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Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!
Not my words but those of Leonardo Da Vinci which I fully subscribe to. I have always been partial to time only watches and the industry has never been flooded with more choices than there is today. There are plenty Patek Calatravas and Lange Saxonia and 1815s that will satisfy one's craving for a time only watch. But there are also independents like Smith, Voutilainen, Frodsham, Gauthier and Rexhepi who have taken movement finishing to another level. For many of us, these are the upper echelons of watch making and are quite unaffordable. Perhaps I am not comparing like with like but two watches that I feel are able to satisfy one's desire for fine finishing with accuracy and reliability at a not too exorbitant price are the FP Journe Chronometre Blue and the recently launched Credor Eichi II in rose gold. Some might even argue that both these watches would be able to hold their own against the very best. I would not disagree. But if one had to choose only one, which would it be?!
Your thoughts are most welcome and are appreciated.
What a dial! Difficult to make with 7 layers of lacquer while the case is in tantalum
FP Journe's signature 18 carat rose gold movement
A porcelain dial and the sweep second hand is a marvel, thanks to the spring drive movement. It just glides majestically. Photo borrowed from Deployant.
A power reserve adorns one of the best finished movements, bar none!
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!
Not my words but those of Leonardo Da Vinci which I fully subscribe to. I have always been partial to time only watches and the industry has never been flooded with more choices than there is today. There are plenty Patek Calatravas and Lange Saxonia and ...
Both very nice watches imho .
But if i have to choice i would pick the CB but mainly because of that stunning blue dail 👌🏻
Thank you for your feedback! :-)
I think the Credor is a somewhat dark horse. Not many know of its strengths and it looks quite simple but it is accurate to 15 seconds a month which is quite remarkable!
I have owned a CB for a while and it's a strong favourite of mine.
I have seen the Credor in the metal once, and obviously in pictures many times. It just doesn't do anything for me and for that reason would never be a consideration. Also, if I'm not mistaken these watches are in two different post codes in terms of reta...
Thanks Jay for your views!
Yes the Credor is double the price of the FP Journe yet I pitch them against each other, such is the value for money of the Chronometre Bleu. The Credor however still offers excellent value for money as its finishing rivals watches costing twice as much. ...
The Eichi II is for certain more sophisticated in look/style, I think this is actually a criticism (not that you frame it as that) that I hear a lot when comparing the CB to other watches.
The tantalum case and the dial of the CB will always mean it looks more casual (less sophisticated). The RG Eichi for sure is warmer than the PT, but the dial also leaves me cold. I'm not certain it's the dial alone, perhaps for me it may be more the case...
I have noticed that many purists
prefer a more casual watch than a dress watch which can be worn on more formal occasions. I actually love dress watches and am not comfortable wearing sports watches for example or watches with bracelets. The Chronometre Bleu though is more versatile and ...
I couldn't agree more...
I am also very partial to time only watches. Among independents, I would also add the name of Laurent Ferrier and the Galet Micro Rotor. Of course, not everyone prefers an automatic winding timepiece in this category. Between your two offerings, the choic...
Thank you very much Rob!
Your analysis makes a lot of sense and with the current two year waiting list for a Chronometre Bleu, it will definitely hold its value better. But I am curious if I may ask - if it is such a good watch, why did you sell yours? It seems one or two others ...
You are very welcome...
I parted with my FPJ CB because a watch I had long coveted, the Anniversary Langematik with enamel dial, became available to me. The said, as much as I enjoyed the CB, over time the dial didn't quite captivate me as much as when I first owned the piece (b...
You made a good decision
The Langematik Anniversary is a special limited edition watch whereas the Chronometre Bleu is replaceable should you ever want one again. I too have a problem with a watch with a blue or unusual coloured dial. Last year I purchased a Moser with a fume dia...
I'd like to throw in a third option, the Laurent Ferrier micro-rotor(s)
Despite that recent little kerfuffle on the brand's image, inherently on its own the micro-rotor three hander watches are rather top-notch in its class. Black-polished steel bridges for the balance cock and micro-rotor resemble what you'd find in more exp...
The movement is undoubtedly sublime
but I have tried on almost every single variation of the Galet Micro Rotor including the Montre Ecole but somehow their dials appeal to me less than their movements. Yes, lovely hands but it is not special enough in my eyes. Thank you very much for your r...
Beautiful pairing. Seems your criterion of simplicity and elegance have been met in subtle shades!
One of my favorite quotes by a French author I read when I was younger echoes your quote and is my motto when it comes to any creative endeavor whether it is writing or the dial of a watch. "Perfection is achieved not when there Is nothing more to add, bu...
Agreed!
The movement of the Chronometre Bleu is anything but simple making it not so easy to service although owners seem to have no issues with it so far. I even spoke to their Geneva boutique about servicing costs as I had heard many stories of high servicing c...
My initial response to that movement is a question mark! Definitely a distinct design choice!
I'm glad to hear that the service cost is merely CHF900 (it'd be amazing if this price includes replacement strap and shipping, etc). I do wonder a great deal still about when to service a watch. This appears to be a controversial topic. One camp says do ...
You are right!!
The price of CHF900 does not include a new strap which is great because I do not really want a new strap on my watch unless I actually need one! As for that controversial topic of when a watch should be serviced, I am probably more partial to only servici...
Thanks for the clarification! So it seems, repairing in 5 years is a matter of personal preference.
I've been told there's at least 2300 CBs out in the world by 2017, so I'd imagine that number is now closer to 3000s. That's a ton of CBs for FPJ to service in the intervening years; hopefully it is not too taxing so they can focus on innovations, etc.
So far,
I know not of anyone who has sent his CB for a service. No one has claimed any unreliability issues suggesting that most will not send their watch for a service unless something goes wrong. The Resonance yes and those who did have remortgaged their homes!...
It would be nice though
to keep the Resonance under a roof rather than wearing it in a cardboard box!
The CB for me.
I’m admittedly a sucker for blue dials, but the CB is just so seductive. The case shape, the way the shape of the hour and minute hands appear to melt together, the location of the sub seconds, all of these things are perfect to me. The rose gold movement...
You have definitely been seduced!!
Either that, you work for FP Journe!! Either way, your arguments are actually all valid and I thank you very much for your reply.
Ha! 😂 I certainly do not work for FPJ. I don’t even own an FPJ of any kind, but I’ve tried more than once to get my hands on this particular one.
The problem I keep having is that going on a waitlist for one, I am like a cat following a laser pointer - I pull the trigger on another project and don’t leave budget for the CB. The most recent case in point was my PP 5230G acquisition 😁
I totally understand!
But it might still be worth putting your name down simply because no deposit is required and when the watch does appear, you have the option to decline it. You might surprise yourself and actually have the funds burning a hole in your back pocket when the...
Haha 😂
Now who sounds like they work for FPJ? 😁 However, I think your suggestion is spot on.
As I am unemployed
I would love a job at FP Journe!!! My favourite brand of all time!!! (this is me trying my earnest to get an interview at least!!! )
And I will make sure that
if I get the job, you can acquire a Chronometre Bleu whenever you feel you would like one! No waiting list for my anyone willing to vouch for me!
I aim to please
part of the FP Journe exemplary customer service! (do you think they are reading this?!! )
Yes I have been discussing with Kari about that
and of course it would be lovely but at a different price range. For now, I am not allowing Kari, Rexhep, Roger or Romain to compete. A straight fight between the FP and the Credor!! Which would you prefer?!