IWC Portuguese or JLC ?
Discussion
I looked at buying a Portuguese a couple of months ago as I've always loved the look of them; however I was pretty disappointed when I tried it on.
It just felt and looked a bit too thin, I decided if I had a portuguese it would have to be the 7-day, as it's a lot chunkier and it has the lovely glass back.
That said I quite like a more substantial watch, which I know isn't to everyones taste. I've never had a play with a JLC so I can't comment, other than I think it's a lovely looking thing.
It just felt and looked a bit too thin, I decided if I had a portuguese it would have to be the 7-day, as it's a lot chunkier and it has the lovely glass back.
That said I quite like a more substantial watch, which I know isn't to everyones taste. I've never had a play with a JLC so I can't comment, other than I think it's a lovely looking thing.
Completely agree on comments above re the Portugese. I oggled it in shop windows for years and always thought it would be my dream watch. I was very disappointed when I tried it on, it just didn't feel or look right on my wrist. If anything I prefered the Pilot to actually wear, and had never considered this.
I then looked at JLC's... Wow. Different league in my opinion. This will undoubtedly be my next purchase, hopefully a Master Compressor or similar.
I then looked at JLC's... Wow. Different league in my opinion. This will undoubtedly be my next purchase, hopefully a Master Compressor or similar.
DMJ73 said:
Gentlemen,
Considering one of these, however can anyone recommend an equivalent JLC for similar money?
Whilst I love IWC in general, I can't stop being annoyed at the way in which the subdials cut off the 6 and 12. It's one of those features that once noticed, put me off for ever Considering one of these, however can anyone recommend an equivalent JLC for similar money?
Luckily they have plenty of other models to drool over whilst wishing I could afford one.
Back on topic, I'd take a JLC over an IWC any day
Thanks guys for all your feedback. Managed to get my hands on the IWC and although I maintain its a lovely looking watch, on the wrist I was hugely underwhelmed. It did feel "fragile" as others have stated and the strap looked, looked dare I say cheap. I also looked at the bigger 42mm Automatic, which was a vast improvement but significantly more expensive.
Hope to find somewhere that stocks the JLC later in the week. I usually wear either a PO or Panerai - should I expect the JLC to feel significantly lighter / smaller?
Dom H - You have mail
Hope to find somewhere that stocks the JLC later in the week. I usually wear either a PO or Panerai - should I expect the JLC to feel significantly lighter / smaller?
Dom H - You have mail
I have 4 IWCs now (Just cannot seem to get enough of them!) and out of the 4 only one feels a little fragile. The other 3 seem rock solid.
I have just put one in for a service and they were good enough to lend me a watch to wear while mins is away. This one too feels very solid and sits very nicely on the wrist.
To be fair, I really do like JLC's watches, however, I do find, to my eyes at least, they sit in two extreme sides of my visual scale. Either very chunky or very subtle. Not that keen on their chunkier range and will one day add one of their perpetual calendars to the collection, but for now am happy with the IWCs that I have and am trying to get permission from SWMBO to add one of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendars to the box.
On another note, managed to have a look at the new Top Gun collection for this year ... Hubba, hubba!
HTH
I have just put one in for a service and they were good enough to lend me a watch to wear while mins is away. This one too feels very solid and sits very nicely on the wrist.
To be fair, I really do like JLC's watches, however, I do find, to my eyes at least, they sit in two extreme sides of my visual scale. Either very chunky or very subtle. Not that keen on their chunkier range and will one day add one of their perpetual calendars to the collection, but for now am happy with the IWCs that I have and am trying to get permission from SWMBO to add one of the Big Pilot Perpetual Calendars to the box.
On another note, managed to have a look at the new Top Gun collection for this year ... Hubba, hubba!
HTH
TonyHetherington said:
Like a few of you I've been lusting after an IWC for a while now, but never actually tried one on. Scared to now 
I tried loads on before settling for a non-chrono Aquatimer; which was half of what I'd set out to spend - I would say the only one that to me felt a little fragile was the Portuguese Chrono; it was also the most dissappointing as that's what I'd had my heart set on when I went in. That said I will have a black/black 7-day portuguese at some point, it was just a lovely watch and made me realise if I bought the normal one, I'd never be happy with it.
For me, the "problem" with the Portuguese Chrono is that is uses an ETA Valjoux movement rather than the in-house, 7 day model.
Not that I have an issue with the ETA Valjoux movement in itself. The Double Chrono that I have uses it and it works just fine.
Its just that (I think) out of the whole Portuguese range the Chrono is the only non in-house movement and might be considered to be the entry level model for that range. So seems a shame to go for that when a 7 day, in house, version is just sitting a little above it.
Not that I have an issue with the ETA Valjoux movement in itself. The Double Chrono that I have uses it and it works just fine.
Its just that (I think) out of the whole Portuguese range the Chrono is the only non in-house movement and might be considered to be the entry level model for that range. So seems a shame to go for that when a 7 day, in house, version is just sitting a little above it.
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