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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2016
Real Name: Daniel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Watch: my signature
Posts: 2,684
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Which stainless-steel dress watch would you buy? VC vs JLC
Dear TRF,
Currently, I have a Rolex Submariner(116610LV) and a Rolex GMT-Master II(126710BLNR) in my staple. Both of which are sports watch so I am looking for a daily dress watch(desk diver) in stainless steel to wear to the office from Mon-Fri; by the way, I wear a suit to work everyday. Which of the following would you choose? 1) Vacheron Constantin Fifty-Six self-winding: ![]() 2) Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Date: ![]() |
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#2 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Real Name: Mike
Location: CT
Posts: 9,056
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of those i prefer the JLC, but would also suggest you consider a reverso
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#3 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 161
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Vc
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#4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Europe
Posts: 242
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I own and love a previous version of the JLC Ultra thin (145.8.79), but my vote would go to the VC as is truly a beauty IMHO.
I was very close to getting the fifty-six annual calendar a while ago, but then an Overseas DT came in the way, but I'm still having an itch for the series. That said, have you considered the day-date version? They can be had pre-owned for not that much of a premium vs. the base model's list price, and you'd get some very pretty complications on top. |
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#5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Real Name: Eaton B.
Location: California
Watch: n+1
Posts: 134
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I had the same dilemma, and had decision paralysis. Then I found a good deal on a like-new JLC, and went on with life, very happy with my decision.
However, a couple months later, I unexpectedly stumbled upon a really good deal for a VC, which I didn’t have the will power or impulse control to pass up. If I were forced to keep just one, it would be the VC, but by the slimmest of margins. To me, it’s the best Sporty Dress watch out there for this price range and level of horology. ![]() |
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#6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Real Name: Ed
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 371
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Of those two, I would pick the VC.
The Fiftysix line is one of those watches that you have to handle to appreciate all the details. The case shape is more unique and has more complexity than the old school JLC, and the finishing of the dial is more striking when you see it in person. I am of course biased since I have the Fiftysix Complete Calendar. @misochew very nice pair! Thanks for sharing.
__________________
Vacheron Constantin | Patek Philippe | Rolex | Tudor | Girard-Perregaux | Ming | Baume & Mercier | Dietrich |
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#7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Real Name: BMF
Location: California USA
Watch: FPJ UTC
Posts: 2,260
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I'd go with the FiftySix here although the JLC is very nice. If you haven't tried the VC it's better on the wrist than in photos.
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#8 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Real Name: Eaton B.
Location: California
Watch: n+1
Posts: 134
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Quote:
Go to the effort of going to dealer(s) to put both on your wrist. More often than not, your heart will tell you which to choose. |
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#9 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Europe
Posts: 663
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VC but not this model. Get the day-date or the complete calendar. You will get a Geneva Seal watch and an in-house movement. The time and date was a mistake that VC should rectify asap. Harsh? Yes, but that’s how I feel. Leave using outsourced cheap movements to AP please.
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#10 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2016
Real Name: Daniel
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Watch: my signature
Posts: 2,684
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Quote:
Honestly, I would save a bit more to get the Traditionnelle date-only self-winding instead of the day-date version of the Fifty-Six... |
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#11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,370
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By looks alone I prefer the VC. The JLC looks like an "inflated" (neo-) vintage watch and I much prefer a 3 o'clock date. Then there is the VC movement...
I'd rather have the small manual JLC ultra thin 145.8.79 mentioned by another poster, an all time JLC great. I'd also prefer a 1990s IWC Portugieser 3531 (or 5441 depending on size). Budget permitting I consider the new Chopard LUC 1860 and some vintage Patek including 3466 for a steel dress watch. |
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#12 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 46,630
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The VC of these two choices. I would not buy either though as there are some other models that are more interesting. I would also look at these models and others pre-owned. Some great value in the pre-owned market for both brands now. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
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#13 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Real Name: Travis
Location: FL / NYC
Watch: Yes..
Posts: 33,037
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The JLC. Prefer the cleaner dial layout.
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#14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Zeus
Location: London
Watch: Ocean 2000
Posts: 1,013
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VC gets my vote
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__________________
Lange (ref. Saxonia Thin RG); Vacheron C. (ref. 3110v); Ressence (ref. Type 8); Rolex Explorer (ref. 124270); Rolex Sub (ref. 126610LV); Porsche Design IWC (ref. Ocean 2000); Seiko (ref. SLA039) |
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#15 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Aus
Posts: 421
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The 56 wears very comfortably, but I find it’s a more a casual/sporty piece than a dress watch when compared to the JLC.
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#16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 2,176
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Between the two, I aesthetically prefer the JLC, but if the VC didn't have the 3 o'clock date, I'd opt for it without question. However, given that there is an approximately 30% MSRP price difference for the VC, I'd go for the VC, as it's a higher quality watch with some hand-finishing on the movement, even if it's not a VC movement and lacks the Geneva Seal. I'd like to recommend the VC FiftySix day-date or triple calendar or especially the Historiques 1942, but they're double the price, which puts them at another price level.
That written, if I wanted a steel dress watch and was looking into the $10k-ish range, I'd probably go for the JLC Reverso Duoface, as there's nothing like it and you wouldn't have to make apologies to anyone, as no one else makes the Reverso. |
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#17 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: USA
Watch: N/A
Posts: 470
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Quote:
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#18 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 30
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how about the ex-entry level VC quai de lile with a cal.5100 & Geneva Seal
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#19 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Tony
Location: Orchard Park, NY
Watch: Idiot Savant
Posts: 3,332
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BTW, that particular JLC seems to be discontinued. It's not in the catalog, so it may take some searching across the AD network to see if there are any around.
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#20 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 222
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I would choose the VC with the blue dial. If I had to go JLC I would go with the master control date as it has the date at the 3:00 position, which I prefer.
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#21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: USA
Watch: Good ones
Posts: 8,349
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Agreed.
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#22 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Canada
Posts: 283
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Neither. I'd go for either a Reverso or a VC Triple Calendrier
__________________
IWC: PRT Minute Repeater, Pilot 36, Pallweber, Vintage Pilot Tribute, Ingenieur Patek: 5098P, 5738R, 5120G, 5172G, 6119R JLC: Reverso, Duomètre, Polaris Memovox, MUTM Enamel AP: 15202ST Lange: Lange 1, Copper Blue, Richard Lange, 1815 Up/Down Rolex: 116000, 116520, 126655, 124060, 116505, 228238 Panerai: Luminor 676 Omega: Aqua Terra, SM 300, Museum N°10, 321 EW, CK 859 Cartier: Santos M, Tank LC VC: Cornes De Vache, Triple Calendrier, 222, 4300V/120R FPJ: CS LF: Classic Micro Rotor |
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#23 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: Croatia
Posts: 279
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If JLC, I would go with Reverso as the others suggested, the Tribute series is awesome.
If VC 56 I would look into day date version as it's different than other day dates and you get the complete Geneva seal package unlike the time only version. |
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