5 Best Dress Watches | Watchfinder & Co.
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- The dress watch is perhaps the hardest watch to master. It has to be simple, it has to be manual wind, it has to have no complications-small seconds at a push-and it has to be small, both in diameter, but more importantly, thickness. This leaves very little for a watchmaker to hide behind, only the quality of the watchmaking itself left to do the talking. How do the very best brands in the world do it?
Featured Watches:
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 1292520
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony 81180/000G-9117
Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196R
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Extra-Thin 15180OR.OO.A088CR.01
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 201.027
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im more interested in the 1 star reviews on your trust pilot profile
Can we some how nominate this channel for an award? Every video belongs in a museum in Geneva.
dont forget Glashütte...from the comments id say its equal if not better...
Nominate 'em for a Webby!
Me: 'Oh sweet, I'm still looking for a nice dress watch.'
WF: 'This may be the cheapest one here at 12,500 pounds ...'
Me: 'God damn it.'
LMAO same here
Yeah, enter the Orient Bambino...
Enter Timex
@@JosephHHHoBoys, be a bit self respecting, you can do better than a Bambino... Get a Nomos... Junior A Lange & Söhne watchmakers wear them as well
Seiko SARB, Nomos, Omega Deville, Longines Master
I think this is the first comparison video you've done where I want them all. Stunning. Great macros too.
If ever there was an award for the best UA-cam video production, it should go to this channel. This guy's voice, choice of words and analogies can be compared to none. Keep it up.
I think the Lange is the clear winner here. It has that perfect, very elegant, minimalist look. That, paired with the amazing movement and finish, and the fact that is among the least expensive here, makes this kind of a no brainer for me. If it was at all within my budget, that's the watch I would get.
When he said "as fresh as a glass of cold water" I had to get myself one
A glass of cold water, that is.
r/hydrohomies
@@Rr_9991 I fucking love water, I've been on it for like 19 years now. Can't seem to get off it.
I splashed out and had two glasses, damn the expense.
LMAO, you made my day bro
and you did...cause you could afford that...
The guy who does the narrating and macro shots is world class. Best horology content on the web. Period.
These are all high end watches for me, but the mastery of the narrator is so astonishing that I make it a hobby to view and listen to his videos every night before sleeping.
The hours I've spent watching all these to pick a watch I couldn't afford - I could have worked and bought one. Thanks a lot.
Out of those, the A Lange is an easy choice for me. £1K more than a JLC, and the most stunning watch of the three.
bigpops74 there were five watches, not three
I instantly choose Lange & Söhne
I have the Patrimony and the Saxonia Thin (40mm). They are a pleasure to wear every time and even though they are simple I never tire of looking at them. Both are also extremely comfortable on the wrist, especially the VC. Great list.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm in the market and am having a difficult but enjoyable time trying to decide which dress watch is my favorite. The dial of the Patrimony has really stood to me as simple and elegant. However, I am also a fan of JLC and ALS. I appreciate that you've pointed out that the Patrimony is very comfortable on the wrist. Do you have any other info that could help me decide these amazing makes and models? Thanks.
Josh Plett Hi Josh.THE most comfortable, and I think, elegant dress watch I own is the VC Patrimony Contemporaine (not the Traditionelle) in white gold. It’s only hours and minutes. Just pure understatement and modest design perfection. Second on my list would be the ALS Saxonia Thin (40mm). Also a very simple, elegant timepiece and extremely comfortable on the wrist. If you can pay more and want to go with Patek Philippe, I would not recommend the Calatrava. That design, to me, is rather more ordinary than understated. It’s not that comfortable. The Nautilus is incredibly comfortable and has the advantage of being swim-able and lumed, but it has a decidedly more sporty look. Thanks for asking and good luck with your search!
The exact two I’m looking at.
1. A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia
2. Nomos Orion Midnight Blue
3. Patek Philippe Gondolo 5109R
4. Grand Seiko SBGW251/252/253
One of the best detailed videos you've done yet, the macro views are stunning. Can't choose, want them all... but the ALS and and the VC are just outstanding. I had to cover the dial on my Bambino and watch this in another room, lest it get jealous!
My favourite dresswatch is the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse. It's as minimal as the ones mentioned in this video, but with that special shape. And the best part is that you can buy it used for 1/4 of the retail price, as value for money this really counts!
I choose between Vascheron Contantine Patrimony or A Lange & Sohne Saxonia this both of dress watch so beautiful, minimalist, & awesome 👍🏻👍🏻
That Vacheron is pure class.
My picks are A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin and Vacheron Constantin Patrimony.
+1 for the Saxonia
I agree Vacheron Constantine Patrimony is the best
Same a Lange is my boy i want a zetwork
The holy trinity with patak
agreed
A. Lange & Sohne would be my pick without a second thought! That watch is stunning and beautifully executed. I can stare the movement of it all day
A. Lange & Sohne is my favorite, hands down. I am enthralled with its aesthetic and design both the dial and case as well as the movement itself. If I had the funds it would be part of my collection of German watches.
A Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin 37mm topped all of them.
And the sky is blue. Are we going to state obvious facts all day?
That watch made me fall in love so hard that I save everything I can to get it as soon as possible.
@@alexbarcovsky4319 did you get one?
@@johanforslund5461 I think he’s still busy saving
Love JLC, but Lange Saxonia is my grail watch
A. Lange , Patek, Vacheron , JLC, AP in that order of choice for me. Tho you can’t miss with either, all are great
My person favourite dress watches are the Breguet 7157, with enamel dial, and the Vacheron Constantine Malte small-seconds.
Both are classic dress watches in every sense (though not quite as thin as the examples here), yet each have a little something that sets them apart from these more conservative choices.
For the Breguet it’s that beautiful hand painted enamel dial, with the wonderful subtle small seconds dial at a quirky 5 o’clock, along with the usual Breguet flourishes like the coin edge case.
And the VC Malte is basically the Patrimony Small-Seconds, only in a tourneau case. Tourneau cases have really fallen to the wayside to round and rectangular cases in recent decades, but I like the compromise of an elongated case that is less severe than the standard rectangle (the relative scarcity of the case shape doesn’t hurt it in my book).
Breathtaking macro photography and an AMAZING narrative.
For me:
1st = ALS🥇
2nd = JLC 🥈
3rd = VC 🥉
My favourite is the Saxonia, then the PP Calatrava, The Jules Audemars, the VC and the JL!
I’m not the biggest fan of pure dress watches, but the exemplary photography and masterful production of this latest video had me mesmerized. Your documenting of these “microscopic engines” was captivating.
I believe that the dress watch category is not only about round watches. For me, the Tank Louis Cartier is the most elegant timepiece a man can put on the wrist. I would love a second part video on this topic.
Despite my love for VC, I must admit A. Lange & Söhne edges it just on the more elegant proportions.
Video idea: the top 5 square dress watches? A few options:
A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret
Jaeger-leCoultre Reverso
Cartier Tank
Lang & Heyne Georg
Moritz Grossmann Corner stone
@@kaygurke5629 good choices! Maybe also the PP Gondolo and the VC Hisoriques Toledo for the swiss fans?
Nomos Tetra
Zenith port royal rectangle
Yes I would like to see that too. I have recently gotten into square watches and would love to see a nice spread of them that I can never afford. I just got a 1946 Bulova excellency off eBay as a stand-in until I can get a reverso and I am really enjoying it. And it has gotten the most notice of any watch I own.
Those A. Lange und Sohne watch are out of this world!!!
The Lange .... by a mile.
For me, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin day in and day out.
I love your videos and the narrative is perfect. These are absolutely beautiful timepieces. My pick would be the JLC
Yep the A.LANGE & SÖHNE SAXONIA THIN is stunning. Hands down winner for me. 👌🏽
I prefer the Lange and sohne watch and the Vacheron watch. I love these two clocks.
The JLC is my top choice, but that Lange & Sohne is an extremely close second. I'd buy both if I could.
That one is easy for me. The Vacheron Constantin. I just love the proportions and the look. Timeless.
I've never gotten along with date windows, so the A. Lange & Sohne, or the Audemars Piguet. Thanks.
The Lange takes it for me because of the movement's finishing, but the JLC's dial is also extremely appealing. Beyond these, i would honestly consider the IWC Portofino too.
Richárd Holló it has a date on it. Not minimalist enough really
Also has a seconds hand.
Patek on these dress watches , but I’m a big ALS FANBOY who aspires to owning one in the next few years
My two picks are the Lange and Patek
no other I'd rather have but the A Lange Saxonia!
Perfect for the red-carpet slo-mo's?
or Jaeger-LeCoultre here. these 2 mastered simplicity to perfection
My favourite is the a lange and sohne because a lange and sohne
1. JLC Master Ultra Thin - Smart and Elegant
2. VC Patrimony - Royalty and Exclusive
3. Pp Calatrava - Classic
4. ALS Saxonia - Teutonic and Masculine
There is no need to pick the “best” among them. It’s just a matter of preference
Lange Saxonia: "Einfachkeit ist das Resultat der Reife" (Friedrich Schiller)
This is objectively the greatest video of all time! Well done
Saxonia is my favorite but the JLC and Calatrava are both beautiful as well. Frankly, all 5 are excellent
Y’all left out the Breguet Classique 7147!!!! I feel like that one should have taken the soulless AP’s spot. Also thanks so much for these videos.... they always put me in a mellow mood :)
A. Lange & Sohne clear is the clear winner, stunningly beautiful and just perfect 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Patek Philippe has mastered the dress watch with the Calatrava. Models 570, 5296 and 5227 are excellent choices to name a few.
I like all these watches. But if I was putting down my own cash it would be for the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin in copper blue. The dial just takes it to the next level.
Patek and Lange would be my top two picks, they look stunning
My top 5:
ALS
VC
H. Moser
JLC
GS
The Lange Saxonia would be my choice but due to funding will end up with the JLC Ultra thin moon at almost half the price, but doesn’t feel like I’m settling for too much less.
1. ALS
2. PP
3. VC
4. AP
5. JLC
Damn! That shot at 6:00 😍 The escapement through the ruby
seconded!!! Amazing Amazing photography.
Well done watchfinder team.
I have never seen such a thing!
just beautiful
Love your videos, especially now that they have bullet sound effects. When you do such a large comparison, can you put all of them in one shot at the end? Its easier to see similarities and differences relative to one another and possibly even a side profile or on-wrist profile to highlight thinness. Thanks again!
I actually have a Vacheron Constantin from 1967 housing the K1120 movement, the same one from this Audemars Piguet, and only measures in at 6.6mm thick, FROM 1967!!
What about Breguet...? sure they have something in this category.
excellent video, truly enjoyed watching it. I just came from a tour of the Vacheron Constantin factory and I'm now in love with the Patrimony. But I must admit the JLC looks outstanding and modern amongst these giants
The way you present and explain the watches are absolutely tremendous as well as your voice is so amazing....👏🏻👏🏻
The ALang has this clinically crisp and clean look that wins it for me . All businesses in the front and a hell of a party at the back.
I love 💕 the Piaget altiplano ultrathin watch as a dress 👗 watch
Me too, particularly the Altiplano 60th Anniversary collection, and specifically the two white gold models with the blue crosshair dials. They are PIAGET perfection, in my opinion.
Agreed, the 900P is a work of art, true paper-thin. That dial! Speechless.
All exquisite. I would, however, pick a Laurent Ferrer galet micro-rotor over all of those (though it's a bit thicker i suppose)
This channel is so incredibly fantastic.
Only here can you watch a video about a couple of very expensive rather serious watches and be suddenly be confronted by a comic bullet sound at 9:28
That was so unexpected and so damn funny. I really love this channel.
I was wondering if anybody would mention that! It was very surprising! Spot on!
Pleasantly impressed by the AP but A. LANGE FOR THE WIN!
Can you review a Lange 1 in rose gold. Thanks!!
I really love that JLC but I can't seem to find it anywhere, their own website doesn't seem to have it anywhere
I always pick the a lange when its in one of your list 😂
If you are part of the Swiss trinity all your cases need to have a clear case back and have an in house movement. The only ones worth a damn here are the JLC and PP.
Important lessons in history and even more impressive showdown of beauty, art and crafts ! Fabulous video ! Dazzling watches ! Watchfinder & Co. at its best !
Breguet deserves to be in the conversation.
Dream collection, these are for real some of the best watches a classy man could desire. My favorite is probably the AP.
Hello, I enjoyed your great video.
I'm currently trying to buy one between Patrimony and Traditionelle, so what are the pros and cons of each?
For your information, I am 184 centimeters tall and my wrist is about 17.8 centimeters.
Both models are so cool that I have a lot of worries, so I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice on the pros and cons of each model and what to consider when choosing it!
Thanks :)
darn, this channel might be owned by alange soehne, but they easily make the nicest watches today! My grail is the odysseus
Lange & Söhne best by far. Its the aesthetics that do it for me, smart and understated but with distinct class....
Of these 5 classics, the ALS is my favorite. But the HMC Venturer Small Seconds will give it, and the other 4, a run for their money.
All beautiful watches but why is the A Lange & Sohne so captivating?? It is their movement isn't it??
Breguet Classique 5157BA119V6 would have been lovely as well.
LOL'ed at the completely unexpected bullet sound effect - next time please chase that with the Wilhelm scream.
Langhe Saxonia number 1 for me
Great video. My favorite would need to be the Vacheron, because of the Geneva seal.
Wow, I am amazed by the comments and the A Lange following here. While I admire A Lange myself and looking to purchase the 1815 Auf/Ab, I didn't think the Saxinia Thin was the nicest watch in this lineup.
I bought the Calatrava about 14 years ago. Have sent it out to Patek twice for complete overhaul. Cost about $1000 each time. The movement is decorated even though it is closed in the case. It is a mainstay of my collection. Never gets old, always looks great. No need to shout.
I don't know why, but when he says "fresh", it just feels so.... relaxing. So, calming.
You could have also included the rose gold manual winding Blancpain with power reserve. Thank you.
Sandeep Junnarkar
The subtle details on the vacheron are incredible.
Thrilling to see my recent acquisition of the JLC Ultra-Thin Jubilee featured here! On my favorite watch channel! I considered all of these of course when buying -- one requirement of mine is that it would be silver colored and the JLC Jubilee that I got is in platinum. On the pre-owned market, I got it for $10k all in and I believe that it is unquestionably a great value. I also particularly liked the design on the Jubilee -- more "modern" than the others somehow, with the daupine hands. I bought the watch for my son's wedding and I will cherish it forever -- it is certainly a rare one in that only 800 were made. All the watches are beautiful -- thanks for a great video.
I like them all. But the Patek Philippe calatrava has the vintage ascetic I love. Hope dress watches will become more popular.
What if I want to spend 2-3k on a second hand watch, that isn't rolex, omega or breitling but has in house movement and complications with a good brand name?? That will also hold value somewhat or even go up? The same question if the price were £1k-2k
Definitely some watches were overlooked here. Rectangular/square watches like the JLC Reverso & the Cartier Tank are perfect dress watches
For me the five would be, JLC Reverso, VC Patrimony, PP Calatrava, a Must de Cartier Tank and the Lange Saxonia - this wins it though. Great video.
Rather bold of you to show me an ad before a video displaying some of the best watches in the world, VINCERO!
I LOVE THESE VIDEOS
One question though, why does a dress watch need to be handwound?
I mean there were some automatics in this video! Or does it only mean “No quartz”?
The VC Patrimony I have also has a JLC movement.
What i like about ALS is that the finishing is great even their cheapest watch, no compromises👍👍👍
Is it just me who is shocked that the JLC / PP / VC all contain movements ridiculously small in comparison to the diameter of the watches? I know that JLC and PP have recycled older movements for this, which used to be in much smaller watches (not sure about VC), but it's still shocking that, especially at the price point of PP, they haven't bothered to provide an updated movement that fits the case. A.L&S the clear winner here, and it's not even close - even if the Calatrava is visually extremely attractive.
Great vid. Lange.
ALS for sure. Such simplicity and grace.