The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[in stitches]



Unfortunately, I am definitely not in *that* kind of position, although I am sure that must be nice! I think I will still probably stick with the MUT Moon, but an annual calendar with a moonphase is a hell of a piece! Also, I love the fact that it has a 75 hour power reserve, and that you can change the date at any time.
Same here! There is a serious dearth of information available.

lol, neither am i.

and an annual calendar with a moon is also on my list. i think i will give the 5 spot on my list to that. definitely attainable.

 

[McWu]



Congrats on the new arrival, don't think I've seen that one before but I really like it!

Never seen this watch before but I like it.

Thanks. I stumbled on it completely by accident as well, and while it struck me as handsome at first sight, only in getting to understand it further (collaboration between Zenith & MIH, "affordable" in-house calibre with an innovative annual calendar requiring only 9 additional moving parts to the movement) did I really grow to appreciate it.

And then of course it showed up and it blew away my already high expectations. I think it's a very versatile watch (dresses up well with a gator strap and down well with nylon, casual leather, or rubber) with serious horological credibility.

 

[Flake]



I echo Cyclon's sentiments. Dino may be able to help you out over here, but you may have better luck on TZ or TPP.
Also, does anyone have any feelings on the Blancpain Villeret Annual Calendar with Moonphase? I just realized that it is potentially in my budget, and it is always a watch I have admired... I cannot find a lick of information about it online though, unfortunately.

And more pics: http://www.europeanwatch.com/16977.htm#_self
Also, as an addendum... I know this may just turn out to be a dumb distraction, but it is always good to exhaust one's options before making a decision.

That's a beauty. You will want to keep it on a winder or else keeping it up to date will be a pain. I have a Blancpain Leman Timezone, which is one of my favorite watches. Keeps great time. I am afraid I don't know much about the movement in that one, but can say that I have had great luck with mine being accurate and having no issues. I must say, I love the look. Nice face for an annual calendar.

 

[Flake]

If that's the watch I think it is, it uses the 6639 calibre movement. It's a complete calendar, not an annual calendar. I don't know much about that one, and can't seem to find much about it on the Internet either. No idea if it's a fully integrated Frederic Piguet movement or if it uses an FP or other base movenet with an outsourced modual for the calendar. My curiosity is now up!

 

[Flake]



Those are the only two ADs in NYC. If you're open to non-authorized dealers in state, I haven't transacted yet but have heard good things about paladinltd.com
PM if you'd like info on non-authorized Lange dealers I've worked with directly.
What model are you interested in, btw?

I will never walk into Wempe again. Bad experience there. Awful customer service. Paladin has a good rep, but never dealt with them directly either. If/when I decide to get a Lange I will go to them first. ( first gen black face Dato is on my wish list )

 

[dddrees]

Wearing this one today.

 

[HEPennypacker]



I echo Cyclon's sentiments. Dino may be able to help you out over here, but you may have better luck on TZ or TPP.
Also, does anyone have any feelings on the Blancpain Villeret Annual Calendar with Moonphase? I just realized that it is potentially in my budget, and it is always a watch I have admired... I cannot find a lick of information about it online though, unfortunately.

I like this watch, but the squiggly line leading to the date has always bothered me.

 

[ant702]

Hi Guys I need some advice, I want to buy one of these 2 watches, and would like to know which you would choose above the other and why.

Go for the less complicated! Unless, you actually need the chrono feature! That 3-hand is an excellent dress watch

 

[ant702]

Wearing this one today.

Style and good taste, a true classic

 

[Cylon]

http://www.styleforum.net/t/36253/the-watch-appreciation-thread/10005#post_5137032

Compare the older version of the villeret moonphase to the new version through the above link. I prefer the older version. As HEPennypacker said, I dont know how I feel about that curved date hand, and I think the roman numerals, the logo placement, and the moon face are all superior on the previous version

I looked at this watch HARD before the MUT Moon was announced, then switched my loyalty. I've tried on both (that is to say the MUT Moon and the older Villeret Moon. Ive never seen the new BP VM). The BP is smaller at 38mm. It's a more classic look (in terms of morning suits and monacles) whereas the JLC is going for a more modern stripped down minimalism IMO. I've read a few complaints about the JLC in this regard, that it lacks a full calendar complication up top like the reverso calendar or the BP VM but as i said I think they were trying to strip things down.

 

[DerekS]



Style and good taste, a true classic

+1.
The Nautilus is a grail for me. such a refined classic.

 

[dopey]



I like it, and the condition at least in the photo is excellent!  I have often thought that if I got a Patek I would choose a Gondolo or some other rectangular model.
If you don't have a rectangular watch, I highly recommend adding one you your collection.  I love having non-round dress watches.  At times seem a bit more formal and unexpected.  They also look and wear differently than round watches.  You don't have to go very large for them still to look modern.   I wear round sport watches most of the week so if I dress up for an evening out it feels a bit more special to put on a non-round watch.  Maybe like if you wear sneakers much of the week and then you put on a pair of bespoke shoes for nice event.  Just my 2 cents.
 Go for the one on the leather band.  Although, I'd look for one without the date cutting up the number 6.
 Great watch.  My LV doesn't get enough wrist time but its one of my favorites.
 +1
Before I really got into collecting, I thought not giving a watch a date function was just a cost saving measure. Now I recognize how often the symmetry of a dial is lost due to a date function. Its really quite sad what a mess companies often make of a dial just to put in a date window.  I think most companies believe adding a date for practicality's sake increases the number of potential buyers.  Just one example, but the Rolex Daytona has been subject to lots criticism for not having a date.  Just research it on TZ.  When Rolex used the Zenith El Primero as a base people ranted about them not making use of the date function that the movement has.  Then some people bitched that the inhouse movement didn't give a date.  I've also seen a ton of posts about people selling them after a short time because they found they can't live with a watch that doesn't have a date function.  So sadly, I think its a bit of management pandering to the masses who complain when a watch doesn't have a date.  I think collectors or those with an interest in design are the ones that more often choose watches without a date.   

I hate date functions because they don't really work. Except on annual calenders, they don't actually "know" the number of days in a month, so you need to constantly re-set them yourself. I won't buy a date function watch for that reason. The one exception I know of is the new Rolex Sky-Dweller which accounts for everything but February, so it only needs to be adjusted once a year. The dial is a mess, but if they could figure out how to clean it up, it would be an awesome watch.

BTW, if anyone knows of other movements that deal with the date like the Sky-Dweller, I would be interested .

 

[gdl203]

"constantly" = 5 times a year

Do you keep all your watches wound and ticking at all times?

 

[dopey]



"constantly" = 12 times a year
Do you keep all your watches wound and ticking at all times?

Actually, "constantly" is less than 12 times a year. You only need to set it after a 30 or 28 day month. I think it is the principle that bothers me most in that it is in inelegant implementation. Mechanical watches are neat because they are machines that work and the date function doesn't seem to "work" right. It is a level of clumsiness we wouldn't accept in most other functional devices. But I am certainly not claiming it should bother you.

Also, I am not a watch guy. I don't change watches often. I tend to wear the same watch every day for months at a time, with the occasional swap for a dress watch. So, to answer your other question, I will go six-months or so with my main watch wound all the time, so a non-working date would bug me (and I do have some vintage chronographs like that - I just don't set the date at all and ignore it).

 

[dddrees]

Style and good taste, a true classic

Thank you Sir.