Horological Meandering

These watches are superb. Absolutely superb. And how many manufacturers can claim an icon like the Reverso? JLC's lineage is long and storied. Their technical achievement, tops (if not die Spitze, as the Germans say, then damn close to it). Take the Duometre Quantieme Lunar as a starting point! And these pieces are not delicatissimo, no! These are well put together, quite robust watches. OK, not a Rolex, but such a lineage was never your intention. So where's the quarrel? 

There is none. But there is one thing.

These pieces carry with them a certain refinement that may or may not suit you. Work in a big city law firm? Well then. There's no question of what you should do… tomorrow! But if retired, like myself, there may be a reservation. Still this would not dissuade me—had I the funds—from purchasing the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual, a watch that i don't think can be beat. It is perfection, if not personified, then created and assembled! And I have my retired eye on the Master Chronograph, with its sector dial, or the Geographic, both of which I might be able to imagine on my wrist each morning. The Polaris line is there, too, for those who wish something more sporty. but it's a bit much on my wrist, so I wouldn't consider that. And I haven't even mentioned a Reverso, the old Shadow of which I'd go for in a heartbeat. Such a wide range of pieces, with such unique looks and purposes I don't think you'll find in the Montblanc line.

And you know—here's snobbery for you—Montblanc will NEVER be mentioned in the same breath with the holy trinity: AP, VC, and Patek. Yet JLC will stand proudly beside them. Yes, Montblanc has expanded into really fine watchmaking, and the price ranges thereof. But this is a recent phenomenon. JLCs movements have powered watches made by some, if not all of, that holy three. (Others will have much more to say on this point.) But you must take my given opinions with a grain of salt. I just don't yet know enough to serve as any sort of final word on the subject.

Yet… I do have a good eye, and decent taste. The fine Italian violins I have owned in the past, and the modern copy I currently play, would prove that point. Had I the shekels, and were faced with your question, I know how I'd come down today. JLC all the way.

What fun! A great dilemma! Have a good time with it, and take your time at a number of ADs. I think the watches, themselves, will tell you who really belongs on your wrist. As musicians, we often say… "It's all in the score. Why are you asking how this should go?!"

Best to you.

FH

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