Which holy trinity brand has the best, least expensive mechanical mens watch?

Don't like any of them tbh, but the VC is least offensive 😅

You can get a VC for $14k? Huh.

That'd be my pick.

https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/ww/de/collections/fiftysix/4600e-000a-b487.html

12,700 CHF. That would be around $14K

The idea of the holy trinity of watch brands is most unfortunate and misleading.

The VC is nice but the movement on the time only 56 is not quite as nice as in the rest of their lineup. Additionally, that tiny date window is poorly placed, a compromise required by the movement that I don’t think works at this price point. The Patek is just plain boring to me, but the AP has a unique case construction that is only beginning to be appreciated, imo.

It is refreshing to see some people appreciating the 11.59...

Least expensive?

But they are still expensive. 😂

I wasn't calling into question your information. I just thought that was a "reasonable" price for a VC and was surprised. 👍

VC … love the dial

I wasn't thinking that, but I just wanted to give you the chance to be as amazed as me...

I was! Makes ya think...

Aquanaut is ugly 🤷

We need a new holy trinity 😅

QFT

One of the few fun things I remember from Teddy Baldassare is his then girlfriend saying the Aquanaut looked like a hand grenade.

But isn’t the VC houses with a JLC movement?

At retail I’d get the aquanaut. Then sell it for a fortune and get something nice instead

I saw an article that suggested a new holy trinity for us mortals: Tudor, Grand Seiko and Nomos.

I think it’s a good opportunity for WatchCrunch to hold a competition to select a new holy trinity. What say @Max ?

Having seen all three in person, either the VC or Patek…pictures do no justice to the VC

It’s hard to say. I think for the money for any of these 3 you can get quite an amazing watch from the other great watch brands. Hard to shell out $15-25K for a time only stainless steel watch when there are SO many options available.

I have the VC with the silver dial - love it, but the movement is not even close to the Overseas. Same movement as the Cartier Santos of course better finished, but still. I "only" paid 9k USD for it. At that price it's a fantastic watch.

I used to hate the Aquanaut, but I'm warming to, especially after I got to try the travel time version. But you can't get it list anyway, so never mind....

JLC, Cartier, and others probably are using this movement. Much better finish than them though.

Vacheron is the clear winner. AP has turned into such a tacky brand in my opinion.

Oh man. If I could get any of these at retail, I’d jump on it.

But if I could just get one, I’d get the Aquanaut. It’s my favorite of the 3 and holds the most value

Aquanaut, Code then 56. Although not sure you could go wrong with any one of them.

Id take the Code. The code has it own character and a cool case/lugs. I wisg the dial were engraved, not stamped.

The Aquanaut is tempting at retail, but looks like a partially digested Nautilus (without the innovative case), and the Nautilus looks like a partially digested Royal Oak.

The VC is Ok at the price, but not super special. I think the Rolex 1908 or JLC Master/Polaris/Memovox may be good alternatives at this range. Even the Reverso Duoface

VC is top of the trinity IMO.

VC, I'm not a fan of the other 2

I would go with the Fiftysix self winding. Although it uses the 1326 movement which is the same as Cartier, you still get the Vacheron finishing. And the blue dial is gorgeous, even better than the blue dial on an overseas in my opinion. I really like it’s case design as well. You get this Maltese cross shape in between the lugs which I think it’s pretty cool.

Second choice would be AP 11.59. I love that the design is distinct from RO although you still get this hidden Octagonal case shape on the side, which is pretty cool. I also like its domed sapphire crystal which is very unique. The watch is still expensive even for a pre owned.

Not a big fan of Patek Aquanaut and Nautilus so I wouldn’t get it no matter what.

Aquanaut will be a classic forever, the other two less so. But Aquanaut isn't really available so kinda academic for most of us.

I like 56 but in reality when I tried it on I wasn't super impressed, including that it was thicker than I'd want. But I loved the 38mm manual wind rose gold VC Traditionelle in real life and on my wrist, it became a grail watch for me though I can't afford one now.