opinions The GP retail is considerably higher

[sparkyhx]

I have narrowed my choice to IWC Spitfire chrono with metal bracelet and Girard Perregaux Laureato evo3. They are both the same price but the GP is second hand (4 months old) which would you choose?

IWC is similar to this but on bracelet
http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&th...

GP
http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&go...

The GP retail is £6700 but they are heavily discounted and its loss in value worries me a bit when I start thinking long term. Am I really comparing a watch which is a significant 'step up' the ladder from the IWC or is the GP simply way overpriced and its really no better?

[Freddie von Rost]

IWC every time. Pun intended. GP is just fugly. I mean really, really, really FUGLY.

[anonymous-user]

I think the spitfire chrono is a beautiful watch. Much better in the flesh than photos. Have you tried it on? It's a big old watch.

I don't really like the other one at all.

Each to their own etc.

[Maxf]

Have a look at Breguet if you fancy something a little less ordinary. I dont like the GP much at all - it looks like an expensive Tag to me.

The IWC looks very nice though!

[Andy_CTR]

Spitfire! Spitfire! Spitfire!

Hopefully my next watch and bloody gorgeous! I prefer the strap to the bracelet myself though, (and it saves a few quid too, as IWC bracelets cost a BOMB!!)

[sparkyhx]

Andy_CTR said:

Spitfire! Spitfire! Spitfire!

Hopefully my next watch and bloody gorgeous! I prefer the strap to the bracelet myself though, (and it saves a few quid too, as IWC bracelets cost a BOMB!!)

price up replacement straps! - they pay for themselves in a few years

[tertius]

G-P do make fantastic watches, and I would not expect that one to have lot of depreciating to go. Whereas the IWC will lose a fair bit the minute you buy it. Have you looked for the IWC used?

The G-P is an in house movement versus a heavily mofdified 7750 in the IWC - this may or may not matter to you.

I have a '60s G-P and love it, though I confess the EVO3 is not to my taste.

[Murph7355]

IWC out of those two every time.

Agree with looking at Breguet for something different. Though think these are heftily over the IWC price point.

[sparkyhx]

Thanks guys.

well I've gone for the GP, I did actually tell a little white lie earlier cos I didn't want to sway anyone. The GP is actually £800 cheaper than the IWC.

As for 2nd hand IWC, firstly they are like rocking horse shit, and when you do find one they appear to go for a similar price to new discounted ones of the internet.

To be honest finding 2nd hand premium watches is difficult anyway. You can get Omega's, Tags, and breitlings by the bucket, but try to find IWC, Blancpain, Jaeger, Breguet etc is really difficult. Firstly I suppose cos there are fewer of them around and secondly its often an end point for people, they keep them for life, unlike Omega, Tag, Breitling which are a bit like intermediate brands. Some people get them and keep them while other iuse them as a staging post to something better and often use the sale to fund a better purchase.

I realise the GP is not to everyones taste (nothing ever is) but If I didn't like the look then I wouldn't have been considering it.

Pistonheads have come firmly down on the IWC side but curiously I posted the same info on an IWC dedicated forum and about 80% of people said go for the GP.

[Freddie von Rost]

Good choice sparky.

The Spitfire really is a lovely watch, which will always be a classic unlike the GP which is a very modern design. [IMHO of course]. I know the agony of choice. Having bought a reduced speedie, I am now lusting for a speedie day date.

Nurse, where is my medication?

[anonymous-user]

sparkyhx said:

Pistonheads have come firmly down on the IWC side but curiously I posted the same info on an IWC dedicated forum and about 80% of people said go for the GP.

Really, i'm surprised where was that? If you're meaning your post on TZ wasn't it 4 each? not 80% GP?

Edited by stovey on Sunday 1st July 16:51

[sparkyhx]

stovey said:

sparkyhx said:

Pistonheads have come firmly down on the IWC side but curiously I posted the same info on an IWC dedicated forum and about 80% of people said go for the GP.

Really, i'm surprised where was that? If you're meaning your post on TZ wasn't it 4 each? not 80% GP?

Edited by stovey on Sunday 1st July 16:51

Yes TZ????? I counted 7:1 in favour of the GP being better where do you get 4:4

There were some comments on appearance but that wasn't what I was really asking. Other peoples opinon on the appearance is irrelevant cos its personal choice and I have never been swayed by other peoples choices even as a kid.

[anonymous-user]

sparkyhx said:

stovey said:

sparkyhx said:

Pistonheads have come firmly down on the IWC side but curiously I posted the same info on an IWC dedicated forum and about 80% of people said go for the GP.

Really, i'm surprised where was that? If you're meaning your post on TZ wasn't it 4 each? not 80% GP?

Edited by stovey on Sunday 1st July 16:51

Yes TZ????? I counted 7:1 in favour of the GP being better where do you get 4:4

There were some comments on appearance but that wasn't what I was really asking. Other peoples opinon on the appearance is irrelevant cos its personal choice and I have never been swayed by other peoples choices even as a kid.

I think if you look at the names of the posters there was only a few different people posting the same comments. 80% of the posters didn't say go for the GP at all.

You're not swayed by the comments? Then what's the point of these which watch threads on multiple watch forums?

[sparkyhx]

Stovey said
I personally think the GP is the nicer of two. IMO, the GP is more finely finished and features a more sophisticated movemen
KevinL said
I totally agree with your statement. I think the Spitfire is fantastic but in this comparison, the GP seems a little prettier.
fmferro said posted 3 times
1 the GP has the better movement
2 IMHO the retail on the GP is ridiculous but in comparison to the Spitfire, you do get a little more watch on the mvmt side,
3 that GP movement is amongst the best.. can't compare on the movement (the GP is better)..
RonS said
I too think the GP is extremely well priced for you and is the better pick.
Boa said
Better finish, in-house movement, super-comfortable & well-made bracelet. In addition, I've never seen a watch that looked so much better in person than in photos than the Evo3.
Ryder said
GP aaaaaallllll the waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy. At the same price, GP is the winner, hands down. This is not to diminish the IWC in any way. But between these two watches, the GP is far beyond the IWC IMHO!

so even ignoring multiple post by Ferro its 6, nil, The only posts against the GP were on looks alone, and one post was slagging off the Spitfire.

Opinions on looks are based on pure opinion, whereas posts on the quality of the GP hopefully are based on some knowledge. Thats the difference.

[tertius]

I think that was a good call.

[anonymous-user]

sparkyhx said:

Opinions on looks are based on pure opinion, whereas posts on the quality of the GP hopefully are based on some knowledge. Thats the difference.

How are you judging "quality"?

[sparkyhx]

stovey said:

How are you judging "quality"?

that I don't know cos I am fairly ignorant about GP, hence why I asked a well known watch forum, and was prepared to take peoples opinion from the IWC one cos they may have an axe to gring about IWC, but any positive GP comments I was prepared to believe were genuine.. I didn't post in the GP forum cos I thought I would get a biased opinion.

I have been lurking round the forums for some time and GP was not originally on my radar whereas Breguet and Blancpain and Jaeger where, they are well known 'quality' brands. I was questioning GP cos their retail would indicate they 'think' they are in the same class as these brands but at the same time indications from the heavy internet discounting are that other people/the market do not. Unfortunately my budget would not stretch to Breguet etc and 2nd hand ones are very rare and still quite high in price.

The GP came along at a very attractive price, but I wanted to know whether GP were genuinely a step up from IWC or just the same and seriously overpriced. I think overall opinion is that they are better than the spitfire but at the same time their retail is unrealistic as it puts them against other better competition. i.e. a steal at 2.5k, but your being robbed if you pay £6.7k.

As for what I class as quality, finish, movement, accuracy, but I think I should ask you as you appear to be quite knowledgeable and have lurked around the forums for longer than I have and it was you that said the GP was the better one.

One final factor in my desision is exclusivity, I like anonymity. It would have been easy to buy a tag or rolex etc so that people know you have a good watch, but I wouldn't do that. I really like the Omega Planet Ocean, but its just too popular, Omega's are perfectly good especially what I have heard about the coaxial movement, but they are ten a penny. Its exactly the reason I own a 200sx and not a Subaru. I love Subarus, but Ive never followed the crowd, I driven 500 miles you will seen hundreds of Subarus but not one 200sx. Hell... I went thru school liking blues music and not succoming to peer pressure, it was good training for being individual.

[Maxf]

Glad you picked the one you like the best. I'm not a big fan of that modern bracelet design (hence my tag comment above), but liking different things is what makes hobbies like this interesting!

Is it coming from the UK or abroad?

[sparkyhx]

uk, but originally bought in US

[anonymous-user]

sparkyhx said:

The GP came along at a very attractive price, but I wanted to know whether GP were genuinely a step up from IWC or just the same and seriously overpriced. I think overall opinion is that they are better than the spitfire but at the same time their retail is unrealistic as it puts them against other better competition. i.e. a steal at 2.5k, but your being robbed if you pay £6.7k.

I agree, I think the movement is probably 'better' than the spitfire's but the watch at rrp is perhaps unrealistic. It's a nice feeling knowing you've got a great watch for a great price. Well done.

Watches are such a personal thing aren't they and you and Max are right, if everyone liked the same stuff life and certainly this forum would be fairly boring.

If you want to read up on movements There are many online articles on the relationship between Swatch, ETA Valjoux/lemania and watch manufacturers. Although IWC modifies these ETA movements more than most. Indeed often, perhaps optimistically, many IWC fans suggest that their watches no longer contain ETA movements as they have been altered so much.

I'm sorry if I sounded arsey before, some people here get stupidly defensive about watches they like. Remember the Rolex is naff thread that went on for pages?

Edited by stovey on Monday 2nd July 07:46