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Jaeger LeCoultre. It’s not specifically their watches/designs, but their business practices with price increases as of last year. I’ve owned 2 Reversos and a Polaris Mariner Date and yet those three along with the rest of their lineup blew up retail price wise in less than 2 years. There were no movement and case finishing upgrades, they just went up in retail prices. They used be a nice underrated brand to me at least and now they’re getting too pompous with these price increases.
I’m about to pick up my IWC Ingenieur tomorrow. I’m hoping to reach this type of satisfaction once I get it on my wrist. I told myself this will be the last for a long while as I already experienced most brands I was interested in - Rolex, VC, Cartier, JLC, Tudor, and now finally my first IWC.
Have you been able to try on a VC Overseas on your wrist? I was offered a silver dial version in my AD, but I was looking for a black/blue dial version of the same watch. Unfortunately, as I put on the watch on my 6.5in wrist, my search for it kind of ended. The integrated lugs wear pretty big for its size and the fit was off.
Maybe trying it on in person would help remove it from your aspiration list. I did recently got allocated a polar Explorer II and even with 6.5in wrist, it fit really well compared to the VC Overseas’ integrated bracelet.
For your budget range however, I think a Longines Master Collection 190TH Anniversy fits really well.
I have the JLC Tribute Duoface and the Polaris Mariner Date. I used to have the Reverso Medium Small Seconds, but sold it when I got my Duoface. The Tribute hour markers really is worth seeing in person in that it shines in so many angles. The Polaris Mariner‘s dial is also unique in that there are multiple sectors.
I really like what they offer and have become my favorite brand even though I have Tudor, Rolex, Cartier, and Vacheron in my collection. I live in NYC and you can easily spot Tudors, Rolex, Patek, and Cartier around Manhattan. They’re great watches, but sometimes you just want something different especially in a sea of Submariners in the city (pun intended). I have yet to see anyone in the city with a Reverso or much rather a Polaris.
My only gripe with JLC is that they have been a little crazy with their price increases within less than a year and a half. You used to be able to get a Monoface medium Reverso small seconds for $6500 USD, but now that model is either close or is $9k now. No improvements just massive price hikes.
Val Kilmer also used a JLC Reverso in Batman Forever. The steel caseback was used as a video screen as a futuristic communicator before Apple Watches 😄
The IWC Pilot Chronograph Blue dial 41mm. I‘m not a fan of chronographs and this was the first chronograph that really caught my attention- firstly I’m a sucker for blue and the small arrow hands reminds me of fighter planes in a dogfight (very strange, but that’s how I see the sub dials when you activate the pushers).
After constantly raving about this watch, I finally put it on and that boy is thick (like most chronographs) and the lugs protrude so much over the width of my wrists. Still like the design, but look terrible on my wrist.