30th present query, IWC,JLC?

[JOETHETOE]

Brothers 30th is coming up and were chipping in together to buy a watch, he has a panerai 44 m and isnt small so needs another fairly big watch. budget of around 4k, something slimmer than the Pan i was thinking about a black face IWC Portugese? Does anyone know what sort of bargains are out there at the moment or if its in budget?

I have looked on websites but there are quite a few variations.

Also whats the cheapest anyone has seen IWC a big pilot for £6500? And a JLC Master Compressor Extreme chronograph?

Any other suggestions???

Much obliged chaps.

Cheers

[Cyclone1]

Hi,

Age for me is important when buying a watch, I am in my mid thirties and as much as I liked the JLC watches they just didn't look right on my wrist, they fitted fine but just made me feel another 20years older than I am! I suprised myself in the end and bought an IWC Aquatimer Chrono, big but not too big and fairly discreet looking for a Chrono although it still manages to feel classy.

It won't be an easy choice and don't feel you have to spend your whole budget. At a good Jewellers you should see a discount of at least 20% on either a JLC or IWC, this is what I was offered.

Best of luck
Jules

[Cuchillo]

Watches.co.uk seem to have a 2nd hand BP for just under 6K

[lowdrag]

I haven't got a big wrist but when I bought my Spitfire chrono I tried on the big pilot and it was well over each side of my wrist. Thought of the Doppel by any chance or don't you want a chrono? Bell & Ross perhaps? The new Breitling 46mm Heritage? So many makes out there to chhose from!

[dbroughton]

Both cool watches but both are pretty rare second hand and hold their prices pretty well. This rarity might mean discounts are harder to come by new. The only place I ever saw the JLC was the Harrods watch shop.

One of the lesser master compressor JLC's might be cool although I have a thing against shiny steel cases and much prefer brushed. I am a Panerai man and many watches feel really small and flimsy after it. I would look at something at least 42mm. I bought an IWC Portuguese Automatic which is a nice big masculine watch. A bit more classical than the Panerai but nothing like a dress watch.

[tertius]

You'd get one of the 7750-based Portugueses like a Chrono-Automatic in that budget, but not one with the 5000-series movement, like the 7-day power reserve.

The Big Pilot also has the in-house movement so they are pretty pricey.

How about something really classic like a JLC Reverso Duo? I'm sorely tempted by the Grande GMT, which is probably not in budget, but a standard Reverso would be.

[dbroughton]

Not sure about a JLC reverso. It is a very different style of watch to a Panerai, IWC Big Pilot etc. Same sort of price but very different taste and appeal

If he likes big, over engineered watches which have a certain masculine attraction then maybe a Bell & Ross instrument may have more apppeal. I also like the JLC Aston Martin watches.

[tertius]

dbroughton said:

Not sure about a JLC reverso. It is a very different style of watch to a Panerai, IWC Big Pilot etc. Same sort of price but very different taste and appeal

If he likes big, over engineered watches which have a certain masculine attraction then maybe a Bell & Ross instrument may have more apppeal. I also like the JLC Aston Martin watches.

You may be right. I'm not really a Panerai fan.

How about an IWC Aquatimer?

[JOETHETOE]

cheers guys, dont think a b&r would be his style so tink the IWC Port is best option.

For the record, I really like the JLC Aston to.