Chopard - are they on a par with JLC?

[996nick]

I am looking at buying a dress watch. I have been looking at JLC's - particularly the ulta slim, and Zenith - the elite range.

However, my friendly local jeweller introduced me to Chopard. I have tended to think of most of their range (the ones with the diamonds in the case)as bling rather than serious watch material. I like the mille miglia product - but its not a dress watch.

So I had a look at one of these:

A chopard L.U.C. XP.


Which is very similar to the JLC (if not slimmer - the auto movement is apparently 3mm I think). Good in house movement with a nice power reserve. Made in limited numbers. Unfortunately it is an 18k gold case, which makes give it a hefty price tag of over £5k. I am also concerned I could never flip it if I wanted to. I'd have to stretch to afford this - and am not convinced its worth the aggro with Mrs 996.

I'd appreciate thoughts - chopard/Zenith/JLC? Any other suggestions? I am looking for something mechanical, slim and something that ideally is not going to (relatively speaking!)dive in value in case I should ever want to flip it.

The ideal is a JLC, but at the moment the Zenith elite is seems a good buy I think - it is relatively good value for money offering reasonably slim proportions plus some complications (date/power reserve). Its also not gold, which may make it less prone to dings?

Any and all comments welcome!

Edited by 996nick on Sunday 22 November 19:05

Edited by 996nick on Sunday 22 November 19:08

[cyberface]

Chopard? Nice.

JLC? IMO, the best movement manufacture of all... they used to supply Patek with movements, FFS... however some of the JLC designs (I'm really not keen on the Compressor thingies with the huge crowns) aren't great. But if it's the movement that does it for you, JLC no contest. IMHO.

[tertius]

The Chopard L.U.C. movements/watches are very nice but not on a par with JLC in my opinion.

I would have thought they were a country mile more expensive than a Zenith Elite though?

Balancing various factors including cost, I'd probably rate them JLC > Zenith > Chopard

[Asterix]

Simply - no. Not even the same league.

[deejuic]

almost insulting to put chopard in the same question as JLC...

[996nick]

Safe to say thats an overwhelming verdict in favour of JLC being NOT on a par with Chopard.

If you get the chance worth looking at one for comparison purposes - however, I think I got the answer I was secretly hoping for.

The more I think about it the more I am going to have to be strong, wait and go for the JLC!!

Thanks all for comments.

[andy_s]

cyberface said:

(I'm really not keen on the Compressor thingies with the huge crowns)

Same here which is a real shame as it would wrap things up nicely to have the JLC work in a workhorse case - I can see how the MC would look good from the bridge of your yacht but it's too - dare I say, 'blingy', designed by a lady I think, and it shows.

[sparkyhx]

I think at the very high end specials there probably isn't much in it, but for the bread and butter day to day stuff there is a country mile of difference, JLC all the way.

[Murph7355]

andy_s said:

...
Same here which is a real shame as it would wrap things up nicely to have the JLC work in a workhorse case - I can see how the MC would look good from the bridge of your yacht but it's too - dare I say, 'blingy', designed by a lady I think, and it shows.

Have you tried one on, or just seen in pictures/windows?

I was initially unsure, but on the wrist felt it looked very good.

(This was the normal chrono one rather than the Extreme. The latter being a little clunky for me).

That said, I still need to deliberate whether it's what I want (a Daytona is still favourite I fear).