Horological Meandering

I'm not in a hurry but I don't know, maybe having a nice project is a good way to go forward.

So, for the moment I'm hesitating between these following watches. I would like to get your points of view, your comments... and maybe your additions to this list ! But your choice has to be an handwind watch !

Thanks !

Richard Lange PG (the watch on the left ):



VC American 1921:



Daniel Roth Athys II :



Breguet Tradition WG:





Fr.Xavier
This message has been edited by foversta on 2009-02-22 13:25:40

From your suggestions, I'd exclude the Daniel Roth (don't like the dial design at all) and the Breguet (which is a beautiful watch, but a tad too neat and impractical for me).

The VC is a very original watch and wearing it would mean a true different experience. On top of that it has a fine movement and the history of VC is second to none.

The RL is a great watch for sure, I have only found it slightly blant in reality checks. The movement is among the very best ever made, of course, but the silver dial ... a bit disappointing. I suspect that its new wealthy brother, the fusée-and-chain is out of the question or else I think its enamel dial, the small seconds and the whole concept must wipe any other watch out of the way.

Other suggestions: Journe CS, the new VC Traditionelle time only and the new Lange 1815 (but you have got the old one?).

I wish you great fun with the choosing.

allegro

Yes I already have the old 1815 and I don't know why I forgot the CS in the list...



Fr.Xavier

if I were you...... as they  say ......I'll go for Tradition but YG
the "dial" is just killer (one of my dream pieces)

from these suggested VC is winner

Looking forward seeing your choice

Best
Damian

P.S.
BP Villeret UT maybe?

is a beauty but I prefer the WG version, more discrete.



Thanks for your message !

Fr.Xavier

the Lange and the VC. I would love to own them both and would have a hard time picking one over the other. The VC is about tricky to categorize. I find it bold, yet elegant. Traditional, but eclectic with the orientation of the dial. I am a big fan of the cushion case, primarily because I enjoy the Panerai Radiomir case so much.

Then there is the Lange. Others have described it as "perfect" and I cannot argue with that.

Not much help, I realize. Good luck!

Best,

Jed

In fact, as I already have several very classic watches, maybe I would like to go for a more original watch... and the VC is an excellent option !

Fr.Xavier

will go for RL

But I already have 3 Lange and maybe its style would be too close to my 1815 one.

Thanks !

Fr.Xavier

No real justification, but of the three, that one jumped out at me the most.  Also I was listening to a radio program about the psychology of choice, and they said that without emotion, it becomes almost impossible to decide on anything, no matter important, so I figured I'd decide on initial emotion only!
A

I love the pocket watch caliber of the DR !

Fr.Xavier

No message body

No message body

Dear Fr. Xavier,

 

I know it is such a common question on watch discussion sites to ask “which watch”, but I find it so difficult to answer. Not that there is anything wrong with the question, it’s just that the answer depends so much on what else is in your collection, what direction you are heading and other more vague variables.

 

However, for those who share their collections and motivations on Purists we do, over time, develop a picture of what might suit them [and I have seen your wrist often enough to know what looks good].

 

Taking all that into consideration I would recommend the VC Americaine 192. The reason? So I can play with it at the next IGOTT !!

 

Kindest regards

 

Andrew

At the end, we are alone when we choose the watch... But I note your "vote" for the VC.



Fr.Xavier

. . . you selected a watch that I took an instant liking to - the Americaine 1921 - I'll chime in with my vote for the VC. I haven't seen one in the metal yet, but it's one of those rare designs that combine flair and discretion in equal proportions, and I can't imagine an owner ever tiring of it . . . cordially, Art

and I loved it !

Thanks Art for your comments.

Fr.Xavier

...both the Richard Lange RG and the WG Breguet, I'd say you've narrowed it down to some great choices!! The RL is a very "sturdy" watch to wear, and with the centre seconds hand has a feeling of solidity and presence on the wrist. It is also spectacularly accurate if that is of special importance to you. The Breguet is a much more delicate watch, and much, much noisier with a pronounced ticking sound!! The dial is always interesting to look at, and it is quite a bit lighter in weight than the RL. Of the others you listed, the VC is very nice (although I wish the secondary seconds dial was set on the same axis as the main one, with the 60 and the 12 in the same plane). I like the quirky design a lot. Not fan of Daniel Roth personally - don't know why, but just doesn't speak to me.
Enjoy the decision making process!
Tim

You made a very interesting comment about the sound. It's a criteria I would consider.

Fr.Xavier

I nkow you're very attracted by a VC, and for your first VC Watch, this 1921 may be a very good choice.

BUT, you have a lot fo watches in RG...

So you may go on the Breguet, too, the Tradition, which is awesome, and the most original, maybe, of these 4...

But what about a Jocker?

Best.

Nicolas

The Breguet has something the other ones don't have, something not reasonable which makes it very attractive at the end !

Fr.Xavier

NT

But this time, the choice is not as clear for me !



Fr.Xavier

you already have L&S's and the others don't speak to me that much.

Just my 0.02 cts.

          Cheers

                     Jeff

An advice from a roloboy has to be considered.



Fr.Xavier

Of those I would pick the VC or the DR after having tried them on.
I think the VC has just the whimsy that we need these days.  They took super conservative design ideas and make a watch that really falls out of the pattern with them.  I love it.   
When I see that DR. on the other hand I always think that if the Romans could have made wristwatches, they would have looked like that.  No coyish self-effacing.  Show the world we are the best.  The dial is bold, but tasteful.  What I also like about the watch is the large size (did I say that?) and at the same time pretty thin.  It is a somewhat startling contrast.  For me this is also a winner.

As to the others I find the design of the Langes' a little ho-hum, not on a level with the finishing.  For German design I prefer, for example, the watches from Lang & Heyne.
The Breguet, on the other hand, is an adolescent boy trying out all his muscles and showing off to the local girls.  My minds eye sees the kid who just climbed up a tree and is trying to get attention hanging head-down from a branch.  Who knows if the girls are looking.  Maybe it is a watch for those girls who found that neat, but not being a girl, I have also outgrown that age.

You asked for it FX.
Don

And I love your analysis about the Breguet !

Excellent !

Fr.Xavier

Was my first reaction to this thread, but I admit that the Breguet is something I would consider in the white gold.  The yellow gold version (although more "traditional") does not appeal to me nearly as much as the white gold does.

Cheers, Al

I love the big second hand of the RL...

Fr.Xavier

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want a "safe" watch then go the RL. There's nothing about it that will attract attention like a watch with an openworked or unusual dial (which will ordinarily garner some sort of non-ambivalent reaction from third parties, which may or may not be a good thing). It is a study in pure time keeping: accurate, legible, "simple" and completely understated yet with good wrist presence given its proportions.  Very very hard to fault beyond "boring" in my view.

Beware though, that lug to lug from top to bottom of the watch is 50mm, so that on medium-sized wrists the lugs can protrude beyond the wrist (when viewed from above), which some people regard as unattractive.
This message has been edited by Wees on 2009-02-23 08:51:46