Comments:
Gold vs Platinum Resonance RN - get which one?
Hi all.
Currently picking one of two potential FPJ Resonance RNs (comparison images below on my wrist!)
Gold (2005)
Platinum (2008)
Positives
+ More subtle and therefore easier to wear
+ Has original warranty card, cheaper than Gold by 10%
Negatives
- Not as special, doesnt stand out as much, less of the Journe DNA
For context - the rest of my collection has no gold pieces, mostly steel sport pieces (nautiluses, aquanauts etc)
Currently picking one of two potential FPJ Resonance RNs (comparison images below on my wrist!)
Gold (2005)
Positives
+ A resonance is the best calibre of watch one can buy - and having it in a gold with the yellow/pink dial makes it more distinctive and stands out
+ Pink/yellow dial more reminiscent of the OG resonances - i.e. has more of the Journe DNA
Negatives
- Gold potentially too ostentatious and therefore harder to wear
- No card, but has letter of authenticity (not sure if this one matters tht much)
- More expensive than the Platinum by 10%
+ A resonance is the best calibre of watch one can buy - and having it in a gold with the yellow/pink dial makes it more distinctive and stands out
+ Pink/yellow dial more reminiscent of the OG resonances - i.e. has more of the Journe DNA
Negatives
- Gold potentially too ostentatious and therefore harder to wear
- No card, but has letter of authenticity (not sure if this one matters tht much)
- More expensive than the Platinum by 10%
Platinum (2008)
Positives
+ More subtle and therefore easier to wear
+ Has original warranty card, cheaper than Gold by 10%
Negatives
- Not as special, doesnt stand out as much, less of the Journe DNA
For context - the rest of my collection has no gold pieces, mostly steel sport pieces (nautiluses, aquanauts etc)
Huge fan of RG, tho Plat seems visually 'more appropriate' imho for this design.
jmho
Journe subdials often have high contrast with the rest of the dial
For this reason, I agree that the gold feels like it has more Journe DNA. I guess the question is to what extent you are adding this because of the brand vs. the inherent features of the watch or your personal preferences.
Definitely gold for me, the other one looks like a tamed version! But you can't go wrong anyhow!Best, E
Do you really have to ask?
I sense that your heart is falling for gold while your brain goes for platinum.
Honestly, it is a nice dilemma.
Buy what you like - there is no wrong answer
For me itās platinum. I think the white gold dials of this generation are much nicer in color. Itās entirely different from the first dials in yellow gold or white gold.
I not sure why you think that the yellow is āmore Journeā. I donāt recall to have seen him wear a gold watch (itās always platinum+white gold). Donāt overspeculate. Get what you love.
You can't go wrong either direction
I personally would pick the Platinum due to the wearability and the price
Interesting you post this today, as I was just commenting on the Gold on Gold Resonance elsewhere earlier.
I had said itās not a combination Iāve seen much, if at all. And to me itās a bit odd, I donāt think itās a pleasing combination.
One sold at Phillips earlier today, albeit an earlier 38mm brass version. Which was the impetus for my discussion elsewhere. The result was weak, weakest I recall for a brass 38. That said, the PT WG Resonance you are also considering also sold today at Philips (a 2005 watch). A weaker result too. Both probably reflect the weakness in the overall market.
I agree with Christianās comment, the RG is not the one with more Journe DNA. But I think what you are getting at is the dial. And yes, if that dial was in the PT case youād be right (at least in terms of what people associate with early Journe).
Buy the one youāll wear the most, you like the most. Let us know how it goes.
Yes, that is correct. But I still think itās a definite softening (not just of Journe, the market as a whole).
There were some relative bargains at Christieās yesterday.
Yes - the plat resonance (with box and papers) went for USD163k
Of course need to add the buyers premium to that - but that was an even worse result than the Philips (USD 177k)
In your position, I think there is enough market data this weekend to support a honest discussion with the selling dealer of these two watches.
Good luck in your decision. And do please come back and post the watch when you acquire it.
There is no wrong choice here. As I said, buy the one youāll wear the most.
Also, I thought to give you some insight to a similar decision I made several years ago.
I was looking to buy a CTS. I had slowly been captured by the watch, on first handling (the original Aluminum version) I wasnāt sold on the aesthetic but I was blown away by how it felt on the wrist and I was drawn to the movement.
Fast forward a few years and the titanium version was introduced.
I then had come to the point where I wanted to buy one. The watchās aesthetic had grown on me.
At that point I had the choice between either the original aluminum or the titanium. I will add the prices were pretty much the same at that time. So this was a decision maybe somewhat like yours, as it was clear to me (and everyone collecting Journe at that time) that the aluminum CTS was āmore collectibleā but the titanium CTS was likely āmore wearableā every day.
I spoke to several Journe collector friends at that time, just to ensure I was thinking about everything correctly.
My decision in the end was simple, I wanted this watch to be an every day watch. And so the decision was made to buy the titanium CTS.
I have not regretted this. And itās been a watch Iāve worn quite a lot over the wears and it has been my most worn Journe by far.
Of course the right answer would have been to buy both; and some collectors did so.
(Oddly enough, after buying the watch and it being discontinued I found out that the titanium CTS on the bracelet is actually the most rare of any of Journeās sport watches. The supposed numbers are 72 watches total, more than double that of the aluminum CTS were manufactured apparently. Despite this, I still believe the aluminum watch is more collectible for obvious reasons).
There is no wrong choice here. As I said, buy the one youāll wear the most.
Also, I thought to give you some insight to a similar decision I made several years ago.
I was looking to buy a CTS. I had slowly been captured by the watch, on first handling (the original Aluminum version) I wasnāt sold on the aesthetic but I was blown away by how it felt on the wrist and I was drawn to the movement.
Fast forward a few years and the titanium version was introduced.
I then had come to the point where I wanted to buy one. The watchās aesthetic had grown on me.
At that point I had the choice between either the original aluminum or the titanium. I will add the prices were pretty much the same at that time. So this was a decision maybe somewhat like yours, as it was clear to me (and everyone collecting Journe at that time) that the aluminum CTS was āmore collectibleā but the titanium CTS was likely āmore wearableā every day.
I spoke to several Journe collector friends at that time, just to ensure I was thinking about everything correctly.
My decision in the end was simple, I wanted this watch to be an every day watch. And so the decision was made to buy the titanium CTS.
I have not regretted this. And itās been a watch Iāve worn quite a lot over the wears and it has been my most worn Journe by far.
Of course the right answer would have been to buy both; and some collectors did so.
(Oddly enough, after buying the watch and it being discontinued I found out that the titanium CTS on the bracelet is actually the most rare of any of Journeās sport watches. The supposed numbers are 72 watches total, more than double that of the aluminum CTS were manufactured apparently. Despite this, I still believe the aluminum watch is more collectible for obvious reasons).
Thank you for sharing the story behind purchasing your CTS, Jay.
It also proves that buying what YOU love is the way to go. Yes, you could have made a few more dollars on the AU. But would you have enjoyed it in the way you have? And who knows how that is evaluated down the line.
If people want to invest donāt buy watches but look at the stock market or real estate. There are a lot of grey dealers shutting down operations at the moment. I LOT. watches are to be enjoyed and worn and we are going back to that, so Iām not crying over a bit of softening in the general watch market. I prefer things when they make ( kind of sense).
To add my own experience to your very well made point there is an other truth to ābuy what you loveā. Normally Iām pretty good at that and sifting the opinions of others. But on this one I made a mistake. I too was looking at the CTS for a looong time. I too seeking advice from a very close friend and collector who kept telling me to stay away from the Line Sport as it was the āugly childā of the brand. So I kept sleeping on it. Now Iām kicking myself for not just listening to myself. I feel it would have been so perfect in what I enjoy wearing.
So to the original posterars1g09. Even if it is a cliche to say buy what you love, it is really also a fundamental truth in watch collecting. This is a great time to buy a Resonance which i consider one of THE great and most important classics of horology in the last 30 years all brands considered. Both are great and hopefully you will enjoy it for many years.
If people want to invest donāt buy watches but look at the stock market or real estate. There are a lot of grey dealers shutting down operations at the moment. I LOT. watches are to be enjoyed and worn and we are going back to that, so Iām not crying over a bit of softening in the general watch market. I prefer things when they make ( kind of sense).
To add my own experience to your very well made point there is an other truth to ābuy what you loveā. Normally Iām pretty good at that and sifting the opinions of others. But on this one I made a mistake. I too was looking at the CTS for a looong time. I too seeking advice from a very close friend and collector who kept telling me to stay away from the Line Sport as it was the āugly childā of the brand. So I kept sleeping on it. Now Iām kicking myself for not just listening to myself. I feel it would have been so perfect in what I enjoy wearing.
So to the original posterars1g09. Even if it is a cliche to say buy what you love, it is really also a fundamental truth in watch collecting. This is a great time to buy a Resonance which i consider one of THE great and most important classics of horology in the last 30 years all brands considered. Both are great and hopefully you will enjoy it for many years.
My favorite combo is platinum with salmon dial.
But honestly, how could you go wrong with either of these?!? Impossible.
Is weight an issue?
Platinum is heavier.
I only wear "white" color metals, I am such a living potato that gold in any form looks lost on me (other than AP's new Sand Gold, I like that a lot!)
I'd go with the Platinum, but then add some elegant color straps to give it some kick.
Thank you all for your input - decision made!
Will be picking it up next week just in time for Christmas, will be posting when I get it!
Congrats! My answer was going to be "buy whichever one was serviced most recently" :)
Both versions are super nice. I'd prefer PT in a vacuum, but I feel like you'd do well to try a gold piece in light of your existing collection. Again, neither choice is wrong. Hope you enjoy it and looking forward to seeing what you picked!