Glashütte Original and Jaeger-LeCoultre: Similar but Different

[@frankiel3854]

Recently ordered a green Reverso. Having all 3 colors (blue,red,green) to compare in person, the green stood out to me the most. Absolutely gorgeous in person, the color of the dial changes under different lighting conditions. It looks almost black when there aren’t direct light shinning on it.

[@watchartsci]

Wow Frankie, you got all three! Someone likes Reversos! .... and for good reason. Take care, Bill

[@richgotti1719]

Great video Bill…& I love my JLC Duometre. You know they are the watchmaker’s watchmaker. Also the Panomatic calendar is stunning as well.

[@watchartsci]

Rich, I think that the JLC Duometre is a true example of Exceptional Horoogy. That and the True Second are my favorite two JLCs. The PanoInverse is my fav GO. Take care, Bill

[@Madmanmarque]

I've been a fan of both companys for some time now. I own 3 JLC's and 2 GO's including a rose gold JLC Moon Phase Calendar and GO SeaQ Pano in blue.

[@watchartsci]

Whoa! Madmanmarque! You know the comparisons like a champ! Thanks for sharing. Take care, Bill

[@wingman427]

Very much enjoy all of your videos. Like both of the watches you showed in this video. Have a JLC Chronograph, the previous model, with the date at the 4:30 position. Although I don’t use the chronograph much, the reason for purchasing this watch was it seemed like a sports watch that could be worn every day. Many of the JLC and Glashutte watches looked to much like dress watches.

[@watchartsci]

Maybe they were build for dual roles Wingman?🤔 What do you think? Take care, Bill

[@JaymesTriglone]

Great break down both super interesting brands that are very difficult to buy because in the process its so easy to be distracted with something else, love to know more about the moments for better buying intent , its really nice to see these models compared as german watch making is becoming very competitive.

[@watchartsci]

Hi Jaymes, I am a bit concerned that Swatch will keep jamming silicon hairsprings in GO watch, but while that's not a concern with JLC, there's always ValFleurier lurking in the wings. Take care, Bill

[@andresfg6788]

I'd say Glashütte makes the most robust sports watches with their SeaQ. The movement is also particularly well finished and beautiful in that niche. About JLC, there's something romantic about them... perhaps that they've been more of a movement maker than a watch maker so they make things within that context. Ultimately I'd rather say GO is the German JLC than the poor man's A Lange..Thanks Bill

[@watchartsci]

Well said Andres! Take care, Bill

[@AbdulRWatches]

Totally agree Bill, both JLC and Glashütte Original make amazing watches with great movements and designs. JLC is going through a revival after Dr. Strange latest Marvel movie. GO is definitely on the way up as well. Thanks Bill, have a great weekend!

[@watchartsci]

The thing with Marvel (or what H. Moser is doing with 'Undefeated') or what AP did with some other Marvel character... for me is a side-show from horology. Maybe a good marketing move, but isn't that what cheap fashion watches are for? I guess it's just up to us to show them how to do it right.😉 Take care, Bill

[@AbdulRWatches]

@@watchartsci Totally agree Bill, cheap marketing trick to sell more. And definitely we should 😁👍🏽

[@yacovmitchenko1490]

Man, that first one with the green dial - BEAUTIFUL! So elegant....

[@watchartsci]

I like the green Reverso too, Yacov. Take care, Bill

[@richardbartlett6932]

and really like the 70's chronograph!

[@watchartsci]

Something about that watch Richard that I too like. It has authority! Take care, Bill

[@equeslucis570]

Many thanks for this episode Bill! You have put into words a notion I had been developing regarding the "similarity/equivalence" of these two brands but wasn't sure about. On another topic, I've seen on Glashütte Original's website that the SeaQ Panorama Date has a silicon balance spring whereas the normal SeaQ doesn't mention anything about it. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@watchartsci]

Ut oh! I was hoping that Swatch would leave silicon out of the GO line, Matías... no such luck. There's not a single watch with a silicon hairspring (including any Patek Philippe after 2009) that I'd be interested in buying. Take care, Bill

[@Nobiggiesal]

Hey Bill, I once owned a JLC Geophysic (non true seconds) but found the movement to be loud, I just couldn’t withstand the loud bearings when I suddenly moved my wrist. I do love the new Polaris Date in olive green, beautiful piece! Thanks again Bill.

[@watchartsci]

Hi Biggg Sal... since my hearing is pretty well shot any noise from a watch comes as a welcome surprise, but I can understand a racket bothering someone. The Polaris Date is a sweet choice. Take care, Bill

[@jman7826]

Uni-directional winding is my only complaint about my true second as I agree it can be quite loud. The actual ticking of the movement I quite enjoy because you can distinctly hear the beat of the balance as well as each second jump. I’m curious if there was some technical reason for uni-directional winding.

[@watchartsci]

@@jman7826 All of my hand-wound are uni-directional...😉 Take care, Bill

[@Stoneitful]

Good video, thanks Bill

[@watchartsci]

Hey Steve, thanks man! Take care, Bill

[@ollik8192]

The 90-02 movement that the PanoMaticLunar has has a 42 hour power reserve while the PanoMaticCalendar has 100h while retaining the beautiful double swan-neck regulator. Not that I have anything against silicon, but you can't use swan-necks to regulate those. I wonder if we'll get the PanoMaticCalendar in steel or PanoMaticLunar with an updated power reserve?

[@watchartsci]

Let's hope they do many something more affordable Olli! ... not only GO but all of the watch companies! Take care, Bill

[@Javi_C]

As always thank you Dr.! You can’t go wrong with either brand!

[@watchartsci]

Glad you like them, Javi! So many watches; so little money! Take care, Bill

[@Rog5446]

Bill, what was the dial on the JLC Duometre Quantieme Lunaire at 6 with 1 to 6 numerals for? Also the blue and gold pointers pointing at + for?

[@watchartsci]

Rog the 1-6 are for 1/6 of a second indexes, called a "foudroyante" and I have no idea what use they may be put to... however, there's something cool about a foudroyante. Check out the Habring2 foudroyante mechanism. ( www.habring2.com/index.php/en/collection/foudroyante-2010#/gallery-525-image/4 ), and the two pointers near the bottom are dual power reserve indicators. Certain functions may poop out earlier than others and the movement halves may not be in synch at all time. Sort of a 1-watch, watch collection. Take care, Bill

[@akmaster001]

Hi Bill, how do you tell which movement has better shock resistance? Say it’s Lange L093.1 vs FP journe 1304 vs Rolex 4130?

[@watchartsci]

Great question Akmaster, and sadly I have to admit that I've spent about 0 time looking into shock absorbers. That might be a worthwhile task to learn more about and video. Take care, Bill

[@cedshred1676]

I like both companies a lot. The SeaQ Panorama Date in gold and steel is an absolute stunner. I seriously considered a glacier blue GO Sixties, but their accuracy is rated to -5/+10 spd and that’s too inaccurate for a premium watch. The JLC Polaris in blue could be a one-watch collection but I can’t whittle down to that level.

[@watchartsci]

Hi Ced, in general I like the Sixties series, but I didn't consider the error rate. Take care, Bill

[@richardbartlett6932]

liking the seaq . thanks Bill

[@watchartsci]

Richard, not a big diver fan myself, but the SeqQ would seem to have exactly what I'd want in a diver. Take care, Bill

[@washingtonfootballfanwgil8392]

Hey Bill, Can you explain why the JLC Duometre Quantieme Lunaire isn't EH? I see precious metal case, blued screws and polished black screws, double barrels that power different functions, manual wound, and 21600 vph. What is missing that disqualifies this particular watch from being classified EH? Thanks 🤓

[@watchartsci]

Hi Fan, I think it would be-both in terms of the quality and functionality. Take care, Bill

[@ProCelestialEmpire]

I think JLC has some exceptional horology and super complicated watches and overall much more lines and models. However, I think JLC has some conceptually insensible or counter-mainstream design in functionalities of dual time. Most of their dual time or world timer models, as far as I know, have the date driven by home time, but not local, while their AM/PM indicator is for local but not home, which both are inconvenient for users and opposite to what other brands usually did. In terms of Glashutte, they have some hidden and rare complications. E.g., in the Senator chronometer u showed, it has 0-reset second, AND more interestingly, it has the minute hand always align to the minute index when trying to adjust the time, which really intrigues me. I also heard that they always have the date change precisely at midnight, which I hope you or other people can confirm. Thanks!

[@watchartsci]

Hi Empire... JL used to have their world-timer with the Geophysic line, and now I believe with their Master Control group, but I haven't paid that much attention to their World Timers ever since the Geophysic line was dropped. Thanks for the comments on those items, though. As for GO, I only recently discovered their Senator Chronometer ... I'd like to spend more time looking into that one's movement. Take care, Bill

[@ProCelestialEmpire]

@@watchartsci Thanks, you too!

[@jackdaniels8653]

Please no music in the background, as a headphone user it's a bit irritating. 🙏

[@watchartsci]

Hi Jack, I agree. Normally, that's not a problem, and I don't know where it came from... I thought I heard it, but my hearing is so bad I suspected I imagined it. Some rock & roller must have been set loose... Take care, Bill

[@obesetuna3164]

I may be boring Bill, but the Geophysic would be my choice of watch.

[@watchartsci]

It is definitely mine, Tuna. A couple of years ago I did a Vest Pocket video on the TS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p33Pp6ODl7FmgJY Take care, Bill

[@jameshoward9700]

Richemont and Swatch go head to head in the 'entry high horology' category! Swatch ownership has been to the benefit of GO (money and access to marketing), Richemont less so with JLC (huge increase in price; deletion of entry level complications; increase in average, generic sports watches). But this holds true for all Richemont brands bar Cartier and ALS. JLC is my favourite brand, but I do have concerns with their direction under Richemont. I agree their website (while improving) is still poor with very poor image rendering and inconsistent product photography, though they are by no means alone here (Omega, Rolex, Vacheron...). The Master Control Date is a case in point. On the basis of images, I dismissed this as too big (for an everyday three hander) and the most lifeless, flat, vanilla, boring watch (and indeed, not enough hand/face contrast). I went into an AD to look at the MC Calendar Chronograph, couldn't read the date on it (time marches on!), so asked: "hmm, what else?" The assistant brought out the MCD and I was very impressed, pretty blown away: a beautiful dial and hands, thin, well brushed case and incredibly wearable. As you say, a very good everyday watch. Something that is actually quite rare and not to be underestimated! And this is JLC all over. To be cynical, pre 'in-house' obsession, the point of 'high horology' was to get a JLC movement (or FP, or Valjoux, or Lemania) polish it, put it in a precious case with a Guilloché dial and sell it for 10x. Value added? Give me the unadorned! Of course, JLC does operate in the modern high horology category too, but most of the watches are crazy money, collector specials and very interesting watches like the Duometre are made too expensive by precious metals. That said, while I think it has got too big, the Duomtre is an absolute thing of wonder (like the best Breguets). Really only available in Boutiques (a problematic Richemont direction), it is quite extraordinary. But Vacheron has had success with steel high horology (eg Corne de Vache), so perhaps we'll see a steel Duometre soon! BTW, I'm not sure I'd include the SeaQ 39 in even 'middle horology!' That old GUB movement is an Eastern Bloc relic. Like a Lada! The PanoDate 43mm however, now that is a quality proposition, assuming a love for Soviet era styling and teutonic wrists!

[@watchartsci]

James I think you're right about the impact of Richemont on JLC. However, ALS has lost some of its creative edge with Richemont's emphasis on the money end. I'm hoping Swatch doesn't end up trying to stuff silicon into GO as they have to so many of their other brands. Take care, Bill

[@LlyleHunter]

You’re right about Richemont not being great stewards to their brands. The JLC True Second was out of production for seven years before they took the model off of their website. Apparently updating websites annually is a second thought to them. They handle Baume & Mercier as though they’re an orphan brand and now have an outside manager distributing and almost promoting that brand in the US. The one brand they’re focusing on is Cartier.

[@TimG--]

2nd tier horology! But still nice and great value

[@watchartsci]

Tim as a Havana owner, just about everything seems less then 1st tier ... just remember 'noblesse oblige' as you humbly turn heads in your FPJ.🤫 Take care, Bill

[@DavidMiller-lk3ir]

JLC is top tier. They make simple and very high complicated pieces. Maybe not the level of finishing in their entry level pieces. However, known as the watch makers watch. Made movements for Patek, Vacheron and AP.

[@ivansmith4242]

Two watch brands that are the friend of the watch collector. Since they depreciate faster than a Rolls Royce. The Reverso is such a symbol of colonial imperialism. Rich gentlemen playing Polo in the same fields as Gunga Din. High quality watches without the bs hype. You should add Jaquet Droz to this comparison. Anyone can build a crazy watch collection with 5 million dollars. Try to maximize watch wow factor with limited monetary output.

[@watchartsci]

Ivan, that's what we've been trying... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHrQfaiae9aGldU Take care, Bill

[@andrefreing8290]

hi Bill

[@watchartsci]

👋 Andre... Take care, Bill