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The battle of the Swiss panda-dial chronograph
I compare two usually incomparable brand offerings and trust me: there is a clear winner
Swiss watchmaking can be a turn-off for most watch enthusiasts for one very simple reason: price.
When it comes to value for money, the Swiss tend to abuse their heritage and reputation by inflating their prices heavily, like we’ve seen with the IWC Big Pilot. You will certainly find many occasions where American, Chinese, German and Japanese counterparts offer pretty much exactly the same features as a Swiss watch but only at a fraction of the price.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in chronographs, one of the most popular and sought after complications on the market. The truth of the matter is simple. If you’re looking for Swiss chronograph without a quartz movement, you’re pretty much fucked if you’re still paying your student loans. “Affordable” and “Swiss chronograph” are concepts that don’t mix together well.
For instance, let’s think of a newly added piece to one of the most respected brands in the marketplace: Tudor.
The Black Bay Chronograph is a sensational addition for anyone in the market looking for a vintage aesthetic on a chronograph. Available in a panda-dial or reverse panda-dial configuration, the stunning case design and snowflake hands typical in the…
