Comments:
Side-by-side comparison
The recent post by m2 celebrating the arrival of his Odysseus gave me the idea to make this side-by-side montage of 10 of the most well-known blue dial integrated bracelet sports watches.
NB 1: I decided to stick to models available in the current catalogue of each brand.
NB 2: concerning the Laureato, I chose the 38 mm variant instead of the 42 mm: a debatable choice, of course.
NB 3: I have added the ref. numbers and dimensions and water resistance data below the two images.
Any thoughts?
Best, Emmanuel
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin, ref. 16202ST.OO.1240ST.02 (caliber 7121) - 39 x 8.1 mm - Water resistance: 50 m / 5 bar
- Patek Philippe Nautilus, ref. 5811/1G-001 (caliber 26-330 S C) - 41 x 8.2 mm - Water resistance: 30 m / 3 bar
- IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40, ref. IW328907 (caliber 32111) - 40 x 10.7 mm - Water resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
- Chopard Alpine Eagle 41, ref. 298600-3001 (caliber 01.01-C) - 41 x 9.70 mm - Water resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
- Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding, ref. 4520V/210A-B128 (caliber 5100) - 41 x 10.69 mm - Water resistance: 150 m / 15 bar
- A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus, ref. 363.179 (caliber L155.1) - 40.5 x 11.1 mm - Water resistance: 120 m / 12 bar
- Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto Blue, ref. LCF040.T1.C1GC5 (caliber LF270.01) - 41.5 x 12.70 mm - Water resistance: 120 m / 12 bar
- Girard Perregaux Laureato 38 mm Midnight Blue, ref. 81005-11-3460-1CM - 38 x 10 mm - Water resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
- Bulgari Octo Finissimo, ref. 103431 - 40 X 6.40 mm - Water resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
- Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222, ref. 4200H/222A-B934 - 37 x 7.95 mm - Water resistance: 50 m / 5 bar
From the front side, I would choose the AP over all the others.
Back side is a tougher decision, and I would choose one of the others.
Frankly, I don't know what to think, personally.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, but wear in the summer only.
In fact, this type of watch isn't really for me.
One thing I really like about the RO is that it's the only one with no seconds hand.
Best, Emmanuel
In fact, this type of watch isn't really for me.
One thing I really like about the RO is that it's the only one with no seconds hand.
Best, Emmanuel
Interesting! For an elegant sports
watch I would be leaning towards thinner models, so my choice would be the AP Jumbo for aesthetics and starting this whole game and the PP Nautilus for wearability and reliability.
It's absolutely true that the AP and the PP are the only ones below 9 mm thickness.
What I like about the AP is the absence of seconds hand. Very minimalistic. I would like it even more without the date.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
The only one without a seconds hand.
I would like it even more without the date.
But this type of watches isn't really for me anyway.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle (wasn't attracted to blue) but wear it only in summer.
Best, Emmanuel
But this type of watches isn't really for me anyway.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle (wasn't attracted to blue) but wear it only in summer.
Best, Emmanuel
Great picture!! It seems as if standing in front of a distorted mirror. The same adopting different, distorted forms. Like those “apps” (?) that distort faces. Even the dials. Some…
…with vertical lines, others with horizontal lines, some with both. Upon seeing them all together I don’t like any of them. Truly. It all seems like a lazy exercise in design, as if I were playing in the computer. I’ll go back to my 36mm Explorer. Just my impression. The picture truly impressed me. Like seeing a hidden truth.
I understand your feeling so well!
This type of watches isn't really for me either.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, though, and find it very nice, but I only wear it during summer.
The RO has no seconds hand, which is nice, imo, but I would like it more if it didn't have a date.
Best, Emmanuel
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, though, and find it very nice, but I only wear it during summer.
The RO has no seconds hand, which is nice, imo, but I would like it more if it didn't have a date.
Best, Emmanuel
The Jumbo is so classic, I cannot now imagine it any other way.
Maybe this tells more about my imagination ability than about the watch, of course!
Thank you for your understanding and kind response. I also own a Royal Oak that I’ve been wearing lately.
AP at 12 o'clock is a nice feature, imo, even if the Jumbo is different.
Thanks for sharing.
Strange effect
Putting them all side by side, my first revelation was that I wished there was a better choice. And I was surprised that my eyes went to the LF which I found superior to the Patek.that surprised me as the PP was always an acquired list item till the prices suddenly made no sense to me.
I'm glad if this side-by-side proves useful, even if it is by producing this strange, revealing effect.
Even if I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, I wear it only during summer and don't deeply care about this type of watches.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
I agree
In the sense that side by side, the sports bracelet watch is sort of underwhelming. Interesting.
I showed these to my wife, she pointed to the LF immediately
FWIW, of course. I don't wear this genre, it doesn't make sense to me, but I appreciate and refer to my wife's opinion when in doubt 
She has great taste! You do well to consult her!
Best, Emmanuel
PS: I’m not too fond of this genre either.
PS: I’m not too fond of this genre either.
I really like dressy sport watches on a bracelet. Ignoring exclusivity, cost or retained value I like them all! Evidently to be sporty and elegant you'll need to know the date where the ALS is in it's
own category and of the rest I prefer Chopard's approach. For dial color and texture I like the IWC, the LF and the VC, probably in that order but seeing them in person might change the order. For integration of bracelet and overall style of the piece most are about equal except the LF and ALS which are not quite as good as the others. I'd happily wear any of them. From the back I like the ALS and the LF best. Looking at them has me wondering how much a bracelet would cost for my blue Piaget Polo S!
I didn't think about the Piaget Polo, but it's a contender, of course.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, but wear it only during summer.
This kind of watches isn't the one I car about the most.
For me, the RO, which is the only one without a seconds hand (and which started the trend), remains a cornerstone but would be better without the date.
Best, Emmanuel
This kind of watches isn't the one I car about the most.
For me, the RO, which is the only one without a seconds hand (and which started the trend), remains a cornerstone but would be better without the date.
Best, Emmanuel
I know this isn’t an exhaustive list, but the Speake-Marin Ripples is another one that I’d put on this list for consideration.
It’s a very hard choice, especially when you take all the hype out of the picture🤔
Yes, of course, Speake-Marin. Also Christopher Ward Twelve, etc.
Beyond 8, the image became too difficult to make...
I personally think that each of these brands has done so much better and more attractive timepieces than these "hyped" ones...
That said, the RO started it all and, without a seconds hand, I tend to think that it remains a cornerstone. But I would like it better without the date.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, but wear it only during summer (and I much prefer the grey dial to the blue one).
Best, Emmanuel
I personally think that each of these brands has done so much better and more attractive timepieces than these "hyped" ones...
That said, the RO started it all and, without a seconds hand, I tend to think that it remains a cornerstone. But I would like it better without the date.
I own a grey dial Alpine Eagle, but wear it only during summer (and I much prefer the grey dial to the blue one).
Best, Emmanuel
There is the 222 reissue…
Also without a seconds hand 😊👍🏻 And there used to be an Urban Jurgensen but I believe that is no longer in the current catalog 🤷🏻♂️ Lots of choice… but like for you this is not a category that particularly appeals to me 😊🤷🏻♂️
Yes, my selection is definitely
too restrictive and a bit arbitrary... 🫣
Anyway, the immediate attention this post gets confirms how popular integrated bracelet sports watches are!
Anyway, the immediate attention this post gets confirms how popular integrated bracelet sports watches are!
I finally managed to add both the 222
and the Octo Finissimo to the comparison.
Several could still be added though: exhaustivity is definitely out of reach.
Several could still be added though: exhaustivity is definitely out of reach.