ve long admired the ZW. One thing to note, the current model wears smaller in my opinion. I have tried the ZW on so many times over the last decade or so but the new model when I put it on my wrist last year was striking to me insofar it was t...
Thanks for letting me know ! How it wears is very important to me, the
old version felt a tad big, I will go to see it again, new model I think is the winner for me!
Like you and Eire...
I am not a owner but like the Zeitwerk for its uniqueness. I agree with Eire that the newer generation may fit better on smaller wrists. Big fan of the Zeitwerk Date but it is too big for my 6.5" wrist. The simple version looks a bit better although it is...
The date is also very nice thanks for sharing the pic! but at 44.9 is definitely going to be bigger than the 41.9
and somehow I like the rose gold version a bit more (and, as a plus, the price different is also considerable) Platinum would be heavier and as a color scheme less WOW to me
My $0.02
I owned an original Wg after many sleepless nights lusting after it. Ultimately had to part with it to handle some personal matters, but will echo some of M2's points: - Needs to be a 'fun' piece within a well established collection. When I owned mine, it...
Thank you for the comprehensive and very convincing review !👏
Indeed is a bit of a strong craving for something so unique. I wish I bought it back in 2015 where prices were a different story but...at the v2 has many benefits and love the RG/black dial combination. The sticking time is also amazing but it would be pu...
1st Gen Owner, and I love it.
I have had my 1st gen ZW for more than 15 years. I think it is one of the most interesting watches one can buy, and I don't think it will ever leave my collection. But it has its quirks (which are both pros and cons): 1. Simply put, it has a wow factor. I...
I agree with all of the above.
All the ZW examples I've met have always been very resistant to winding and requires a lot of torque from the fingers. IF your Rolex GMT is that resistant to winding, there might be something wrong with your Rolex! Then again, you said "tedious" which may...
Sorry for the confusion
My comment regarding tedious was aimed at the time it takes to set the hours and minutes vs having to "quick set" my GMT by spinning the hour hand around several times.
Thank you for the great analysis !! regarding the big and heavy ...
did anyone check how heavy it is in grams? I can't find this information online.
Not a good daily...
I don't think this watch was built to be a good daily. As a daily, these watches are unreliable. So much force is used to accelerate and brake the discs, and I think this mechanical force adds a lot of wear and tear. CONS 1. Reliability - they do seem to ...
Great analysis too, patrick_y.
I like your points about reliability / servicing (in the context of considering the Zeitwerk as an everyday piece), and the “interaction” every minute when compared to watches with conventional hands - I’d never thought about that way before!
Excellent Analysis 👏 a lot of cons 😄appreciate your honest opinion
I wonder if some of the issues has been solved on v2. On paper it doesn't seem so thick..from when I tried it was thick but can't pin point how the 12.2 mm might appear to be more. On the heavy indeed it is top heavy but can't remember find the exact size...
The thing is it doesn't work as a special occasion watch nor as a daily watch...
As a daily, it's too difficult to wind, the power reserve is too short, etc. As a special occasion watch, it's too thick - special occasions need elegant watches and I'm often dressed in a suit with French cuffs. I even have Zeitwerk Cufflinks (it was a L...
This is why I ended up with a Vagabondage II. It can be easily a special occasion watch, either for a casual or formal occasion.
It is far more versatile than the ZW. I do like the ZW though.
Oh! So cool. I didn't know you had a Christmas Tree watch!
Those Christmas tree watches aren't known for good reliability though!
Yeah I've seen a lot of broken ones pop up on Moda used...
Personally, the service costs were really scary to me too, and part of the reason I ultimately sold mine.
Oh yeah! Those painful winding crowns make me not want to wear that watch!
First world problems indeed!
owner of a first gen. Many great points made
I absolutely love mine and i think the most important thing that you said is the emotional tug this watch seems to have on you (i assume you've been around for awhile and have seen a number of watches so the fact this watch elicits this emotional response...
thank you for your suggestions, I plan to buy new generation due to the higher power reserve, quick setting etc.
I will of course check the winding issue (thanks to all for the advice). I want to wear it a lot but have many watches and also a lange 1815 Anniversary 200 Years F.A. Lange (40mm in Platinum) as I did parted with my Lange 1 yellow gold. I think the Zeitw...
+1
I mention winding because you should check it out. It doesn't bother me. We all have our likes and dislikes and balance those in making our selection. For example, I personally wouldn't buy a manual wind, perpetual calendar because I don't want to wind it...
Surprised to see the comments about comfort...
Personally, I didn't find it uncomfortable at all. I wore it daily to work, and then left it on until it was time to go to sleep!
Me too! Zero comfort issues
with my new gen model in Platinum. I did upgrade to the deployment clasp though. The watch sits snug and comfortably on my wrist.
Tried it today and is very comfortable 👏and amazing❤️
Hi again all and thanks for your pro/cons list. I have to admit that I was a bit worried: I have a pretty small wrist (may be even smaller than last time I tried the watch several years ago) but today I managed to try a CPO - certified pre-onwed zeitwerk....