Proof that the Speedmaster is superior to the Daytona

Archer

You forgot to use the sarcasm font...

RI Omega Fan

When this thread first hit, I didn’t think it would have any legs at all, especially after meme-dweller shot the OP down, telling him to stop the fanboy-ism. But, here we are on page 5 📖and the conversation, albeit somewhat meandering, is going strong!

I guess the fact that I am still reading this thread, and enjoying it, means I was initially wrong. That’s entertainment, as the old saying goes. 🍿

T th0m

...whereas the Rolex 4130/4131 has all the modern features one would expect from a high end automatic chronograph movement, like a vertical clutch

GrouchoM

Do you mean like the high-end modern Seiko 6139 movement?

T th0m

I'm simply making a comparison to the 3861. Vertical clutch is the standard for more recently developed chronograph mechanisms since it has quite a few advantages to horizontal coupling. The disadvantage being that it's generally more complex to work with.

ninman

A Daytona is also about triple the cost of a Speedmaster. I'd argue that the Speedmaster is terrific value for money and the Daytona is overpriced.

T th0m

The sapphire Speedy Pro has a list price of 8800€ and the Daytona is 14950€ (if you could get your hands on one). If you want a Speedmaster with an automatic 990x movement you're looking at over 10k.

Archer

As noted, the Seiko 6139 was the first (that I am aware of) and that was a very long time ago. It's hardly become any sort of standard since then.

It's a design choice based on the goals of the company which design to use. One certainly looks better and is more traditional, so if the brand is geared more towards that, they will use a horizontally coupled chronograph. If movement aesthetics are unimportant, the brand may go a different direction. Would I rather have a Datograph, which is horizontally coupled, or a Daytona, which is vertically coupled? For me there's little doubt - the Dato would easily win out.

Having serviced plenty of vertical clutch chronographs, I can say with confidence that it's not more complex to work with. Not sure who told you that, but it's a bit of blowing smoke up you know where...

Omega makes watches with vertical clutches - the 9300/9900 series, and the 3301/3303/3313.

At least with the 4130 Rolex dipped their toes into the 1980's, and used a ball bearing on the rotor. The rest of their line has followed suit, although those movement have other issues.

In the end these little arguments/debates back and forth are mostly about rationalizing your preferences. Just buy what you like...

ninman

OK, as someone who knows very little about the intricacies of watch making, does a vertical or horizontal clutch really make a difference from a consumer perspective.