What is the “king-watch” of every non-Rolex brand?

[Djoker48]

Apologies for the cheesy title. Every brand has a “king” watch. I define this as their flagship that comes at the end of one’s watch collecting journey with their brand. For Rolex, it’s the Panda Daytona. For Omega, it’s either the Ed White or Snoopy. For Audemars Piguet, it’s the SS jumbo.

Now technically, there’s no end in sight and one can always go beyond i.e someone that has a regular Jumbo, can also get a Ceramic Openworked. But for the vast majority, the Jumbo is the aspirational watch for the brands. What is this “aspirational/special watch” for other brands?

I’ll take a stab:

Breitling: The New 2022 LE Cosmonaute Navitimer
IWC: Perhaps the Mojave Desert 41 Pilot
Vacheron: Blue Dial Overseas 4520
Moser: The new blue enamel small seconds Streamliner or the Salmon center seconds Streamliner
Zenith: The Chronomaster Manufacture Edition

Any other brands?

[enjoythemusic]

MB&F Legacy Machine Sequential Evo 09.ZR.OR

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[njlam]

Great topic.

Given how hard Rolexes are to get at MSRP, I have been feeding my addictions buying the "best representative" of each of the major brands. Here are my thoughts (*not yet owned):

Cartier: Tank Louis
Patek: 5270 Grand Complication* (I am not a Nautilus or Aquanaut fan)
Omega: 321 or 3861 Speedmaster Moonwatch
JLC: Reverso Duo
Zenith Chronomaster Triple Calendar Moonphase
Panerai: Nothing in their current catalog...233
Grand Seiko: Skyflake (SBGY 407)
Breitling: Navitimer*/Premier*
Tag/Heuer: Carrera Glassbox*
A Lange/Sohne: Datagraph Perpetual*

For me, the Rolex best representatives are the Batman and the DayDate.

[salnuaimi]

Originally Posted by njlam

Great topic.

Given how hard Rolexes are to get at MSRP, I have been feeding my addictions buying the "best representative" of each of the major brands. Here are my thoughts (*not yet owned):

Cartier: Tank Louis
Patek: 5270 Grand Complication* (I am not a Nautilus or Aquanaut fan)
Omega: 321 or 3861 Speedmaster Moonwatch
JLC: Reverso Duo
Zenith Chronomaster Triple Calendar Moonphase
Panerai: Nothing in their current catalog...233
Grand Seiko: Skyflake (SBGY 407)
Breitling: Navitimer*/Premier*
Tag/Heuer: Carrera Glassbox*
A Lange/Sohne: Datagraph Perpetual*

For me, the Rolex best representatives are the Batman and the DayDate.

Zenith triple calendwr imo is one the worst recent releases


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[FL2024]

Originally Posted by njlam

Great topic.

Given how hard Rolexes are to get at MSRP, I have been feeding my addictions buying the "best representative" of each of the major brands. Here are my thoughts (*not yet owned):

Cartier: Tank Louis
Patek: 5270 Grand Complication* (I am not a Nautilus or Aquanaut fan)
Omega: 321 or 3861 Speedmaster Moonwatch
JLC: Reverso Duo
Zenith Chronomaster Triple Calendar Moonphase
Panerai: Nothing in their current catalog...233
Grand Seiko: Skyflake (SBGY 407)
Breitling: Navitimer*/Premier*
Tag/Heuer: Carrera Glassbox*
A Lange/Sohne: Datagraph Perpetual*

For me, the Rolex best representatives are the Batman and the DayDate.

Cartier is def the Santos

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

MB&F Legacy Machine Sequential Evo 09.ZR.OR

Attachment 1445650

Attachment 1445651

I think the LM Perpetual is a tie with the Sequentai.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by llngoc

I think the LM Perpetual is a tie with the Sequentai.

Will most definitely give you that. Mmmmaybe, since MB&F is sooooo epic... we'll call it a tie ???

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Will most definitely give you that. Mmmmaybe, since MB&F is sooooo epic... we'll call it a tie ???

[Ichiran]

Akrivia AK-03 Tourbillon Chiming Jump-Hour & Petermann Bedat 2941.

[njlam]

The two that I have are from 2001, just before the LVMH acquisition. I challenge you to find a better el primaro chrono for the price.

I agree the current versions have no soul.


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[77T]

Apple's 44mm Ultra II Cellular.
Yes, there - I said it!


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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by 77T

Apple's 44mm Ultra II Cellular.
Yes, there - I said it!

[77T]

The Warlock!



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[Guppydriver]

Cartier Crash!

[GB-man]

Journe doesn’t really have a clear answer. I’d say the Astro is their best. Others would argue it’s the FFC. Still others would say the resonance is the icon while then you’ll get arguments that the optimum is FP’s favorite and equally horologically worthy! Meanwhile this whole time we forgot to mention the Tourb which is his first creation and has a leg to stand on.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Journe doesn’t really have a clear answer. I’d say the Astro is their best. Others would argue it’s the FFC. Still others would say the resonance is the icon while then you’ll get arguments that the optimum is FP’s favorite and equally horologically worthy! Meanwhile this whole time we forgot to mention the Tourb which is his first creation and has a leg to stand on.

That's why we want them all.

[dakkonmc]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Journe doesn’t really have a clear answer. I’d say the Astro is their best. Others would argue it’s the FFC. Still others would say the resonance is the icon while then you’ll get arguments that the optimum is FP’s favorite and equally horologically worthy! Meanwhile this whole time we forgot to mention the Tourb which is his first creation and has a leg to stand on.

Agreed. Had the privilege with some hands-on experience with FFC and AST. As impressive as FFC is. AST is in a higher tier and it is breathtaking. It would definitely be my favorite out of the two.

I would love to own a 42 CO in Platinum in the future.

[rolexpatek363]

The Astronomic's the only one with the price on the dial.

[ChetBaker]

All true but if there’s one watch that’s come to represent fpj as a brand it’s the cb

[Guppydriver]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

All true but if there’s one watch that’s come to represent fpj as a brand it’s the cb

Completely agree, it's the Alpha.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by Guppydriver

Completely agree, it's the Alpha.

I would like to disagree here. CB is the simplest watch with the least Journe DNA in terms of both aesthetics or movement innovation. It is kind of like saying that the Aquanaut is the one watch representing PP and ignoring all the grand complications.

[GB-man]

The CB is clearly not the alpha. Love that watch but it was designed as an entry level piece to bring in young collectors. The 5811 isn't the alpha patek either.

[ChetBaker]

Originally Posted by GB-man

The CB is clearly not the alpha. Love that watch but it was designed as an entry level piece to bring in young collectors. The 5811 isn't the alpha patek either.

I don’t disagree but then we need to rephrase the question. The TS used an entry-level blue dial Overseas and the Jumbo as examples for VC and AP. The CB fits that profile perfectly for FPJ as it embodies the brand best in the minds of a broad category of collectors. The examples given here for FPJ are more in the vein of money no object, non plus ultra grail pieces. So let’s first define what it is we’re talking about here.

[dakkonmc]

ALS - I think it's a 3 way tie of Lange 1, Dato or Zeitwerk

FPJ - I think it's CO or Resonance

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by dakkonmc

ALS - I think it's a 3 way tie of Lange 1, Dato or Zeitwerk

FPJ - I think it's CO or Resonance

CO is the cerebral choice and RQ appeals to your heart

[dakkonmc]

I want to add one more.

H moser - Streamliner is very cool, but it should be the Apple watch


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[Djoker48]

Thanks for the thoughts. Adding a few additional ones:

Lange: Lange 1. Datograph very close second
Parmigiani: Tonda PF Microrotor
Blancpain: Fifty Fathoms Milspec in 40
Omega: 321 Gene Cernan
IWC: Pilot Mojave Desert
Cartier: Cartier Crash
Panerai: 233
Patek: 5270p
JLC: Reverso Chronograph
Christopher Ward: The Twelve X
De Bethune: Starry Varius
Nomos: Zurich Weltzeit
Seiko: SJE093
Tudor: The new Pink Chronograph

[Mac-Apple]

Each brand has its own "king-watch" that captures the essence and highest aspirations of its collectors. What do others think? Any additional brands or models to add?

[Bazil]

Mission to Saturn ..
Moon Swatch ..

[nickorette]

Rolex: President/Daytona
Omega: 321/Snoopy
AP: 16202
Patek: Nautilus
VC: Overseas/222
FPJ: Chronometre Resonance
Cartier: Crash
Lange: Datograph/Anything Lumen