Help me pick out an integrated sports watch please? (AP vs VC vs GP)

[Eapfep]

Hi all,

I was thinking of making some changes to the collection, currently consisting of:

- Lange 1 WG
- Blancpain Bathyscaphe 43mm (Steel, Grey Dial)
- Rolex BLNR
- Cartier Santos Medium (recently sold)

My original plan was to upgrade my Santos to a 42mm Laureato (white or black dial), however I am also now considering trading in my Lange 1. As beautiful as it is, it’s not a watch I wear super often. With an active toddler at home and a more relaxed dress code I find myself reaching more for my Bathy or BLNR, for fear of dinging the wonderfully crafted WG case.

If the Lange 1 were to go, this would unlock new possibilities. I would still want ideally the following specs:

- 100M water resistant
- either ages gracefully with scratches, or hides them well
- rubber strap option (bracelet and leather both bonuses)
- wears well on a smaller wrist (6.5”), or at least designed with ergonomics in mind

This has led me to look into the following watches (FWIW I would also add a IWC Portugieser Chrono so I continue to have a dressier watch in the collection):

- Royal Oak Offshore Chrono 43mm
- VC 5500V
- VC 4500V

Would love to hear from owners / former owners of these pieces and open to other suggestions!

[danwang0520]

I'm not a fan of AP, I'd get one of the VC you have listed...personally, I'd go for 4500V if you are adding the IWC Portugieser Chrono for a cleaner look


Current collection: 1) Rolex Submariner(116610LV), 2) Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional(311.30.42.30.01.006), 3) Rolex GMT-Master II(126710BLNR), 4) Breitling B01 Navitimer 43(AB0138211B1A1)

[AEC]

I love the Laureato. Keep the Lange and add the GP

[RaZCaL]

4500v for sure! 5500v and the offshore may be too big for your 6.5 wrist.

[EEpro]

4500V. The 5500V and offshore ARE too big for your wrist.

[JR16]

Agree with others , 2 of the 3 watches you mentioned will be way too big for you. I would go for a 38mm laureauto and try to keep the Lange


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[dannyp]

Have you looked at the Zenith Defy line? Not at the same level as AP/VC, but it's one of the few that meets every single one of your criteria. There's the current 41mm (which to my eye looks huge), the new 36, and the previous "Classic" (41 but looks a little thinner). Meets the interchangeable strap criteria you've set out.

And of course if you want a chronograph, I'd personally pick a Zenith over the ROO (prestige factor aside).

If you're good with just a bracelet, there's the PF Tonda and Chopard Alpine Eagle, too. Piaget Polo might also meet your specs if you like the style.

[CNY]

If you prefer the oversized watch look, the 41mm VC is great. But a 38mm GP should fit perfectly.

[charger_vital]

Slightly incomplete universe of integrated watches (they missed the Parmagiani Tonda and Moser Streamliner... but rightfully left off the Lange Odd, which is not integrated).

[EEpro]

Shows you how good a value current VC pricing is compared to Czapek and others.

Two interior angles on every link of the hand finished bracelets. Yes please.

[charger_vital]

Don't forget the independents. Article here for your reading pleasure.

https://timeandtidewatches.com/with-...er-sport-auto/

Also, take a look at Czapek. The new Antarctique Révélation is an incredibly beautiful watch.

[Ichiran]

The Nautilus looks best on a 6.5" wrist IMO.

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Shows you how good a value current VC pricing is compared to Czapek and others.

Because of secondary market prices? I think they are pretty close on that front. But what did you mean?

[enjoythemusic]

While the others are nice and normal for most collections, if you have a bit of patience and desire something more... the Czapek Antarctique is an easy choice. Great value, very easy to change from integrated bracelet to rubber straps, leather strap options, and there are many straps to choose from (orange rubber strap coming soon).

PS: The integrated bracelet has not just one, but two easy-to-use 'extensions' to make it slightly larger as desired.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Because of secondary market prices? I think they are pretty close on that front. But what did you mean?

Lower MSRP per your chart.

Secondary market for poor liquidity specialty items is tough to judge. Rolex trade swiftly and often so they have a lower bid / ask spread and always trade close to market value.

Since the purchase market for Lange, VC, Czapek etc is a smaller pool they will have to sit longer on market to capture full value lest you fire sale them so low a dealer can't pass on it.

We are seeing that with people willing to wait for full price boutique overseas while MODA backpack dealers have a hard time even getting $20k for them in an afternoon.

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Lower MSRP per your chart..

Ah... so the second part of your reasoning is that since the MSRP is lower, and since the VC is as good or better than the comparable watches, the VC is a better value?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Ah... so the second part of your reasoning is that since the MSRP is lower, and since the VC is as good or better than the comparable watches, the VC is a better value?

Correct. But there is no second part of my reasoning.

The vendor is asking less for a better product. I think they are about to "correct" that though.

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Correct. But there is no second part of my reasoning.

The vendor is asking less for a better product.

I think they are about to "correct" that though.

I agree that the VC is a great watch and a great value for sure. I also think the same about Czapek. Having worn and owned both, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure I could say which is a "better" product between the two.

Hard to compare any of them against the Nautilus or Royal Oak considering they have this sort of mythical status at the moment.

[Verbow]

I have both a blue 4500 and a grey-dial Laureato. While I wear them both, I’d take the VC eight days a week; the finishing and feel of that watch is superb.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by JR16

Agree with others , 2 of the 3 watches you mentioned will be way too big for you. I would go for a 38mm laureauto and try to keep the Lange


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

38mm Laureato was my first thought as well.

Among OP's ideas even the 4500V wears too big on my 6.6 inch wrists. Forget about the other two.

Agree with others that the Czapek may ultimately be the best choice for OP's requirements. Also agree with Ichiran above that Nautilus look great on a 6.5 inch wrist (at least the 40mm Nautilus, but no rubber there). Obviously scratch magnets if you wear them daily w/o special attention at all times. The first scratches will be bad but a well worn Nautilus looks cool for sure.

[Eapfep]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

I agree that the VC is a great watch and a great value for sure. I also think the same about Czapek. Having worn and owned both, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm not sure I could say which is a "better" product between the two.

Hard to compare any of them against the Nautilus or Royal Oak considering they have this sort of mythical status at the moment.

Would love to get your thoughts on how the 4500V stacks up against the Czapek Antarctique!

[DonLee]

To be honest, the VC overseas wears larger than a royal oak. The 5500v will wear as big as the ROO.

[vitalsigns]

Originally Posted by AEC

I love the Laureato. Keep the Lange and add the GP

Ditto. Don't get rid of the Lange. Just find more excuses and situations to wear it, and/or maybe get a different strap that helps it wear more casual.

[EEpro]

Probably gonna get flamed for this but there's a real seat the Genta table available this year.

40mm, 120 reserve, female end links to fit smaller wrists.

I'll be able to do macro pic comparisons of the case and bracelet finish vs my Geneve seal 4500V when mine arrives.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Probably gonna get flamed for this but there's a real seat the Genta table available this year.

40mm, 120 reserve, female end links to fit smaller wrists.

I'll be able to do macro pic comparisons of the case and bracelet finish vs my Geneve seal 4500V when mine arrives.

Flame me too, cause I was going to comment this as soon as I was done scrolling, but you beat me to it.

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by Eapfep

Would love to get your thoughts on how the 4500V stacks up against the Czapek Antarctique!

Both are great watches.

Czapek is more rare and more unique. One of the coolest movements on a sports watch by far. The bracelet is also a step above the VC, visually.

The VC has a better looking bezel and case architecture (imo). It's a chunkier watch than the Czapek when on its bracelet so you have to consider what you want in that regard.

My take is that if you go with the VC go with the Chrono 2nd Generation (with the big date aperture) or the Dual Time (either generation... but slight advantage to the newer "2nd Generation" model).

[trackingtime]

i will do VC7900V, just because i have one.
3 straps/bracelet - all in 1

[trackingtime]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Probably gonna get flamed for this but there's a real seat the Genta table available this year.

40mm, 120 reserve, female end links to fit smaller wrists.

I'll be able to do macro pic comparisons of the case and bracelet finish vs my Geneve seal 4500V when mine arrives.

[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230414/c1d89b6304244a7c9138005bac74de23.jpg[/MG]
[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230414/156cdfb42f0ab1862a4caef5bbe88507.jpg[/MG]

love it

[trackingtime]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Both are great watches.

Czapek is more rare and more unique. One of the coolest movements on a sports watch by far. The bracelet is also a step above the VC, visually.

The VC has a better looking bezel and case architecture (imo). It's a chunkier watch than the Czapek when on its bracelet so you have to consider what you want in that regard.

My take is that if you go with the VC go with the Chrono 2nd Generation (with the big date aperture) or the Dual Time (either generation... but slight advantage to the newer "2nd Generation" model).

czapek = love it, not a easy piece to obtain. the hype is real.
the movement is unreal with the triple bridges.
still hoping for mine from my local AD
price is reasonable too

[mps354]

id track down a moser streamliner center seconds, which i prefer vs. the VC. i actually wear mine a lot more than my nautilus