Day Date 40 or JLC Duomètre Quantième Lunaire

[Sam3641]

Day date all the way!
JLC looks great but the maintenance, care, fragility etc etc of such a complicated watch turns me off .. PP/ALS included!


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[abozz]

I´m a Rolex fan, then I will go for the DD40 BUT the right choice is JLC in this case, we talk about hight horology (JLC) vs standard horology (Rolex).

[Vaxe]

I was in a similar decision (for RG DD40) and picked the Duometre. More bang for your buck and that foudroyante second is fun to look at. German silver movement too.

[Banks]

Originally Posted by Vaxe

I was in a similar decision (for RG DD40) and picked the Duometre. More bang for your buck and that foudroyante second is fun to look at. German silver movement too.

Beautiful! How do you find the legibility on a day to day basis and does the foudroyante seconds ever become distracting? Thanks

[Mitch105]

These are very different watches. Very hard to make a purely objective "this one or that one" opinion.
That said, for me when considering a watch like the JLC my heart goes to something from A Lange and Son. JLC is great for the reverso and a bunch of "Master" collection watches. But this watch screams ALS. And ALS is more successful aesthetically and quality imo. I'd rather have an ALS regardless of price.

Now the DD40 stands alone among men. It is the quintessential cosmopolitan and bullet proof luxury watch of choice. Nothing could be safer to buy, and the ownership experience will be second to none. It is a joy in any configuration.
My vote is thus the DD40.

[Vaxe]

It’s great since the time is on the right side, so it’s perfect under cuff sleeves. 1 quick glance is enough, never had issues reading time. Like the Lange 1, the 3 subdials form a triangle that I think is quite elegant and easy on the eyes.

I think it makes the dial more alive and is a sight with the seconds hand also running. I’ve yet to see one in the wild and there is absolutely ZERO chance anyone would confuse this as a fake. There’s so many DD in my neck of the woods and I can’t say all are real.

Originally Posted by Banks

Beautiful! How do you find the legibility on a day to day basis and does the foudroyante seconds ever become distracting? Thanks

[Wing-Co]

DD robust

[Jmbarrack]

JLC for sure for me.

[Jace]

JLC is an amazing watch in almost any of iterations. Many people, myself included, believe it should be in the holy trinity is well. I wear a platinum day date 40 as my day-to-day watch and if I needed a dress watch there is nothing negative I can say about this brand. But I don’t.

In your circumstance, I would go for JLC.




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[Rilz]

I'm quite smitten by the JLC however i'm a big fan of the DD40 either ways you can never go wrong.

[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by Banks

Hello all.

I am looking to purchase my first gold piece and while quite different watches, I have narrowed it down to the DD40 in rose gold with olive dial or the Jaeger Lecoultre Duomètre Quantième Lunaire.

Retail for both is very similar, with the JLC being slightly more expensive at retail but would get a larger discount if both new and even bigger if I can source a good condition used. The DD is obviously 40mm, with the JLC 40.5mm.

My current collection is BLNR, SubC and DJ41 (blue dial). I think a letter strap complication in gold will sit nicely in my collection and I truly love the craftsmanship and unique movement of the Duomètre Quantième Lunaire but at the same time have had a love for the DD40 olive dial for quite some time.

The JLC is obviously softer in the second hand market and is a more understated watch until you get close and study the dial.

Both are my gold grail watches (along with the JLC 8 Day Perpetual Calendar).

This is a big purchase for me so all opinions are welcome (although I note my opinion is the one that ultimately matters).

Wow that Jaegar looks amazing but I have that DD40 green dial and its a stunnwr. The green changes color depending on how the light hits it and of course the presidential band in my opinion is not only the nicest band of any watxh but also the most xomfoetable to wear. It hugs the wrist and almost looks like a gorgeous bracelet. Plus the Rolex value will keep so i would do with the DD

[asiparks]

Did you get the JLC yet ????

[BlueIn2Red]

Originally Posted by AboutTime

I realized a few years ago that I don't enjoy watches that take a long time to set every time I strap them on. I much prefer simple watches with few complications and/or watches that are designed to be easy to set. The DD40 with its double quickset is so quick and easy to set and so great looking to boot. I'd choose the DD40 and leave the complicated watches to the serious horological fans. I'd even keep your DJ for the days I didn't want to wear the "heavy metal."

The Duometre is actually easier than the DD40 to set - the date is on a separate button press, and the hacking mechanism zeros the seconds hand.

(Ok, there is the moonphase, but does anybody actually bother setting this?!?)

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by wulin

DD40 in rose gold with olive dial

Agree, I have one. I personally find the dial on the JLC very hard to read (maybe wear an iWatch on the other wrist!) and too much going on with information I'm not interested in.

[nicky77]

I would say that despite the price point they are are different watches.

The JLC is Haute Horology whereas the Rolex is Luxury horology.

The Rolex is more robust and easier to read, probably easier to service too.
The JLC is more complicated, and is a nicer watch overall.

At this price point I would skew towards the JLC myself, but if I had this kind of money to spend, it would be on another piece.

[broham84]

There's a misconception that anything JLC puts out is haute horology, the term in itself is pretentious...

Truth be told, put that movement under a loupe and it shows just how sub-par the decorations are, cotes de geneve graining is about on par with what fakes can do these days, the beveling is as crude as it comes. This comes from someone who used to love JLC and owned several throughout the years. These watches aren't accurate, not particularly stable in real life.

Pony up and get PP, ALS, or VC. This JLC is not a good buy.

[myporsche]

I completely disagree and I'm surprised you have owned JLC watches and are saying this. They are finished well , extremely well for the price point. I consider it "value" haute horology and not too far off from much higher priced haute brands. When you say pony up, it's not as easy as it sounds, there is a large price shift from JLC, usually rather weak in the secondary market, to the next level of ALS, PP, and VC.

Originally Posted by broham84

There's a misconception that anything JLC puts out is haute horology, the term in itself is pretentious...

Truth be told, put that movement under a loupe and it shows just how sub-par the decorations are, cotes de geneve graining is about on par with what fakes can do these days, the beveling is as crude as it comes. This comes from someone who used to love JLC and owned several throughout the years. These watches aren't accurate, not particularly stable in real life.

Pony up and get PP, ALS, or VC. This JLC is not a good buy.

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[SLSteve]

Why not go with a DD36 on leather? Plenty to find, and it wouldn't depreciate as much...

I would like the DD over the JLC, but I would sell off my DJ41 then.

[timepieceluvr]

Get them both.


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[Vaxe]

I’ve owned my share of ALS and seen enough to suggest that Hodinkee has done a tremendous service in touting the brand above what it actually is. Also a bit weary of seeing it compared to Patek, as it’s anything but. Lange is not haute horology, but a lot of millennials who aspire to own one think so, thanks to the ‘Dink (I was one of those and quickly became disappointed).

The finishing on the Duometre line is on par with Lange in the same price category. Both owned by Richemont as well with equally lukewarm value retention.
But between a Saxonia Date or a Lange 1 vs a Duometre, both around $40k, the latter is exceptionally more bang for your buck.

Originally Posted by broham84

There's a misconception that anything JLC puts out is haute horology, the term in itself is pretentious...

Truth be told, put that movement under a loupe and it shows just how sub-par the decorations are, cotes de geneve graining is about on par with what fakes can do these days, the beveling is as crude as it comes. This comes from someone who used to love JLC and owned several throughout the years. These watches aren't accurate, not particularly stable in real life.

Pony up and get PP, ALS, or VC. This JLC is not a good buy.

[myporsche]

Lange is not haute horology, but a lot of millennials who aspire to own one think so

Pretty lame and ignorant comment

Originally Posted by Vaxe

I’ve owned my share of ALS and seen enough to suggest that Hodinkee has done a tremendous service in touting the brand above what it actually is. Also a bit weary of seeing it compared to Patek, as it’s anything but. Lange is not haute horology, but a lot of millennials who aspire to own one think so, thanks to the ‘Dink (I was one of those and quickly became disappointed).

The finishing on the Duometre line is on par with Lange in the same price category. Both owned by Richemont as well with equally lukewarm value retention.
But between a Saxonia Date or a Lange 1 vs a Duometre, both around $40k, the latter is exceptionally more bang for your buck.

You couldn't be further form the truth regarding your assessment of Lange. Posts like this really make me doubt you guys have even owned these watches. Keeping microbrands/independents out, the Lange is as close to perfection as you can get, even under a loupe which I avoid on watches. I couldn't find imperfections and it was scary how clean the finishing is. The level of detail on every single part in the Lange was unbelievable, from the polish edges, to chamfering (bevelling). The Patek has superior finishing as well but just seemed at a slight level below Lange, my baselines where a few Nautiluses and Calatravas I have handled closely, pretty much all 324 movements. The bad part about Patek is that it depends on the watch, they start doing better hand finishing on higher end watches and movements where with Lange they all have high finishing standards at every watch, every level. I personally saw a different level of finishing and detail when I looked at a 240 PS calibre based movement.

The fact that Lange is owned by Richmont shouldn't really matter at this level of horology, they pump out about 5k watches per year from their workshop in Glashutte and I'm sure they are not using any cost cutting influence or techniques (nor do they need to) from big brother Richmont.

[Vaxe]

I respect your opinion but I will never buy another Lange. All 3 of my Saxonia had quality issues with either the case or dial. The movement is immaculate as that is the only part made in house. I agree that the hand engraved balanced cock is a step above others, but most of their models under $80k have a 3/4 plate so the cock and 1 edge chamfer and some nice chatons is all you see.

At sub $40k the Duometre is clearly the winner for me, and I would say it’s on par in movement finish to 3/4 plate Lange. Both use machine tools by hand. You posted a Datograph - yes, that movement is beautiful and much better than the Duometre, but it’s double at $80k. If only the case is not so thick.

Not bashing Lange, just saying haute horology is so loosely defined nowadays. There’s only a handful of independents that I would call such, and neither JLC nor Lange fits this category to me. I have an issue with Hodinkee’s journalism praising everything Lange does and claiming value left and right, pitching it as “the brand that is better finished and cheaper than Patek”. Makes you think who their sponsor is.




Looks at those rough hands


Pretty evenly matched to me

Originally Posted by myporsche

Pretty lame and ignorant comment



You couldn't be further form the truth regarding your assessment of Lange. Posts like this really make me doubt you guys have even owned these watches. Keeping microbrands/independents out, the Lange is as close to perfection as you can get, even under a loupe which I avoid on watches. I couldn't find imperfections and it was scary how clean the finishing is. The level of detail on every single part in the Lange was unbelievable, from the polish edges, to chamfering (bevelling). The Patek has superior finishing as well but just seemed at a slight level below Lange, my baselines where a few Nautiluses and Calatravas I have handled closely, pretty much all 324 movements. The bad part about Patek is that it depends on the watch, they start doing better hand finishing on higher end watches and movements where with Lange they all have high finishing standards at every watch, every level. I personally saw a different level of finishing and detail when I looked at a 240 PS calibre based movement.

The fact that Lange is owned by Richmont shouldn't really matter at this level of horology, they pump out about 5k watches per year from their workshop in Glashutte and I'm sure they are not using any cost cutting influence or techniques (nor do they need to) from big brother Richmont.