ALS 1815 U/D or JLC Duometre Lunaire

[Longhorn]

I'm in the market to pick a dressier piece for my collection. Albeit I don't have that many occasions where I would be in very dressy occasions that would push me towards wearing more conservative time only pieces akin to a Calatrava. In the past I've had a VC 82172, and just found it too conservative to rotate in regularly. So I'm looking for pieces that have a *cool* factor and can be relatively flexible to enjoy.

A couple pieces of picked out as options below. These watches are in the low 20k price range. Both rose gold. The JLC is obviously a larger piece, but movement and foudroyante is dazzling and captivating piece of horology. I've dreamed of this since 2012 when I first was interested in watches. Luckily the 2nd hand prices for these have made it accessible for me.

I've been interested in ALS for its movement finishing and aesthetics for some while, but have not owned it. Not sure if these two pieces are on-par with each other in finishing. This one is less ostentatious of sorts, a little more understated; perhaps less technically impressive. But just beautiful design in its own right. Which would you pick?

ALS 1815 up/down 234.032 39mm



JLC Duometre Quantieme Lunaire 42mm




For context, my collection currently sits at
SD43
Moser Streamliner Centre Seconds
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo SS/blue dial

[WatchEater666]

Oh man, I went through the same problem! The Duometre for sure IMO. The finishing is great, not Lange level, but the ancillary features jammed into it make it very appealing.

Plus they are a stupid deal used. I passed on one basically new with all boxes/papers for $18k - $20k about 2 years ago.

BTW I made the wrong decision and bought a Lange 1 instead of the JLC. Got bored of the dial pretty quickly.

Did notice the JLC Duo had better finishing than the Master Ultra Thin I owned BTW. I think they are like Patek with varying finish levels based on price level VS Lange where it's basically just as good at entry level pieces VS expensive.

[ReturningSon]

The Up/Down (as with most of Lange's cases) have a wonderful svelte feel on the wrist. Hefty, substantial yet beautifully balanced on the wrist. The Duometre is a true holorogical wonder but the case was large and chunky. The Up/Down would certainly qualify as a more everyday kind of watch. Honestly two VERY different watches so maybe the answer is both?

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Oh man, I went through the same problem! The Duometre for sure IMO. The finishing is great, not Lange level, but the ancillary features jammed into it make it very appealing.

Plus they are a stupid deal used. I passed on one basically new with all boxes/papers for $18k - $20k about 2 years ago.

BTW I made the wrong decision and bought a Lange 1 instead of the JLC. Got bored of the dial pretty quickly.

Did notice the JLC Duo had better finishing than the Master Ultra Thin I owned BTW. I think they are like Patek with varying finish levels based on price level VS Lange where it's basically just as good at entry level pieces VS expensive.

Good feedback since I was considering a Lange 1 as well, although it would be a stretch, I'd probably sell my Bvlgari Octo to get me to it since it's an overlapping blue dial. Wasn't sure if i'd get bored of it...

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ReturningSon

The Up/Down (as with most of Lange's cases) have a wonderful svelte feel on the wrist. Hefty, substantial yet beautifully balanced on the wrist. The Duometre is a true holorogical wonder but the case was large and chunky. The Up/Down would certainly qualify as a more everyday kind of watch. Honestly two VERY different watches so maybe the answer is both?

Haha that's certainly a financial dream that I haven't realized, yet. I do feel like U/D might be more fit day to day and receptive to variations in straps. Haven't really seen the Duometre on anything other than its stock configuration.

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Good feedback since I was considering a Lange 1 as well, although it would be a stretch, I'd probably sell my Bvlgari Octo to get me to it since it's an overlapping blue dial. Wasn't sure if i'd get bored of it...

Sounds like we have similar taste.

Throwing some more entrants into the ring...

Have you considered Breguet? They have quite a few watches in your price point on the used market that are exciting. The Tradition line, and the Tsar with the alarm?

[Pw92676]

I prefer the ALS here just by a tad. Can’t go wrong with either.

[CoveWatch]

Between the 2, I'd rather own the duo. It's more interesting to me.

[David5807]

I would say to go with the Lange. I wonder, can you make this a poll?

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Sounds like we have similar taste.

Throwing some more entrants into the ring...

Have you considered Breguet? They have quite a few watches in your price point on the used market that are exciting. The Tradition line, and the Tsar with the alarm?

Not into Breguet's aesthetic. A little too classically styled for my liking.

[jtli202]

def lange. the duo is ok but its too large.. not a fan of the openwork either. lange is such a classic dress watch

[JR16]

1815 for me… leaps and bounds a nicer watch IMO


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[alpharulez]

The 1815 is a nice piece.

But I would recommend the JLC instead.


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[cascavel]

Go for the Lange 1, in addition to being a superb next level piece it has the advantage of forcing you to get rid of your Bulgari.
If you're going to be trading watches when you get bored of them and want to move up there will be little hope of profiting on any JLC or Bulgari, for that matter, better to avoid them or dump them now.
That Lange 1 is a no excuses watch which is impossible to improve upon. Yeah, sure, Lange makes them with more complications for more money but that doesn't make them better.

[robinmgb]

+1 for the Lange 1
The JLC is a beautiful watch but ALS really are number one for finishing, personally I put that above anything else

[justcruisin]

+1 on the Lange 1 (and consider adding a moonphase complication, esp if you can swing the 192 series with independent day/night indicator form some casualness. I looked at 1815 up/down as a compromise, and glad I reached up to get what I want. Now looking casually for the next one - I keep looking at the JLC duometre, but the dual time @42mm is too large for me and the lunaire is too much like my Lange 1 MP.

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by justcruisin

+1 on the Lange 1 (and consider adding a moonphase complication, esp if you can swing the 192 series with independent day/night indicator form some casualness. I looked at 1815 up/down as a compromise, and glad I reached up to get what I want. Now looking casually for the next one - I keep looking at the JLC duometre, but the dual time @42mm is too large for me and the lunaire is too much like my Lange 1 MP.

Ive been convinced and purchased a Lange 1 (101.032) at the price point I was considering with the other two models. After wearing this, stunned by the quality and finishing, and glad i got a smaller size than the Duo, in retrospect. It feels like a significant jump up in my watching collecting journey. Incredible that this cost me less than some modern SS Rolex sports models on the grey market.


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[Longhorn]

Pseudo family shot. The Streamliner is with Moser due to a movement issue with the rotor. Hopefully it returns soon!


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[justcruisin]

Glad it all worked out and beautiful collection!!!

[WatchEater666]

Nice, but forum rules state you can't post a lange without a backside shot?

[cascavel]

Excellent choice particularly since with the white dial there is no contrasting color on the "big date" window.

[nicky77]

I would go for the Lange 1, an iconic watch. I like the JLC as well, but I prefer less complicated watches.

[mario1971]

Here is my choice.

[GolfJunkie]

I'd take the ALS here. The JLC dial is a little too busy for me.

[Oyster Sauce]

Although I marvel at the horology of the JLC, I’d be more likely to wear the ALS more regularly.

[TimeAZ]

The ALS is absolute class and sophistication. Clean, beautiful dial, useful and well integrated complications (PR and seconds subdial) placed elegantly on the flawless dial. Finishing cannot be beat. The choice is obvious.

[p_mcgee]

Up/down, very cool how the sub dials don’t cut off the numbers


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[le_baron]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Ive been convinced and purchased a Lange 1 (101.032) at the price point I was considering with the other two models. After wearing this, stunned by the quality and finishing, and glad i got a smaller size than the Duo, in retrospect. It feels like a significant jump up in my watching collecting journey. Incredible that this cost me less than some modern SS Rolex sports models on the grey market.


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Excellent choice!

[Golden Ellipse]

Originally Posted by p_mcgee

Up/down, very cool how the sub dials don’t cut off the numbers


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Look more closely :)

[p_mcgee]

Originally Posted by Golden Ellipse

Look more closely :)

Nice catch, they do indeed cut off the 5 & 7.