Who did it better?

Me personally? Not a huge fan of the case shape, dial color and hands used on Laurent Ferrier. I do like the font Glashütte used for the numbers but I’m not really a rose gold kinda guy. I’d go for the Rolex. Just visually, it appeals to me the most.

All of these are derivative of much older models from other brands. It is not a matter of copying really. The Sixties Small Seconds takes a font that was ubiquitous in the early 60's. I like that look best.

I think this is a pretty easy one...Patek did it better...

Rolex took out the photocopy machine again...the greatest homage watchmaker has produced another homage watch...this time they are homaging the Patek Calatrava...

Can’t believe I’m saying this; but the Rolex.

^This. And Patek did it best, IMHO.

That Calatrava is a beaut for sure! I was more specifically referring to dress watches configuring of a 6 o’clock small seconds and numbered 3,9,12 indices. But like @Aurelian said, they’re all derivative of models past. I just wondered who was the first with that exact layout.

Good question...I will see what I can dig up from my horological library.

I will bet that it is just a later version of the Calatrava.

I’ll admit that I didn’t really research it myself. I’m not much of a dress watch guy, however I do find these interesting. I’m looking forward to see what you dig up!

A side note:

The Laurent Ferrier X Revolution Classic Micro-Rotor Amazonia went right for the throat, taking the title of longest name from the Nivada Grenchen Chonomaster Aviator Sea Diver.

Closest I can find from Rolex is this one from 1929...

I'll keep looking for Patek, VC and others...

Here is the earliest I found, so far, from VC...from 1935...

Actually, I realized, as I've been looking these watches up, a watch I recently purchased from VC from 1951, falls into this category...it would probably be the one I would select over any of the above...(wrist shot to come when it arrives from Europe)

I could not resist this one since it is 38mm...huge for 1951...18k gold...and those spider lugs are luscious...

Fits the 3, 9, 12 criteria with small seconds at the 6

It sure does fit the criteria! Very nice VC. Definitely post some pictures when it comes in. Yeah, 38mm was fairly big in those days. I have a Waltham A-11 that comes in at a diminutive 30mm. Common enough size at the time.

Thank you for your time and research into the history of this layout. So far, the Rolex you’ve found is the earliest example, from 1929? Funny enough, that predates the one Rolex lists on their own site as the inspiration for the newer 1908 Perpetual by a few years, which is from 1931.

This must be the one Rolex references on their website:

GO is class. Nothing else to say.

I am not sure but just a hunch. I think it might be a HOMAGE/INSPIRATION based on the Patek Phillipe or the A.Lange & Sohne Saxonia automatic 😃

Imma vote for A.LANGE & SOHNE SAXONIA 🔥.. its so good that Jason Momoa wore it in the recent FAST X (2023) movie 😆(* i dont mean to promote but i love it sm that i wrote is as my blog 🤩)

Jason and the saxonia

A zoomed ver

Sorry if its blurry 😅

It was definitely a tough choice between the GO and the Rolex, but I gave the nod to the GO because of the font and the color. The Rolex would have won if it was gold, but then it would have cost 10x the GO.

Well, the one I have pictured in the poll is white gold. However, they also make it in yellow gold.

But I understand the dilemma. The Glashütte is beautiful.

I forgot the Rolex is only available in gold. I much prefer this one in yellow though I'll never never need a gold watch, so I'll still take the GO. The Laurent Ferrier is nice too, but I'm picky about my small seconds, they have to be sized and placed just right. The LF small seconds seems to big and down to low. Just a personal thing.

Glashutte all day long everyday.