Opinions on watch purchase please - JLC, GC, Zenith?

[sparkyhx]

aircooledforever said:

Hi everyone. I'm a long-time reader of this site (especially the Porsche and Watch sections) and thought that I would register and take advantage of your knowledge/views!

I'm about to but a new watch for myself and have narrowed it down to the following:

Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea


Girard-Perregaux Flyback Chronograph "Monte Carlo 1973"


Zenith El Primero Striking Tenth



Which would you choose, and why?

ps apologies it should be 'GP not 'GC' in the title.

any they are all wonderful

GP for the history - 2nd oldest manufacturer and rarer than hens teeth
JLC - cos its got a cool alarm and cos its JLC and everyone should have a JLC at least once in their life
Zenith - cos its an El Primero one of the greatest ever movements

I wish I had the same quandry.............

p.s. I have a GP Laureato Evo 3

Edited by sparkyhx on Tuesday 20th December 14:28

[ApexJimi]

While I'm quite a big JLC fan, that particular watch doesn't do very much for me I'm afraid, so that's oot.

Like sparky, the GP appeals due to the history of the brand, but also because it's an absolutely stunning watch.

Striking 10th - Primarily because it's a bloody awesome watch, with a legendary movement, but also because I 'like' Zenith as a manufacturer.

So, not easy, but I reckon striking 10th for me.

edit - as said, bloody nice dilemma to have!

[Arrive Alive]

Striking Tenth for me. Wonderful.

[sparkyhx]

.............goes to look, but isn't the GP far more expensive

[sparkyhx]

Memovox 959 limited edition - £unknown
GP - 250 limited edition - £unknown
Zenith - no mention of LE - £7500 ish

Hardest bit of the choice might be finding the top two.

[andy_s]

Funny isn't it - I'd happily go for any, but would prefer the old originals - which has its downsides of course; from that pov I'd probably say the Polaris...but I think chronographs are more interesting generally...
Nice dilemma anyway!

[chris5150]

Zenith, everytime, best movement out of the 3 by a mile. I am biased I treated myself to one some time ago, and particularly love the purple wheel on the back and the star at the end of the striking6 second hand..love how zenith is getting back to quality again, great brand...

[ApexJimi]

<splumph>

[sparkyhx]

chris5150 said:

Zenith, everytime, best movement out of the 3 by a mile. I am biased I treated myself to one some time ago, and particularly love the purple wheel on the back and the star at the end of the striking6 second hand..love how zenith is getting back to quality again, great brand...

tsk - Plastic internals - Watches by Toys R US







yes I know they are silicone and thats a new high end trend

[anonymous-user]

To me the Zenith has the best movement and is the best looking.

[chris5150]

Yes the Zenith is a limited edition of 1,969 pieces. ( its based on the 1969 watch, hence the number in the ltd edition )

Its a personal thing, but having seen the Jaeager in the flesh, the dial just looks too plastic for me... the GP, well never really had a lot of time for them really ( no pun intended ), just dont rate them in the same league as JLC & Zenith.

I would suggest looking at the zenith in the flesh as the dial is lovely, the hour markers are quality, the movement finish spot on. I was really surprised when I inspected mine with a loupe, just how well it has been put together & finished..real quality

[Fittster]

Jaeger-LeCoultre wins this for me. Don't really like the face of the Zenith.

Now if Zenith were to bring back the Super Sub Sea it's a different game.

[chris5150]

I can understand how the dial on the zenith is not to everyones taste, so can see your point.

Just to throw somethng else into the pot,I keep watching for a zenith stratos to come up,I think a watch with a chrono & a moveable divers dial is the ultimate daily wearer as I find myself using both those functions regularly.
There is one come up at blowers in hull, thats quite tempting...but I post it here as its a sort of cross betwee the zenith & the jeager really..big at 45.5mm though...but myabe worthy of consideration

[andy_s]

sparkyhx said:

tsk - Plastic internals - Watches by Toys R US







yes I know they are silicone and thats a new high end trend

ETA7750, Lemania 5100 etc have some plastic components; well, DuPonts Delrin to be precise, which is a low friction, lightweight and strong polymer used since the early seventies. Better than metal as it self-lubricates, in fact, some Chinese copies use metal instead as it's cheaper and easier to make.
/nerd

[Mart-1]

What a nice dilemma to have

Here's my tuppence worth

JLC Deep Sea:

I'm biased as I collected mine 3-4 weeks ago after a long wait. 959 made in the style shown and what I bought. 359 in the US version (dial is not as nice IMO). Hard to get hold of through UK AD's I hear, and told there's currently only about 4 in the UK, with majority going to USA and Middle/Far East. Seem to be a fair few on sale if you use Google

More 'sporty' looking and a simpler dial than the other two, and it has a definite vintage feel, being based on the 50's/60's original

The complication or feature is the Memovox alarm movement. It is more of a 'buzz' noise than the egg-timer like 'ring' from the Master Memovox. It doesn't have a display back, but it has a very nice engraving of a scuba diver - see photos of mine below

It feels very comfortable on the wrist and is a good size at 40.5mm








Girard-Perregaux:

Looks beautiful. I would be very happy to have one. Looks like it would work well as a good all rounder - casual / sporty / formal dress, which can't be said of too many watches

If the chronograph function is more useful than an alarm to you, it might swing your decision



Zenith:

Lovely looking caseback. I personally find the dial a little too busy and there's something about the hands and batons that put me off a little. 42mm case is bigger than the JLC and GP so that might swing a decision one way or another


There's no chance of ending up with anything but a lovely watch if you pick from this bunch though. Happy shopping

[Pesty]

Zenith.

Ive held a few an every time I though about doing a runner from the shop.

Recently fondled the blue face version my god they are something else. Not often I pick something up and think even at that proce it seems a bargain compared other watches at that price.

[Debaser]

All nice choices, but out of those three I think I'd go for the Zenith. I've wanted an El Primero for a while.

[Animal]

You'll get used to the size - buy the limited edition!

[ApexJimi]

42mm isn't really THAT big to be honest, I suspect it would wear quite well actually.

[Ikemi]

Easy ... Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar





I think this might be a little bit more expensive than the others, but worth a look all the same. The PanoInverse:



Although if I had to choose from the list of 3, my money would be on the Striking 10th