Grand Seiko and JLC

Feb 24, 2011,11:01 AM
 

Alas no pictures as I'm travelling!

Grand Seiko SBGW001 - the dial colour is incredible (very subtle cream)
Grand Seiko SBGR037 - the blued hands and embossed dial are beautiful
JLC MUT - need I say more?!

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The perfect time-only watch

 
 By: AndrewD : February 20th, 2011-21:36
There is a thread currently running on the AHCI Forum on Bernhard Zwinz’s Calibre R with a mock-up of the case and dial that may one day house it. I am interested to know how you would go about designing the ‘perfect’ simple watch. I am reminded again of ... 

Here's a start...

 
 By: pplater : February 20th, 2011-21:54
If we're talking simple, then why use anything more than one hand? Here's the Breguet 4215 (which was later parlayed into a wristwatch, wasn't it?). Not as simple as it could be, but an elegant start, wouldn't you agree? Cheers, pplater...  

A recent example...

 
 By: pplater : February 20th, 2011-21:59
Call to Don Corson - do you mind if your photo of this watch gets another airing?? Good shot of a great-looking watch. This is by Don's friend Niklaus Engi: very simple aesthetic, but in a modern context: Cheers, pplater....  

I like that one...

 
 By: InHavenPro : February 20th, 2011-22:04
very much indeed! Thanks for the pic!

A new Geophysic.

 
 By: amanico : February 20th, 2011-22:37
A refined dial, a nice case, and a great movement, which could have some modern improvements, but with the same care in the finish and decoration. 38 mm maximum. That would be my perfect time only watch. Best, Nicolas;...  

JLC please take note! :-) [nt]

 
 By: sw-rick : February 21st, 2011-06:32
No message body

Fingers crossed!

 
 By: amanico : February 21st, 2011-07:33

My first vote goes…

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : February 21st, 2011-11:45
As a hardcore JLC fan my first vote goes to Nicolas suggestion! That would be awesome! Best Blomman

You always have my support, my friend!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : February 21st, 2011-11:56
Especially when you talk about making a new version of a watch I love! Best Blomman

A new Geophysic?

 
 By: BDLJ : February 21st, 2011-17:47
...Is it needed when that original is so close to perfect?

Why not if there is an horological content, and a nice aesthetics, which ...

 
 By: amanico : February 21st, 2011-23:03
Would both respect the virtues of the original, but in a modern way? You can always find a Geophysic, but I rarely saw one in good condition. Best, Nicolas.

All too true...

 
 By: BDLJ : February 21st, 2011-23:06
But I would want one from the era which gave it its name.

My suggestion was not an alternative, but a cumulative one. :) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 21st, 2011-23:08
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-02-21 23:08:48

Even Better :-) [nt]

 
 By: BDLJ : February 21st, 2011-23:09
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Beautiful Caliber.......nt

 
 By: Tony A.H : February 23rd, 2011-05:09
T

Yes, and a very interesting one, too! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 23rd, 2011-23:11
No message body

Patek Calatrava is my choice

 
 By: watch-guy.com : February 20th, 2011-22:59
G Simple elegant Julian Also love the Simplicity but don't own one ;>((...  

ditto - it stands the test of time

 
 By: cazalea : February 21st, 2011-09:21
About 50-60 years of time in this case This message has been edited by cazalea on 2011-02-21 09:24:59...  

Yep. [nt]

 
 By: mkvc : February 21st, 2011-11:37
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Already have mine!

 
 By: dxboon : February 20th, 2011-23:44
I don't need much more than this: Simple is best. Cheers, Daos...  

A simple dial

 
 By: fernando : February 21st, 2011-00:01
This is an example I can come up with. F...  

One of my favourites

 
 By: mell0822 : February 21st, 2011-00:55
Zenith Ultra Thin. It's not really that thin but the thickness is fitting as a dress watch. Like its dial and rose gold combination, clean & elegant look and its very reasonable price point. Not to mention its see through caseback to appreciate the Cal. 6...  

This Zenith is Stunning ! [nt]

 
 By: aboen : February 21st, 2011-11:41
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Thanks, a black dial rose gold would be prefect [nt]

 
 By: mell0822 : February 21st, 2011-15:46
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I have mine, thanks to...

 
 By: KC74 : February 21st, 2011-01:00
...Rolex....  

+1. [nt]

 
 By: VMM : February 21st, 2011-03:31
No message body

VC 1921 comes to my mind

 
 By: Hororgasm : February 21st, 2011-01:04
Simplicity, with a twist. Kudos to dufour simplicity and PP calatravas, they are benchmarks for simple elegance in the independent and mass space. They are great watches, but the one that truly touches me are not only simple 2 or 3 hands watches, but thos... 

I am with you on this one ...

 
 By: AndrewD : February 23rd, 2011-19:13
Of all the simple watches mentioned in this thread, the VC has tremendous presence and design flair. And I like watches with stories too. I haven't had one on my wrist yet, so will refrain from further comment until I can experience the size and proportio... 

Richard Lange PLM

 
 By: sidneyc : February 21st, 2011-01:55
My vote goes to this amazing piece. Roman font in perfect proportions. Beautiful 3-part enamel dial. And a technically groundbreaking and aesthetically stunning movement. Can't ask for more in a time-only watch.

Surely a thread like this...

 
 By: grumio : February 21st, 2011-02:26
has to include a JLC Master Ultrathin. 34mm, two hands only, on a strap with a pin buckle. Such a beautiful movement. All the essentials, and nothing more. IMHO can't get much more perfect than that for a simple time only watch. grumio

Andrew, to me, there is no perfect watch.

 
 By: ling5hk : February 21st, 2011-03:24
PP Calatrava (with baton hour marker and a sub-second hand at 6) is a near perfect time-only watch. Regards Ling

How about these?

 
 By: scott7 : February 21st, 2011-05:39
G.O. Senator Sixties Wempe Chronometerwerke...  

Senator sixties

 
 By: Damo : February 23rd, 2011-11:20
I love the sixties in steel with black dial. The next on my buy list ...

My second vote goes…

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : February 21st, 2011-11:47
As a hardcore JLC fan my second vote goes to Stefan’s suggestion! Best Blomman

I nominate the one that started my collection

 
 By: Ginger : February 21st, 2011-06:36
PP 4860 - Ladies officer case. Ginger This message has been edited by Ginger on 2011-02-21 06:39:46 This message has been edited by Ginger on 2011-02-21 06:49:36...  

Once more Ginger ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : February 21st, 2011-09:53
I love it

That's a great place to start a collection ...

 
 By: AndrewD : February 23rd, 2011-19:20
... and probably to end one as well. Lovely Patek, Ginger. Andrew

This is pretty close for me

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : February 21st, 2011-06:52
Best, CaliforniaJed...  

I will, Ginger! [nt]

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : February 21st, 2011-20:43
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Great photo, Jed!

 
 By: Gary G : February 22nd, 2011-07:09
Love how you caught the light on this one. Did you do much post-processing, or was this photo pretty much straight out of the box? Best, Gary G

Hey, thanks Gary.

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : February 22nd, 2011-09:28
I typically use Photoshop Elements on my photos because my lighting setup and lighting skills are sub-optimal. That said, so are my Photoshop skills! I punched up the lighting a little on this one, and I think I intensified the color a bit too. Best, Cali... 

In the spirit of the observation watch ...

 
 By: old_school : February 21st, 2011-07:02
The Richard Lange sweep second appeals to my eye.

I think the Simplicity is the acme

 
 By: donizetti : February 21st, 2011-07:18
but for regular consumption, the Richard Lange comes very close. I guess you could take the small numbers at 10,20,30... away too but I find them charming. Best Andreas...  

+1 emphatically

 
 By: db darien : February 21st, 2011-08:47
...  

+2, also emphatically :)

 
 By: marcelo : February 22nd, 2011-08:40

Simplicity at its best IMO

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : February 21st, 2011-07:51
A PAM21 Panerai Radiomir Base (watch at right) for me. Simple, elegant, clean design, and large sized 47mm (for us large sized watch fans). Plus you get a platinum case and Rolex movement too. Only downside is the non-removable lugs which makes strap chan...  

Strap changing

 
 By: AndrewD : February 23rd, 2011-19:25
Love the suggestion of the PAM21. In a thread dominated by smaller watches from 34 to 40mm, this shows how a simple time only watch can take on many forms. I also smiled at the comment on strap changing. Only a Paneristi would be concerned about such a th... 

You can't just simply swap out straps once the old one is worn out

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : February 23rd, 2011-19:43
You need to find a strapmaker to stitch the strap directly onto the watch since the lugs are soldered on So that's why it's a pain in the butt to get a new strap on this Panerai. You need to find someone who you can trust too. Cheers, Anthony

Does Panerai offer this service?

 
 By: AndrewD : February 23rd, 2011-19:54
Can you take it back to the AD and get them to sort out the headache? I see what you mean now, and even more frustrating for Peneristi wanting to change straps as often as they change socks! A

I would assume only the Boutiques would sort this headache out

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : February 23rd, 2011-20:37
I wouldn't want to send it to an AD but only directly to Panerai itself. Cheers, Anthony

one of aboens handmade leather...

 
 By: G99 : February 24th, 2011-02:31
one of aboens handmade leather NATO's would solve the problem. i've always wondered what a Radiomir would look like on a thick nato. G

I nominate the one that started my collection is my choice

 
 By: Ginger : February 21st, 2011-08:32
PP 4860 - Ladies officer case. Ginger

I think.......

 
 By: TonyR : February 21st, 2011-08:33
that the Richard Lange PLM, Simplicity and the Observatoire in that order are the standards in the time only watch department. My current favorite is the only one I have in the collection, a Jaquet Droz grande seconds. Tony...  

there are too many to choose from, but from my own modern collection i'd say

 
 By: G99 : February 21st, 2011-09:10
that the Omega Railmaster is my perfect time only watch. it looks good on a bracelet, on croc and on a nato. its very easy to read in all lighting conditions. what more can you ask for?? there a vast number of vintage pieces that are possibly even better ...  

What more to ask for? The Vintage! :))) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 21st, 2011-09:12
No message body

one day this will be...

 
 By: G99 : February 21st, 2011-09:14
one day this will be vintage. even better...  

At the more affordable end of the spectrum...

 
 By: Brava : February 21st, 2011-09:18
Nomos Tangomat......  

This?

 
 By: KIH : February 21st, 2011-09:34
This... (mine) Or This... (not mine...the wrist is mine, though) If I have these two and two hands AP 5402ST, that would make my simple watches department perfect.... Ken...  

Already designed....

 
 By: MiniCooper : February 21st, 2011-11:30
PP 5196..... Simple, elegant and perfect... Cheers

Roger Smith series 2 open dial

 
 By: ChristianDK : February 21st, 2011-11:37
is in my eyes the ultimate time only watch. wish had one Christian

The time only watch is a very difficult watch to design...

 
 By: foversta : February 21st, 2011-12:35
It may be paradoxical but I do believe that the time-only watch is a difficult timepiece to design: it has to be balanced and its simplicity doesn't have to mean "boring". So there is a sort of chemistry to find in order to get it perfect or close to perf...  

FX you covered quite a few of ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : February 21st, 2011-12:46
my favourites. Thanks! The perfect time only watch is probably the most difficult one to create. One day I will find mine - hopefully Oliver ps: Some have been or are close, but none is THE one - so far ...

This is exactly the point ...

 
 By: AndrewD : February 21st, 2011-13:23
... I wanted to bring out. Thanks FX and Oliver! On the surface you would think that anyone could come up with a simple two- or three-hand dress watch. It seems like it should be the first class in a Design 101 course. But in reality it is very difficult ... 

This one works well for me.

 
 By: glickman : February 21st, 2011-13:01
With due respect to and admiration of those masters such as Dufour and Voutilainen, I do appreciate the classic simplicity of D.Dornblüth & Sohn:...  

I would ask Omega to craft this . . .

 
 By: Dr No : February 21st, 2011-13:10
. . . in steel. The tourbillon does not add complexity, in my humble opinion. It defines the design, which to my eyes is as universal as they come. Admittedly prejudiced, Art...  

No perfect watch for me, but if I had to choose

 
 By: mrsnak : February 21st, 2011-13:53
This one comes pretty close, both in the elegant simplicity of both the dial and the movement. This message has been edited by mrsnak on 2011-02-21 13:54:17...  

Well, it should be a chronometer

 
 By: SteveG : February 21st, 2011-15:24
Beyond that, I can't decide. Depending upon whether one craves minimalism, or readability, or elegance, and perhaps also the relative importance of the movement. my selection:...  

Your bases are pretty well covered, Steve. Like this idea a lot. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : February 21st, 2011-22:50
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-02-21 22:51:11

Heck, I'm having trouble deciding if I prefer a time-only to have

 
 By: RJW : February 21st, 2011-23:21
1. Hour and Minute hands only. or 2. Centre seconds. or 3. Seconds subdial So choosing a perfect watch is close to impossible for me. Regards, Richard.

They already did it for me

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : February 22nd, 2011-02:01
...  

+1, BP takes design and finish to perfection! (nt) [nt]

 
 By: Vintage2010 : February 22nd, 2011-13:36
No message body

several came to mind .....

 
 By: W72 : February 22nd, 2011-03:33
.. over different periods of my watch buying journey. My contribution to this tread on "Time Only" watch ... maybe with an exception with a little date window in one of them. A Glashutte Original - Meissen Vacheron Constatin - Heure Sautante JLCs and PPs....  

Two candidates

 
 By: Gary G : February 22nd, 2011-07:20
I agree with the folks who have nominated the JLC MUT -- it's one of my very favorites, and I love wearing it -- very pure expression of simple and clean design, and tough to pull off a movement that thin! At the end of the day, though, for me it's this o...  

That's simply awesome...

 
 By: sklim8 : February 22nd, 2011-08:28
You are a lucky man sir!

Thank you to everyone who has contributed........

 
 By: Topcat30093 : February 22nd, 2011-09:33
There are some superb pieces here. And my favourite would have to be for the Philippe Dufour.

Didn't We Forget About This? Debate Over....

 
 By: db darien : February 22nd, 2011-11:41
Didn't we forget about this? (photo not mine...I can't possibly afford this piece of absolute perfection....)...  

"time-only" ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : February 22nd, 2011-13:04
is without Tourbillon or something like this, isn´t it? If not, I could imagine a Minute Repeater as well ... My point of view: No additional complications, when "time-only"....  

If this can count.....

 
 By: MiniCooper : February 22nd, 2011-13:28
Then the perfect answer.... Cheers

my contribution...

 
 By: ocwatching : February 22nd, 2011-12:26
...  

I thought we had to speak about a watch which doesn't exist, yet.

 
 By: amanico : February 22nd, 2011-13:41
Now, if can can speak about modern or Vintage watches, I'm surprsied nobody mentionned this beauty ... Best, Nicolas....  

Chiming in with contrarian view

 
 By: Nomer : February 22nd, 2011-15:01
Ahh...so little time to post and so far behind on interesting threads! Nonetheless: My simple (boring) answer is that the Milgauss is a wonderful time only watch. But so are the various ranges of Calatravas and the various time only watches shown on this ... 

my favorite

 
 By: eterna-fan : February 22nd, 2011-16:36
...  

I'm sure this is the correct answer

 
 By: Mostel : February 22nd, 2011-19:24
(PHOTO: SCHEN--one of my fave pics BTW)...  

Cannot not join this fantastic thread...

 
 By: EdwardL : February 23rd, 2011-07:34
My favourite. The VC ultra thin....  

Not mine - but I wish it was

 
 By: colinwillsher : February 23rd, 2011-08:00
Pretty rare I guess and certainly expensive, but for sheer elegance, especially on a strap, I nominate the Urban Jurgensen Reference 5. colinwillsher...  

Hey guys....how can you left me out?

 
 By: BHK9 : February 24th, 2011-07:46
Hi guys, There are no other time piece in the market that tell me with a UNIQUE way of its own, Guys,nonetheless , THE URWERK MEXICAN LEG, Would you agree with me?? BHK9...  

As a time-only watch lover

 
 By: sebks1 : February 24th, 2011-08:30
Here is my own selection: # 1) Breguet La Tradition, taking its roots in 2 centuries old watchmaking traditions but also very modern in some aspects. Perfect with a suit, great with casual wear, and not so expensive compared to its pair #2) Roger Dubuis M...  

Grand Seiko and JLC

 
 By: wisemoth : February 24th, 2011-11:01
Alas no pictures as I'm travelling! Grand Seiko SBGW001 - the dial colour is incredible (very subtle cream) Grand Seiko SBGR037 - the blued hands and embossed dial are beautiful JLC MUT - need I say more?!