Horological Meandering

I'm considering purchase of one of these two utterly non-equivalent early 21st century masterpieces: Cartier CPCP Rotonde de Cartier Day & Night, white gold, Ref. 28731 Ulysse Nardin Sonata, white gold, Ref. 660/88 (I think). (Photos: EWC) The Cartier is ...  

;-)

At this point in my life I would do the Cartier, just as poetic as the UN and maintenance will be a breeze. Good luck getting the UN serivced.

The UN: not so much. I've always found it interesting from a technical perspective, but I've vacillated wildly over the design. Sometimes I think it's interesting, sometimes I think it's just too much.

I'm going to take the Carier for the "apple" and the UN for the "cordless drill." That's just my perspective.

It is HOW we choose and what makes sense to you that will eventually aid you in making a decision. For the key lies in these questions: 1. Which one do you foresee wearing more in years to come 2. Which one fits better in your collection 3. Which one do y... 

I'm generally very methodical and deliberative when it comes to selecting a watch myself, and without a doubt, how much I want to wear it is the absolute prime criterion. It so happens I'd decided between these two on that very basis before anyone respond... 

Aesthetically, and "business" aside, the Cariter dial speaks to me more because of its greater symmetry. One might argue that if you're going to execute a very visually active design, à la the Sonata, then a degree of symmetry might help to ground it. Con... 

I could sense you're going to choose the Cartier. Your later posts in this thread confirmed my convictions. Am I correct?

The UN is still for sale; the Cartier is on hold. Guess I was correct!

Yes, it's the Cartier. The Rotonde Jour et Nuit was actually #3 on my long-running "Want List", while the UN is much further down. I've come close to getting a Sonata on multiple occasions, but the the aesthetics always leave me wondering if I'd tire of i... 

The UN is the Ulysse I LE in platinum, which dates from about the time of the original Sonata - UN in its prime, if you ask me. I've had a few different shaped Cartier watches over the years, the one remaining being a limited edition Santos Dumont XL in s...  

Take the round Cartier. I admire the disc.

That UN is a hot design mess. I’d have a hard time living with that one. As for the Cartier I like it. Mixed Romans and Arabic numerals actually work here.

The Sonata doesn’t speak to me aesthetically. But I’ve seen none of the two in real life. Best, Emmanuel

The Freak is interesting in its originality, but it's the functional aspects of the Sonata that intrigue me, as opposed to the radical aesthetic it shares with the early Freaks. Purely subjective, of course...

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NT

Actually, it's at least in part on the strength of your advocacy that I keep considering the Sonata, even when I have doubts about the style. ;-D

What’s going on around the markers at 6,7,8 What’s the countdown subdial for. Do I see a date window(s) Nico?? Maybe if I understood what this thing was focused upon doing I could get behind it. Otherwise I don’t get it.

Two watches I have also looked at a lot, and in fact the Cartier again over the past weekend. Among other more “traditional” Cartier, but I just think the day night is so appealing and unlike anything else it keeps coming back to front of mind for me. The... 

I would take the Cartier. However, the picture you posted and the picture Nico posted of the UN have a significant difference imo. The lighter dial opens up the watch, therefore makes a busy dial less busy. If I were to go for the UN it would be Nico's.

To me. In the end, despite the inherent interest of the UN's complications, the Cartier speaks to me with far more eloquence. It has in fact occupied spot #3 on my running watch acquisition wish list for some time, while the Sonata has been less of a prio...