jkingston
286
My Private Comparison
I can directly compare the Dubuis chrono and the VC Les Historiques chronos as I have them both. They both are very clearly built using the same design. Dubuis claims that it manufactures the principal components itself. If true this would mean that they have licensed the Lemania design. I do not believe the VC actually manufactures the components for its version of the same movement. The Dubuis implementation has at least one visible flourish that I have spotted; it has a cap on the column wheel a la Patek. I find the remainder of the finishing of the two movements to be equivalent.
I would give a slight nod to the Dubuis on two scores. I think its case finish is slightly superior (both my watches are white metal; the Dubuis in wg and the VC in plt). Also the Dubuis has a splendid deployant buckle.
In operation, for whatever reason, the feel of the Dubuis buttons is lighter. I think this has to do with the pusher design rather than movement finishing. Also, the Dubuis is more pleasant to wind as the diameter of the crown is larger.
All in all these are two splendid chronographs. I agree with John that the Dubuis is undervalued in the market--particularly when measured against the Patek 5070. Simply put--there is no way to justify the price differential between those two.
Jeff