Trying to decide between two possible purchases. Both are NOS, all original, and rather uncommon pieces.

The first, a Wakmann w/the Lemania 1873 inside. It's kind of a "poor man's Ultraman":


The second is a Dugena Cal. 12. It's a Wakmann Big Boy (of which I am a big fan, and which I have one, a bit beat up, in Val. 7730) with Dugena slapped on the front, but with nicer furniture and, to my knowledge, the rarest movement that watch comes in. This one, I should add, is the more expensive by about 30%.


Thoughts?

 

I like the Dugena, especially if you don’t already have a cal. 11, 12, or 15 in the collection. I’d question whether it’s really NOS though as there appear to be lever marks on the subdials.

 

That's a good point. It's damn close, though, not a scratch or scuff on it, though unpolished. The lugs and bezel are razor-sharp. I also like the cross-hatched crown.

I also have to ask myself, is a Dugena, any Dugena, worth £2k+?

 

Wakmann for me. Not a fan of chrono’s with dive bezels.

 

I feel like I'm always in the slight minority on this, and maybe it's entirely personal or anecdotal, but: I know not one watchmaker who respects/enjoys the cal 11/12/15 movement. Not one. Every watchmaker I'm close to (my dad, several real close friends) just *loathe* that movement--they're finicky, they're not well-designed (modular vs integrated), and they're a huge pain to service. NOS is great, and they both look lovely, and if the Dugena had a V7734 I'd be all for it; as is, I'd pick the Wakmann.

 

That pretty much settles it--if I go with either, it'll be the Wakmann.

Oh, and I think you'd like the other new acquisition. I actually don't know what the movement is, but given the similarity with other models, I'd say the odds are 90% it's a val. 7733. Needs a new crystal, and a few small dings on the bezel, and desperately needs a new service (got it from the original owner, but in good nick overall (and got a great price on it).

 

Oh congrats--those Wakmann Big Boys are *killer* watches, and they wear perfectly. Enjoy, and wear in good health.

 

A bold statement! And taste is not disputable. I have a fair range of both, and along with my Speedie, my absolute favourite is my Lemania HS9. I have several more formal chronos (e.g. a Wakmann 1381 that is a near-duplicate of an Omega 321). I just don't find myself wearing them as much, and reaching, time and again, for the sportier/more casual pieces. My first watch ever was a Heuer Professional 2000, which my father gave me for my 15th birthday. I think bezelled chronos have always had a special appeal ever since. Funny what shapes our taste, no?

 

I’m a dressy Chrono guy.

The bezel takes too much of the Chrononess away (yes it’s a word i invented it)

 

v. nice! Here's my dressiest . . .

 

Me too. This is my only dress watch, tho' my wife tells me its more sporty than dressy. I just now ordered a stingray strap for it, I'm hoping the combination works.

 

Back on topic, the Dugena has a unique look to it which appeals to me, but the comments about servicing the movement might put me off too. The Wakmann is really attractive too, in a more conventional sense.

 

I guess you are asking for subjective opinions, so here goes. I'm not a fan of the Wakmann case shape with those anemic lugs. Just don't find it appealing at all.

 

TBH, that's what held me back, too. It's not balanced--you have this large, bold dial and then those stubby lugs.



That having been said, I'm sure this is meant to go on an integrated metal bracelet that would effectively make the dial rest in a continuous steel torus

 

This Wakmann is quite similar, but the case is a bit better balanced. I believe it shares the case of the Omega Soccer Timer 145.020.

 

Sorry to resurrect the thread, I've been looking into Wakmanns a lot since picking up the same model as the one posted by bama2141 above.

Now that I look at it more, I was wondering whether the OP's Wakmann is actually the same model, but with the cushion case heavily ground down? Something like the mark 2 that's currently doing the rounds on ebay (see below)? It looks like the dial, crystal dimensions and settings are the same, and the OP's case seems to be lacking the kind of sharp lines and faceting one might expect.

Has anyone else come across this kind of round case Wakmann racing / ultraman like from the OP? Or is it a one off?