Which brand in this tier of luxury watches provide timepieces worth buying?

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by ts3

Romain Gauthier comes to my mind... looking at that list.

Yeah. Can’t go wrong there either.


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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by ts3

Romain Gauthier comes to my mind... looking at that list.

Shhhhhh, the first Rule of Romain Gauthier Club is that you don't talk about about.....

[kunlun]

Big Spender, you might try asking Too Flashy.

He made posts just like yours, asking questions just like yours.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

This is the best list so far. Perhaps throw in De Bethune as well.

Voutilainen
Rexhep Rexhepi
Simon Brett
Xhevdet

But I start to feel that this thread may be a troll bait...

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by llngoc

Voutilainen
Rexhep Rexhepi
Simon Brett
Xhevdet

But I start to feel that this thread may be a troll bait...

3 virtually unattainables and one brother lol

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by GB-man

3 virtually unattainables and one brother lol

The brother is not bad at all and I am going to try my luck

Voutilainen is obtainable as long as you live long enough

[enjoythemusic]

RW Smith deserves a mention :)

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

RW Smith deserves a mention :)

And we forgot Daniel and Dufour

[enjoythemusic]

and David Candaux, and....

[SoylentGreenChi]

Krayon.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

Krayon.

In fact, too many superb brands to count

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by llngoc

The brother is not bad at all and I am going to try my luck

Voutilainen is obtainable as long as you live long enough

Your luck and metabolic health better than mine lol

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Your luck and metabolic health better than mine lol

Read my post on how my 2024 Voutilainen becomes a 2026. And tbh, I count myself very lucky if it stays 2026. I think if I get it before 2028, I will count myself as very lucky. My AD just received one ordered back from 2020. That was before the whole waitlist thing.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by llngoc

Read my post on how my 2024 Voutilainen becomes a 2026. And tbh, I count myself very lucky if it stays 2026. I think if I get it before 2028, I will count myself as very lucky. My AD just received one ordered back from 2020. That was before the whole waitlist thing.

I put the deposit down for my Voutilainen last month and I am prepared to wait a long, long, long time. I wish it would be sooner but it’s one of my grails and something to look forward to.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

I put the deposit down for my Voutilainen last month and I am prepared to wait a long, long, long time. I wish it would be sooner but it’s one of my grails and something to look forward to.

Early congrats! Which one did you order and what configs?

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Early congrats! Which one did you order and what configs?

Thanks! I went with the Vingt-8. I don’t have a final design yet which I’m sure will delay things quite a bit. I’m waiting on a mock up of a Tantalum case with a purple dial, three Guilloche patterns and Roman numerals with alternating hash marks. If it isn’t to my liking then I’m gonna go with a design I’ve seen before of a rose gold case with chocolate dial. I know it’s kind of crazy to consider something that’s already been done but at the end of the day I just want to love this watch and I’ll be the one whose wearing it. So yea it’s kind of up in the air at the moment.

I’ll definitely provide an update when it’s finalized.

All I know is I’m so excited for this watch and the wait will be worth it.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

Thanks! I went with the Vingt-8. I don’t have a final design yet which I’m sure will delay things quite a bit. I’m waiting on a mock up of a Tantalum case with a purple dial, three Guilloche patterns and Roman numerals with alternating hash marks. If it isn’t to my liking then I’m gonna go with a design I’ve seen before of a rose gold case with chocolate dial. I know it’s kind of crazy to consider something that’s already been done but at the end of the day I just want to love this watch and I’ll be the one whose wearing it. So yea it’s kind of up in the air at the moment.

I’ll definitely provide an update when it’s finalized.

All I know is I’m so excited for this watch and the wait will be worth it.

I can understand why you are considering a design that has been done before, because I did exactly the same with my 2nd Vingt-8. I sent a photo I saw at an auction and asked Kari to do the same. He agreed, I paid 20% deposit and then the wait begins

Rose gold with brown dial - is below pic the one? Grabbed the image from Swiss Watch Gang. Great choice by the way in the event the Tantalum and purple combi doesn't work for you.
IMG_20231013_121914_(1080_x_800_pixel).jpg

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

I can understand why you are considering a design that has been done before, because I did exactly the same with my 2nd Vingt-8. I sent a photo I saw at an auction and asked Kari to do the same. He agreed, I paid 20% deposit and then the wait begins

Rose gold with brown dial - is below pic the one? Grabbed the image from Swiss Watch Gang. Great choice by the way in the event the Tantalum and purple combi doesn't work for you.
Attachment 1396463

Lol yea that’s it! That’s the one that made me fall in love with the brand.

Purple is my favorite color and I really dig the idea of having a Tantalum watch but I’m not sure I can get the purple to be exactly how I want. If I’m still uncertain after I see the mock up then I’m going with the Rose Gold/Brown dial and will get a different purple watch down the line. I almost got the Ultraviolet Urwerk but I don’t like the sand blasted DLC coated titanium.

I wish I could do both lol.

I appreciate the input. I know some people have strong feelings about getting something done before with a bespoke brand but sometimes you just like what you like and there’s nothing wrong with that.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

Thanks! I went with the Vingt-8. I don’t have a final design yet which I’m sure will delay things quite a bit. I’m waiting on a mock up of a Tantalum case with a purple dial, three Guilloche patterns and Roman numerals with alternating hash marks. If it isn’t to my liking then I’m gonna go with a design I’ve seen before of a rose gold case with chocolate dial. I know it’s kind of crazy to consider something that’s already been done but at the end of the day I just want to love this watch and I’ll be the one whose wearing it. So yea it’s kind of up in the air at the moment.

I’ll definitely provide an update when it’s finalized.

All I know is I’m so excited for this watch and the wait will be worth it.

Same here with tantalum. But went with blue dials. Also anxiously hoping for an Inverse which should have happened but now it looks like 2025 at the earliest.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

I can understand why you are considering a design that has been done before, because I did exactly the same with my 2nd Vingt-8. I sent a photo I saw at an auction and asked Kari to do the same. He agreed, I paid 20% deposit and then the wait begins

Rose gold with brown dial - is below pic the one? Grabbed the image from Swiss Watch Gang. Great choice by the way in the event the Tantalum and purple combi doesn't work for you.
Attachment 1396463

Going with a photo takes so much stress off.

ETA? 2028+?

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by llngoc

Going with a photo takes so much stress off.

ETA? 2028+?

The 2nd Vingt-8 is 2028.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

The 2nd Vingt-8 is 2028.

Congrats. Let's hope Kari can keep his schedule. The last delivery from my AD to another client was troubling but that watch is with an Onyx dial so it is probably delayed by the dial choice. (I hope)

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by llngoc

Same here with tantalum. But went with blue dials. Also anxiously hoping for an Inverse which should have happened but now it looks like 2025 at the earliest.

You’re getting an Inverse? Damn I’m so jealous.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

You’re getting an Inverse? Damn I’m so jealous.

Hoping with all ten fingers crossed. It’s been delayed multiple times so I can only hope now.

[sski]

i find it truly ironic that the finest of Swiss watchmaking experience so many delays.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by sski

i find it truly ironic that the finest of Swiss watchmaking experience so many delays.

Kari Voutilainen is a watchmaker not a project guy. Many independent watchmakers are smaller set-up and sometimes they also face staff turnover challenges. I'm certain they also want to manufacture their watches as planned so that they can manage their cash flows better.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Kari Voutilainen is a watchmaker not a project guy. Many independent watchmakers are smaller set-up and sometimes they also have staff turnover challenges. I'm certain they also want to manufacture their watches as planned so that they can manage their cash flows better.

I am in the “when it shows up, it shows up” school of thought with all my outstanding orders now. I am happy with what I have and it should keep me happy for a while. Anything is just icing on the cake.

My AD told me a lot of the independents are suffering from supply chain delays. The only one who’s doing well is FPJ since it is very vertically integrated. I have a MB&F on order and he cannot even give a date other than maybe 2024.

[GS719691]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Very nice. What strap is that?

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by llngoc

I am in the “when it shows up, it shows up” school of thought with all my outstanding orders now. I am happy with what I have and it should keep me happy for a while. Anything is just icing on the cake.

My AD told me a lot of the independents are suffering from supply chain delays. The only one who’s doing well is FPJ since it is very vertically integrated. I have a MB&F on order and he cannot even give a date other than maybe 2024.

Other than Journe, a number of them are more than 95% in-house, like Voutilainen, Roger Smith, Greubel Forsey, Akrivia, Bexei, etc. These watchmakers spend a lot of time doing hand-finishing /hand-making which take up a lot of the manufacturing time. Journe doesn't do much hand-finishing though, and he stamps all his dials, so he is probably the most efficient of the bunch.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by sski

i find it truly ironic that the finest of Swiss watchmaking experience so many delays.

I can only speak for myself but I knew going in that my Voutilainen would be at least 5 years and could possibly be delayed even further. I wish I could get it right now but I’m OK waiting. It’s nice to see these independents have so much success. It also gives me the time to maybe decide on another purchase between now and then.