Rosneathian
1471
Not at all. The usual suspects below, with my completely biased (and in some cases superficial) assessments alongside them
Oct 20, 2020,14:29 PM
Audemars Piquet Royal Oak. I like the basic models, a lot, but didn't pursue owing to availability issues. I wanted my search to be an enjoyable experience.
Patek Philippe Nautilus. Never considered. Not only is it beyond my budget, but after I heard a child in my circle refer to it as 'the Flintstones watch' I've not been able to see it any other way.
Girard Perregaux Laureato. Even though it preceded the Nautilus, and I quite like it, it still seemed too derivative. I know that companies were in dire straights in the mid-1970s and so had to scramble to find winning formulae, but still. I also couldn't accept GP's own claims that this line is "iconic" (that much-overused term). I think that did it for me. Still, a nice watch and was my No. 2 choice.
IWC Ingenieur. I confess to not looking into this.
H. Moser Streamliner. Maybe in another life.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas. I like the third generation interpretation. It's a handsome watch and the easy-switch three bracelet/strap combination is a winner. Then my OCD kicked in. The sub-dial location at 9, the date window and its execution at 4.30, and concern that the (attractive) bezel design would be a grime magnet. No. 3 choice.
Piaget Polo: Too derivative of the Patek Philippe Nautilus.
Chopard Alpine Eagle. Flat no. Please don't ask why. It's just one of those things.
A. Lang und Sohne Odysseus. I think this was a mis-step for them. ALS makes about 3,000 watches a year (I believe) I am in awe of its work. But I don't quite understand why they would want a toe-hold in this segment. Beyond that, regardless of its Datomatic movement, its looks didn't work for me, and neither did its price.
I've been studying PF for a while. I have a decent grasp of the brand's short history, ownership and business model, role within the Swiss watch industry, youth of its workforce, and offbeat biomorphic designs that make it quite different (and not quite to my tastes).
The Tonda GT line came along, and it's as I'm sure you've experienced with some watches too: things just slotted into place. It's a conservative, classical looking watch with those signature liquid touches that PF does well, toned down and repurposed. It's both solid and lush and the date-only version I've just bought offers me a nice balance between simplicity and obviously keen finishing. All at a relatively decent price.
Hope this helps.