Knebo
·Horologically… Somewhere above Rolex/Omega and somewhere below Patek/Lange.
Their sportier watches don’t do anything for me, but as a maker of luxury dress watches, they’re the best you can do (imo) for under 15k US. Gorgeous, clean designs, brilliant integration of complications on the dial, and superb movement finishing. (There’s a reason other brands like Patek would have JLC make movements for them.)
They don’t get hyped like other brands—definitely one for those who know what they’re talking about, not those led around by social media.
"Watchmaker of watchmakers" isn't just a slogan. I have a Master Geographic and the same JLC movement can also be found in a crazy expensive AP Royal Oak...
I absolutely love the Reverso, but still find it too bad that the brand is often reduced to it. There is so much more! Especially Memovox (I have two...), Moonphase, Ultra Slim, vintage Futurematic, crazy ultra complications.
I just feel that some modern (non-Reverso) watches are let down a bit by boring case designs. Vintage JLC case designs were more interesting.
On the other hand, many vintage JLC are let down by particularly bad water resistance. You notice it when searching for nice vintage JLC -- so many have water damaged dials (or repainted).