Possibly Identified My New Grail - Zenith RG Moonphase
Discussion
So, I was at one of those discount malls in Houston this weekend...
Just like in the UK; there was a Tag shop in there so I thought I would stop in, despite having no intention to buy.
They had a few Monacos and re-issue Silverstones, which surprised me, but better yet; they had a case of Zeniths.
I tried on a rose gold watch and it was lovely but pricey at $12k, despite no complications other than a date.
However, when I got home I had a look on Ashford's site and have fallen for this:
I need some RG in my life and something a bit 'dressier'.
I'm thinking my perfect two watch collection may now be my 16600 SD (or SD4000) and one of these!
The Coke GMT II (in for an RSC service) and El Primero would have to make way (as well as maybe a couple of other, cheaper pieces) but I think I might have all bases covered by those two?
For Yeti, MG and others who are interested... A couple of shops had 2nd hand all gold Day-Dates in and they reckon they go for around $18-20k here, so the better part of £12k!
Also the packaging and insurance for the dealer to send my GMT away was over $100 so probably starts wiping out a lot of the 'saving' of having that done here. The watchmaker also reckoned they wouldn't get the new SD4000 until later in the year, maybe October. I will take a look at one of those to replace the 16600 but I definitely think some RG Zenith and SD (of some variety) would suit me down to the ground!
Any thoughts on the Zenith? I'm sure you can get a fair bit of JLC for £7k (what I can get this for, brand new) but not new and maybe not with the moonphase and RG?!
Just like in the UK; there was a Tag shop in there so I thought I would stop in, despite having no intention to buy.
They had a few Monacos and re-issue Silverstones, which surprised me, but better yet; they had a case of Zeniths.
I tried on a rose gold watch and it was lovely but pricey at $12k, despite no complications other than a date.
However, when I got home I had a look on Ashford's site and have fallen for this:
I need some RG in my life and something a bit 'dressier'.
I'm thinking my perfect two watch collection may now be my 16600 SD (or SD4000) and one of these!
The Coke GMT II (in for an RSC service) and El Primero would have to make way (as well as maybe a couple of other, cheaper pieces) but I think I might have all bases covered by those two?
For Yeti, MG and others who are interested... A couple of shops had 2nd hand all gold Day-Dates in and they reckon they go for around $18-20k here, so the better part of £12k!
Also the packaging and insurance for the dealer to send my GMT away was over $100 so probably starts wiping out a lot of the 'saving' of having that done here. The watchmaker also reckoned they wouldn't get the new SD4000 until later in the year, maybe October. I will take a look at one of those to replace the 16600 but I definitely think some RG Zenith and SD (of some variety) would suit me down to the ground!
Any thoughts on the Zenith? I'm sure you can get a fair bit of JLC for £7k (what I can get this for, brand new) but not new and maybe not with the moonphase and RG?!
michael gould said:
That's a handsome watch.........looks great in RG
i was rather taken with it... Hadn't considered the Elite range before. I've been concentrating on eyeing up JLCs too much!toasty said:
Looks good but the mismatching fonts would bug me.
I hadn't really noticed that but looking again - I see what you mean!I am pretty badly OCD (I've been home 3 times today to check things) but it doesn't seem to anger me
I think this is going to be bought but I may want to sell a couple first!
For me, it's nice but I'd spend the extra (if you can) on this……. http://www.chrono24.com/en/glashuetteoriginal/quin...
Few other options:
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pequignet/rue-royale--i...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/blancpain/villeret-phas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/vulcain/50s-presidents-...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/carlfbucherer/manero-mo...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pierrekunz/retrograde-m...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/captain-moonphas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/perrelet/perrelet-moonp...
Few other options:
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pequignet/rue-royale--i...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/blancpain/villeret-phas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/vulcain/50s-presidents-...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/carlfbucherer/manero-mo...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pierrekunz/retrograde-m...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/captain-moonphas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/perrelet/perrelet-moonp...
PJ S said:
For me, it's nice but I'd spend the extra (if you can) on this……. http://www.chrono24.com/en/glashuetteoriginal/quin...
That is gorgeous - I'll have one of those if my lottery numbers come up please 
Thanks for all the comments chaps!
I knew I'd get a list off you
Ok, so - lots of watches there, let me take them one-by-one:
Glashuette original - Fantastic watch maker but I HATE the offset dials, doesn't sit well with me!
Pequignet - I do like that but maybe not quite as much as the Zenith and A LOT more money!
Blancpain - No. Don't like the 'older' style case and roman numerals.
Vulcain - Not sure about the case and the Vulcain font/ script.
Carl F Bucherer - Black face... No.
Pierre Kunz - Kunz by name... Horrible.
Zenith - The sister of the watch I posted and seems good value there as the 'Captain' version is a lot more expensive to buy new at Ashfords!
Perrelet - Not bad but the numbering on the dial is a bit 'busy' for me.
Honestly, I wouldn't take any of the cheaper watches over a 'new' Zenith that I posted and the more expensive ones I couldn't justify.
I'm sure some could be considered 'better' Manufactures and may have (arguably) more interesting movements but the designs don't grab me.
I'm in no hurry but the Zenith sits at the top of the wishlist, unless a JLC RG Master moonphase drops into budget!
PJ S said:
For me, it's nice but I'd spend the extra (if you can) on this……. http://www.chrono24.com/en/glashuetteoriginal/quin...
Few other options:
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pequignet/rue-royale--i...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/blancpain/villeret-phas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/vulcain/50s-presidents-...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/carlfbucherer/manero-mo...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pierrekunz/retrograde-m...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/captain-moonphas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/perrelet/perrelet-moonp...
PJ S - The OP wasn't asking for other suggestions!!!! Few other options:
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pequignet/rue-royale--i...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/blancpain/villeret-phas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/vulcain/50s-presidents-...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/carlfbucherer/manero-mo...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/pierrekunz/retrograde-m...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/zenith/captain-moonphas...
http://www.chrono24.com/en/perrelet/perrelet-moonp...
I knew I'd get a list off you
Ok, so - lots of watches there, let me take them one-by-one:
Glashuette original - Fantastic watch maker but I HATE the offset dials, doesn't sit well with me!
Pequignet - I do like that but maybe not quite as much as the Zenith and A LOT more money!
Blancpain - No. Don't like the 'older' style case and roman numerals.
Vulcain - Not sure about the case and the Vulcain font/ script.
Carl F Bucherer - Black face... No.
Pierre Kunz - Kunz by name... Horrible.
Zenith - The sister of the watch I posted and seems good value there as the 'Captain' version is a lot more expensive to buy new at Ashfords!
Perrelet - Not bad but the numbering on the dial is a bit 'busy' for me.
Honestly, I wouldn't take any of the cheaper watches over a 'new' Zenith that I posted and the more expensive ones I couldn't justify.
I'm sure some could be considered 'better' Manufactures and may have (arguably) more interesting movements but the designs don't grab me.
I'm in no hurry but the Zenith sits at the top of the wishlist, unless a JLC RG Master moonphase drops into budget!
Maybe I am just having bad luck with Zenith but I would be very wary of buying one in the future.
Last year I bought a new Zenith Doublematic like this
and the watch was faulty from new (the date mechanism jumped sometimes to blank or failed to increment the date). My suspicion being that the shop assistant damaged the mechanism when setting the time and date. I obtained a refund.
Earlier this year, I finally picked up courage to buy another Zenith this one.
I insisted that the watch assistant did not set the time based on my first experience but his assistant set the time and date whilst I was paying. Everything seemed ok but 24 hours after I got the watch, it became apparent that the day of week mechanism was faulty. It sometimes jumps to blank, or sometimes jumps two days ahead. I took it into a London Zenith dealer who sent it away to Zenith. A detailed note of the problems was sent with the watch plus I followed it up with emails to Zenith customer services. This was in the middle of March - I still don't have the watch. They returned it once saying all was well with the Date mechanism despite the note detailing the problems were with the Day of Week mechanism. It has gone back again with the problem being witnessed by staff at the Zenith dealer. The customer experience leaves a lot to be desired. Zenith = LVMH watches and jewellery which equals Tag Heuer in the UK i.e. the infamous Manchester service centre. I was told that there were separate sections in the service centre for Zenith rather than Tag Heuer but my experience seems to mirror other bad experiences with Tag Heuer. My suspicion is that the watch will have to go back to Zenith in Switzerland to be repaired but how long this will take and when I will get the watch back who knows.
My advice would be to steer clear of Zenith.
Last year I bought a new Zenith Doublematic like this
and the watch was faulty from new (the date mechanism jumped sometimes to blank or failed to increment the date). My suspicion being that the shop assistant damaged the mechanism when setting the time and date. I obtained a refund.
Earlier this year, I finally picked up courage to buy another Zenith this one.
I insisted that the watch assistant did not set the time based on my first experience but his assistant set the time and date whilst I was paying. Everything seemed ok but 24 hours after I got the watch, it became apparent that the day of week mechanism was faulty. It sometimes jumps to blank, or sometimes jumps two days ahead. I took it into a London Zenith dealer who sent it away to Zenith. A detailed note of the problems was sent with the watch plus I followed it up with emails to Zenith customer services. This was in the middle of March - I still don't have the watch. They returned it once saying all was well with the Date mechanism despite the note detailing the problems were with the Day of Week mechanism. It has gone back again with the problem being witnessed by staff at the Zenith dealer. The customer experience leaves a lot to be desired. Zenith = LVMH watches and jewellery which equals Tag Heuer in the UK i.e. the infamous Manchester service centre. I was told that there were separate sections in the service centre for Zenith rather than Tag Heuer but my experience seems to mirror other bad experiences with Tag Heuer. My suspicion is that the watch will have to go back to Zenith in Switzerland to be repaired but how long this will take and when I will get the watch back who knows.
My advice would be to steer clear of Zenith.
Edited by chris56 on Tuesday 22 April 19:59
dom9 said:
PJ S - The OP wasn't asking for other suggestions!!!!
I knew I'd get a list off you
Zenith - The sister of the watch I posted and seems good value there as the 'Captain' version is a lot more expensive to buy new at Ashfords!
You know me so well….. I knew I'd get a list off you
Zenith - The sister of the watch I posted and seems good value there as the 'Captain' version is a lot more expensive to buy new at Ashfords!
Both the GO and Pequignet trump the JLC, IMO.
dom9 said:
I'm in no hurry but the Zenith sits at the top of the wishlist, unless a JLC RG Master moonphase drops into budget!
What like these two?https://www.chrono24.com/en/jaegerlecoultre/master...
https://www.chrono24.com/en/jaegerlecoultre/master...
Didn't bother to post JLC, as I assumed you'd have already been there and done that.
Oh, and the CFB comes in white too – https://www.chrono24.com/en/carlfbucherer/manero-m...
Edited by PJ S on Wednesday 23 April 00:23
chris56 said:
Interesting stuff...
Sorry to hear about your experiences, Chris!I was under quite the opposite impression about Zenith aftersales but it certainly sounds like it has gone downhill!
Damn PJ S and his links to JLCs!!!
I shall have to narrow my choice down to two or three when I'm in a position to move in the next few weeks!
dom9 - it is indeed interesting stuff but not when you are on the receiving end
. I have only reported the outline of the problems with Zenith. Today has seen another flurry of emails and phone calls on this. None of them have inspired confidence. At first, it looked like they had lost my watch
, now it looks like they have found it and it is undergoing testing with a senior watchmaker. They did this before but were testing the wrong thing rather than the problem described in detailed note I had given them.
Ultimately, the watch will have to be taken apart and the Day of Week operating gears replaced as this is undoubtedly what was damaged when the shop assistant set the time. Zenith watches are very fussy about this - you need to have both hour hand and minute hand in the lower half of the dial before you do any changes.
My advice - go with JLC and avoid Zenith.
. I have only reported the outline of the problems with Zenith. Today has seen another flurry of emails and phone calls on this. None of them have inspired confidence. At first, it looked like they had lost my watch, now it looks like they have found it and it is undergoing testing with a senior watchmaker. They did this before but were testing the wrong thing rather than the problem described in detailed note I had given them.Ultimately, the watch will have to be taken apart and the Day of Week operating gears replaced as this is undoubtedly what was damaged when the shop assistant set the time. Zenith watches are very fussy about this - you need to have both hour hand and minute hand in the lower half of the dial before you do any changes.
My advice - go with JLC and avoid Zenith.
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