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Speedmaster vs. Datograph – which movement is more robust?

revmiguel
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Hi All,

I really enjoy looking at my Speedmaster movement through the back. I know the Datograph would be even more of a visual treat. I was wondering if anyone knows how they compare in terms of reliability/robustness/toughness. Obviously, the 321/861/1861/3861 movements are very robust, since they passed through the stringent NASA tests. The Datograph is a visual treat, but would it be more likely to break or fail under hard use or long-term use? I'll never be able to afford a Lange, so this is just a question to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks.
 
Alllexandru
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revmiguel revmiguel
Obviously, the 321/861/1861 movements are very robust, since they passed through the stringent NASA tests.
Thanks.

I think you have the answer here 😀
3861 needs some time also to prove the robustness...

revmiguel revmiguel
The Datograph is a visual treat, but would it be more likely to break or fail under hard use or long-term use?
Thanks.

We don't know, as you said it needs to pass the long term use, I would say more than 50 years to be equal to Speedmasters 😀)

Datograph it is a very nice watch for what it is and the looks but being just released.....well we will see
 
Foo2rama
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A small step below haute horology vs a mass produced movement.


that’s like comparing a Bentley to a nice Camry.

sure they are both reliable… which costs more to service and own?
 
david5807
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
A small step below haute horology vs a mass produced movement.


that’s like comparing a Bentley to a nice Camry.

sure they are both reliable… which costs more to service and own?

Definitely the Lange.
 
david5807
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revmiguel revmiguel
Hi All,

I really enjoy looking at my Speedmaster movement through the back. I know the Datograph would be even more of a visual treat. I was wondering if anyone knows how they compare in terms of reliability/robustness/toughness. Obviously, the 321/861/1861/3861 movements are very robust, since they passed through the stringent NASA tests. The Datograph is a visual treat, but would it be more likely to break or fail under hard use or long-term use? I'll never be able to afford a Lange, so this is just a question to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks.

I would guess that the Omega would be the more robust of the two, but you're not getting a Lange for robustness.
 
JimInOz
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david5807 david5807
I would guess that the Omega would be the more robust of the two.........

I disagree. Why would the Lange be less robust?
It may have a higher finish than the Omega, but a pretty face does not equal fragility.

I'd be interested as to how you draw your conclusions regarding "robustability".

Cheers

Jim
 
STANDY
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You want robust buy a Quartz Luminox or a G-Shock.

You want to go rock climbing and paragliding you don’t wear a Lange


Foo2rama Foo2rama
sure they are both reliable… which costs more to service and own?

9/10 people buy a watch or two on what it costs to service a Speedmaster
9/10 people holiday for a week on what it costs to service a Lange
 
JimInOz
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While the points raised about the differences in dollars are interesting/of no consequence/do they cost that much etc etc etc, that was not the initial point of the post, which was:

"Speedmaster vs. Datograph – which movement is more robust?"

I'm more interested in the pros and cons of the robustabilitieness of the subject movements.

So let's get back on topic (unusual I know, but this one interests me).
 
STANDY
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I like a Robust wallet @JimInOz 😉
 
david5807
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JimInOz JimInOz
I disagree. Why would the Lange be less robust?
It may have a higher finish than the Omega, but a pretty face does not equal fragility.

I'd be interested as to how you draw your conclusions regarding "robustability".

Cheers

Jim

Being a Lange owner I would hope that I'm mistaken, but they feel to be more of a dress watch and as such less tough.
 
Annapolis
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I’m not going to be able to give a citation as it’s been a while, but fwiw there was a Hodinkee podcast episode recently (last 3-4 months, I’d say) where the guys were discussing some Lange or another and one of them mentioned a conversation they’d had with an ALS engineer/designer about the fact that their watches tend to be on the thicker side. The ALS person acknowledged that criticism by explaining that the thickness is a tradeoff for overengineering—and specifically said they were built to withstand being dropped. (I think this was in an unfavorable comparison with Patek, but I may be wrong—could have been some other brand.)
 
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