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Been feeling the itch and was thinking of which watch to get so I decided to post on 3 forums to gauge the popularity. According to the responses, Blancpain 50 Fathoms was more popular compared to JLC Navy Seals Alarm. Thanks for all your comments!
The ANZ rebate promotion provided an additional push factor to get my first watch in 2012 (with few more months to go before a new year begins). With 3 slots to fill up, I needed to be very selective of the incoming timepieces into my collection.
I’ve always been impressed by BP FF and JLC models with alarm complications.
BP FF – one of the “must have” iconic diver’s watch by many watch lovers, 5-day PR, great F.Piguet movement, great finish, sapphire bezel, raised indexes, blinding lume and has the longest/oldest watchmaking history.
JLC NSA – loudest alarm in the market, in-house movement, grade 5 titanium with great finish and quality, great history, ceramic bezel and ball bearing, more improvements made (quick-set date function being one of them) and limited edition hence popular.
It took me half an hour to decide which piece to get. I knew I would be happy walking away with either one and likely to miss the one I left behind. It’s a tough decision and it didn’t help when the price difference between BP FF and JLC NSA was less than $1k (after the discount plus rebate), BP FF being slightly more expensive. Also, to my pleasant surprise, Cortina was able to match the discounts for BP & JLC extended to me by their competitors (where I usually get my watches). Tried on the watches, worked out the sums and with the advice that the salesperson gave, I finally decided on taking this piece first (yes I’ve asked the salesperson to hold the other piece for me). It’s quite a bargain getting this watch with the matching discount and rebate from the credit card.
Below are the wrist shots of both watches on my small, woman-like wrist.
Guess which one I walked out with?
.....
Rrrriiiinnnnnggggggg….time’s up!
I went with JLC NSA for the following reasons:
1. Although the size is 44mm, it looks less imposing on my wrist. The titanium makes JLC NSA significantly lighter than BP FF. It’s also slimmer in thickness in comparison. It felt more comfortable to me. I’m sure both watches look big on my wrist but BP FF seems a bit more awkward?
2. I still couldn’t tell the quality of the finishes, one being titanium and the other stainless steel (brushed vs shiny). Both seem pretty well done in my opinion. Both come with solid case back hence I couldn’t check out the movements. With the improved movement, ceramic bezel and ball bearing, alarm and 2 straps…JLC seems to offer greater bang for my bucks.
3. With the rebate of $780 using ANZ credit card, it worked out to be of a higher discount % using it on JLC compared to BP (and JLC has a more “controlled” discount compared to BP).
BP FF next? According to one of the bros here, BP FF is more pleasing to the eye…I agree..because it’s started to creep up on me…but I’m hesitating because it seems big on my wrist.
Cheers
James
The ANZ rebate promotion provided an additional push factor to get my first watch in 2012 (with few more months to go before a new year begins). With 3 slots to fill up, I needed to be very selective of the incoming timepieces into my collection.
I’ve always been impressed by BP FF and JLC models with alarm complications.
BP FF – one of the “must have” iconic diver’s watch by many watch lovers, 5-day PR, great F.Piguet movement, great finish, sapphire bezel, raised indexes, blinding lume and has the longest/oldest watchmaking history.
JLC NSA – loudest alarm in the market, in-house movement, grade 5 titanium with great finish and quality, great history, ceramic bezel and ball bearing, more improvements made (quick-set date function being one of them) and limited edition hence popular.
It took me half an hour to decide which piece to get. I knew I would be happy walking away with either one and likely to miss the one I left behind. It’s a tough decision and it didn’t help when the price difference between BP FF and JLC NSA was less than $1k (after the discount plus rebate), BP FF being slightly more expensive. Also, to my pleasant surprise, Cortina was able to match the discounts for BP & JLC extended to me by their competitors (where I usually get my watches). Tried on the watches, worked out the sums and with the advice that the salesperson gave, I finally decided on taking this piece first (yes I’ve asked the salesperson to hold the other piece for me). It’s quite a bargain getting this watch with the matching discount and rebate from the credit card.
Below are the wrist shots of both watches on my small, woman-like wrist.
Guess which one I walked out with?
.....
Rrrriiiinnnnnggggggg….time’s up!
I went with JLC NSA for the following reasons:
1. Although the size is 44mm, it looks less imposing on my wrist. The titanium makes JLC NSA significantly lighter than BP FF. It’s also slimmer in thickness in comparison. It felt more comfortable to me. I’m sure both watches look big on my wrist but BP FF seems a bit more awkward?
2. I still couldn’t tell the quality of the finishes, one being titanium and the other stainless steel (brushed vs shiny). Both seem pretty well done in my opinion. Both come with solid case back hence I couldn’t check out the movements. With the improved movement, ceramic bezel and ball bearing, alarm and 2 straps…JLC seems to offer greater bang for my bucks.
3. With the rebate of $780 using ANZ credit card, it worked out to be of a higher discount % using it on JLC compared to BP (and JLC has a more “controlled” discount compared to BP).
BP FF next? According to one of the bros here, BP FF is more pleasing to the eye…I agree..because it’s started to creep up on me…but I’m hesitating because it seems big on my wrist.
Cheers
James
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