Glashutte Original: Panomatic Lunar XL

[Bmonroy17]

Hello my TRF firends,

Well I am looking to add a moon phase watch to my small collection (sig. below.) I rarely have dress occasions maybe 4-5 times a year. I have always been attracted to moon phase watches. My first pick would a A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk but the bank account says no way jose, so that has me looking elsewhere. Aside from Rolex, Jaeger is my second favorite brand due to its horology history and they are always creating new movements. JLC just came out with a nice looking moon phase watch ultra thin its 39mm but it’s more of a true dress watch in my opinion. Maybe it could be dress down with a different strap.

This past weekend I walked into a Tourbillion boutique and was blown away by a Glashutte Original. I thought the detail work was good for the price range. So that had me thinking would it be a mistake to spend money on a Glashutte? I was looking into the history of the company and how it dates back well over a 100 years. Most people would say “I buy watches I like, if it sings to me I buy it” I agree with that statement to a point. There is a B&R I think looks cool on me, but NO way it’s worth 3K not even 1K in my book. So I want to make sure I am not throwing away my money per say on a Glashutte. I have searched on these forums and 95% of people would pick a JLC over a Glashutte.

List price is $11600.00 some AD’s will discount up to 25%
Pre-owned market ranges $8600.00 - $7800.00

Your thoughts on the Glashutte Original – Panomatic Lunar XL, is it worth the money ? Should I be focusing on another brand? The Swatch group owning Glashutte Original is that a bad thing? I am more interested in the horology of the time pieces than brand name. Any issues with Glashutte? My understanding they outsource a few components for their movements.

Thanks for reading this and hopefully guiding me in my next purchase.



ALL borrowed images off the net.

[WatchTimes]

GO are beautiful watches!
You can't go wrong...
I like the JLC Reverso Sun & Moon myself though :)

Still GO.... Drool, you can't go wrong!

Truly amazing watches....

The only reason they are even priced within reason is they still offer ss models unlike Patek, Lange and many other high end companies.

[vukotab]

There`s nothing wrong about Swatch ownership, GO is still one of the most respected watch manufactures out there, with in-house made movements.
Although I like JLC more (as brand as much as the model) that GO is really magnificent watch, and you simply can`t go wrong with it!

[rosspanics]

GO is legit - I like alot of their stuff. As I posted in another thread recently, I think the Panomatic has too much "white space" though. The Lange 1 (similar look) just seems to have a much better balance to the dial.

Anyways, to get back on track, I think there are some other watches you should consider if you're looking for a moon phase besides the GO mentioned above:

- GO Senator Perpetual Calendar - pre-owned under $10k for a perpetual - WOW!
- GO Senator Panarama Date w/ Moon Phase - a little less expensive than the perpetual
- JLC Master Calendar
- JLC Reverso Grande Sun Moon

Or, of course, you could pony up for a Lange 1 Moon Phase, which is very high on my list right now, just very out of my price range!

P.S.: If you request the catalogue from GO's website, it includes a DVD of the manufactury. It's a pretty impressive operation!

[salem65]

I really like the JLC Reverso, so iconic.

[WatchTimes]

Lange 1 Moon Phase is top of the list for sure.
JLC SS Reverso Grande Sun Moon is second and a GREAT looking watch!
I really have been wanting to get one for some time now.

[Bmonroy17]

I already have a JLC Reverso, so I am looking for something different. Looks like GO is a prespect brand. I agree GO making stainless steel watches makes it affordable for me.

[rosspanics]

Originally Posted by Bmonroy17

I already have a JLC Reverso, so I am looking for something different. Looks like GO is a prespect brand. I agree GO making stainless steel watches makes it affordable for me.

What do you think of the GO Senator Perpetual Calendar?

[wokafu]

i dont know whether its worth 8k..but damn the skeleton back looks hella good...

[Cru Jones]

GOrgeous.

[conrail]

Oh wow - go with that JLC. Beautiful! I like Glashutte generally but that one above looks like an instrument panel on the lunar module - its a mess!

[esm]

as much as i like a GO, i think the above JLC is a cracker.
i'd go with that.

[Shade]

The jlc is very nice, but I favor glashutte more!

[Marc_Quadra]

Glashutte will do it for me ! need my mail adress ? ;)

[boa2]

Have you been able to try both, Ben? That would be my suggestion. They are both excellent watches, but wear quite differently.

[Bmonroy17]

Originally Posted by boa2

Have you been able to try both, Ben? That would be my suggestion. They are both excellent watches, but wear quite differently.

comparing the movement of the GO and JLC, your thoughts ?

I tried on the GO last week and thought it fit well and the dial was something so different from my current collection. I really liked the piece, but deep down inside I feel the JLC is the better choice from a timepiece stand point. I am not that up on GO though, after reading on here and TZ, it sounds like GO makes very nice watches.


I am going to visit Seth and Jim this week to try on the JLC.

thank you everyone for your input so far.

[boa2]

Originally Posted by Bmonroy17

comparing the movement of the GO and JLC, your thoughts ?

I tried on the GO last week and thought it fit well and the dial was something so different from my current collection. I really liked the piece, but deep down inside I feel the JLC is the better choice from a timepiece stand point. I am not that up on GO though, after reading on here and TZ, it sounds like GO makes very nice watches.


I am going to visit Seth and Jim this week to try on the JLC.

thank you everyone for your input so far.

I think they're both very nice watches. I have to say that in this GO dial layout, I can't help thinking of the Lange 1, which I would rather wear. However, I do think the SS version of the XL is the nicest metal/dial combination. Subdued color scheme that works really well.

As you know, I'm a huge fan of the MUT Moon, and see it as one of those pieces that will be revered for decades to come. The watch expresses everything that the brand represents, in an aesthetic that works perfectly.

I think the wrist test (be sure to look in a mirror) will be the selling factor for you. Enjoy!

Thank you for the private request for an opinion, and I'm sure I don't need to say that mine is merely that.

[coralhound]

I just saw for the first time the panomatic lunar today in rose gold. It was a stunning watch with some nice upgrades not seen at the price range. I own a SS master calendar from JLC which can be found ore owned for ~$5k it's the older model when it was 37mm and thinner. The MUT39 which I also tried on today was very nice but not as different looking. I was previously sold on the MUT but there is something about the GO that as you said "sung to me" sigh...

So what are you going to do, it's time for an update. I found this post after a search...

[FeelingTheBlues]

In all honesty I couldn't care less if Swatch owns a brand or not, as long as I like the watch I buy it and this factor doesn't change the quality of those timepieces. GO is a wonderful brand in my book and if I could I would definitely buy one.

As for the price, I think you have a point that the watch shouldn't be bought if you don't believe it's worth that amount of money but, again, it goes for everything else you buy. If it sings to you, it has to mean that the price is good for you. You can never buy something that you don't believe is worth the price you're paying for, that wouldn't be logic.

In the end, if you like that GO, go for it and be happy! The off-centered dial is to die for, the moonphase indicator has been one of my favorite complications ever since I've discovered it and the brand's movements are really well built.

[Psmith]

The GO is nice, but I like the Panoinverse XL more. Imho it makes better use of the dial space by showing off that nice butterfly bridge

As for others, please look at Blancpain - their dress/classic/complicated watches are right up there with the best of them. Also H Moser & Cie should not be overlooked

[snowpea]

I own the GO Panamatic Luna and it is one of my favorite watch and gets a lot of compliment. Fit and finish is on par with JLC, movement wise looks better than the Moon 39. So you can't go wrong with either. I'm also looking to acquire a Moon 39, love moonphase watches also.

[sierra11b]

GO makes a great watch but between the two it would be the JLC MUT Moon without hesitation. If I were to go GO I would get the 2012 GO PanoMaticLunar with Silver Dial and Blued Hands.

You cannot go wrong with either so maybe start comparing physical specs and customer service.

[ghotihead2001]

while the GO is interesting i can only speak from experience on the jlc moon 39. it wears like a dream and is an amazing piece...you wouldnt be dissapointed

[Apothecarian23]

JLC all the way

[Java]

To choose between Go and JLC. That is truly a difficult choice. One I would never be able to make. In many ways they are so very different and in other ways, particularly from a quality/philosophy POV, the same.
Good luck with choosing. Either way you will have a truly great watch providing fantastic VFM.

[nick c]

glashutte

[Al1988]

I'm faced with a similar situation, between the GO Panomatic Lunar and the JLC Master Calendar SS. Having worn both, I have to say you can't go wrong with either, both are stunning pieces.

Personally, the JLC appealed to me more in terms of movement and aesthetics. I just felt the GO XL wore a bit too large whereas the non-XL model was too small. The Master Calendar on the other hand wore just right as a dress watch for me at least.

Either way, you can't go wrong between the GO and whichever JLC you choose, both make watch movements of the highest quality