After digesting it for a week, the land dweller has a weird name, an ugly design and a caliber with some novel elements but which looks like it was designed by scientists, not artists. Not a fan. An “emperor has no clothes” situation
I'm not so cynical on LD, minus the name. Dials will get better, and yes, the movement was designed by engineers solving for very specific technical problems, but we respect and admire Rolex for this very reason. To solve a problem by introducing a new escapement instead of nibbling around the edges for gains measured in fractions of percentages is impressive and bold imo. It is the best of scale manufacturing in luxury watches, just as its peers are in other industries. They're not artists and they're not trying to be.
As a follow up to a related question on the rumored 32XX movement “issues.” Do you think this new movement launched with the Land-Dweller will be the successor / bread and butter caliber destined to replace what’s in the Sub and elsewhere?
That's the big open question, isn't it? first, i'll say i'm not claiming that the 32xx has problems at a rate higher than any other mass-produced swiss lever.
But onto your question. Rolex said the movement development started 10 years ago. That's a lot of R&D $$, and they are positioning it as basically the next generation of cutting-edge industrial mechanical watchmaking. It feels like they'll roll this out in the next 10-15 years across more lineups.
That said, one of the interesting oddities of Rolex the past decade has been the use of both Parachrom and Syloxi hairsprings, so perhaps Dynapulse will exist in parallel with Chronergy for quite some time. I don't know, but I do know it's fun to read the Rolex tea leaves.
The beige 36 OP was the only watch I could see myself buying. It has an understated vintage feel that really suits my tastes. I love the bracelet for the 1908, but the watch still needs some refinement. The dial feels incomplete and the hands need to have a more coherent and distinct design. As almost everyone has said, the Land Dweller name is tragic and dial design is not much better. However, it could be a very appealing watch with a few tweaks. Great write up, can’t wait to hear about Berneron!
I agree, it's the dial and hands of the 1908 that are still lacking, though perhaps in 36mm it'd all be fine. Beige and/or pistachio OP 36 are the watches I could see myself buying, perhaps the Lange 1815 34, though I imagine I might end up buying an older Lange like the 36mm 1815 Up/Down instead. $25k isn't a bad price but modern Lange at retail doesn't seem necessary.
Land Dweller is such a terrible name only someone whose native language isn’t English could have approved it. Heck, sailors used a version as a pejorative.
I agree on the 1908 sizing, I think 37 would be ideal. Perhaps a hand turned guilloche dial would add some interest. I could also go for some version of a spade style hand set.
I like that big round hour hand. It’s actually the only thing I like about it. Everything else is just boring. I’d rather wear a Lange or Nomos Orion (in gold, if you must) any day.
"It turns a watchmaking problem into an engineering problem and fortunately, we have no shortage of engineers”. Brilliant observation, Tony. I share your mixed feelings about silicon. Traditional watchmaking isn’t going anywhere; it’ll likely become even more of a niche for those who romanticise craftsmanship.
thanks roberto -- & mixed feelings is right. it's a debate that's been had on and off since at least the Freak, but Rolex entering the conversation so completely brings it to the fore again.
After digesting it for a week, the land dweller has a weird name, an ugly design and a caliber with some novel elements but which looks like it was designed by scientists, not artists. Not a fan. An “emperor has no clothes” situation
I'm not so cynical on LD, minus the name. Dials will get better, and yes, the movement was designed by engineers solving for very specific technical problems, but we respect and admire Rolex for this very reason. To solve a problem by introducing a new escapement instead of nibbling around the edges for gains measured in fractions of percentages is impressive and bold imo. It is the best of scale manufacturing in luxury watches, just as its peers are in other industries. They're not artists and they're not trying to be.
Hey Tony,
As a follow up to a related question on the rumored 32XX movement “issues.” Do you think this new movement launched with the Land-Dweller will be the successor / bread and butter caliber destined to replace what’s in the Sub and elsewhere?
That's the big open question, isn't it? first, i'll say i'm not claiming that the 32xx has problems at a rate higher than any other mass-produced swiss lever.
But onto your question. Rolex said the movement development started 10 years ago. That's a lot of R&D $$, and they are positioning it as basically the next generation of cutting-edge industrial mechanical watchmaking. It feels like they'll roll this out in the next 10-15 years across more lineups.
That said, one of the interesting oddities of Rolex the past decade has been the use of both Parachrom and Syloxi hairsprings, so perhaps Dynapulse will exist in parallel with Chronergy for quite some time. I don't know, but I do know it's fun to read the Rolex tea leaves.
So you’re saying it’s a lousy name 😂
Totally agree. I think it looks like Tissot.
Agree with you 1000% on matte vs sunburst. Matte wins for me, every time.
a TGS approved take!
The beige 36 OP was the only watch I could see myself buying. It has an understated vintage feel that really suits my tastes. I love the bracelet for the 1908, but the watch still needs some refinement. The dial feels incomplete and the hands need to have a more coherent and distinct design. As almost everyone has said, the Land Dweller name is tragic and dial design is not much better. However, it could be a very appealing watch with a few tweaks. Great write up, can’t wait to hear about Berneron!
I agree, it's the dial and hands of the 1908 that are still lacking, though perhaps in 36mm it'd all be fine. Beige and/or pistachio OP 36 are the watches I could see myself buying, perhaps the Lange 1815 34, though I imagine I might end up buying an older Lange like the 36mm 1815 Up/Down instead. $25k isn't a bad price but modern Lange at retail doesn't seem necessary.
Lange on the secondary market is definitely the way to go. Give it a few years and these new 34’s should be in the mid teens.
1908 in 36 would fix the dial issue, I think.
Land Dweller is such a terrible name only someone whose native language isn’t English could have approved it. Heck, sailors used a version as a pejorative.
I agree on the 1908 sizing, I think 37 would be ideal. Perhaps a hand turned guilloche dial would add some interest. I could also go for some version of a spade style hand set.
I like that big round hour hand. It’s actually the only thing I like about it. Everything else is just boring. I’d rather wear a Lange or Nomos Orion (in gold, if you must) any day.
agree, it's a good dress watch but there are better options out there from Lange, Chopard, etc.
"It turns a watchmaking problem into an engineering problem and fortunately, we have no shortage of engineers”. Brilliant observation, Tony. I share your mixed feelings about silicon. Traditional watchmaking isn’t going anywhere; it’ll likely become even more of a niche for those who romanticise craftsmanship.
thanks roberto -- & mixed feelings is right. it's a debate that's been had on and off since at least the Freak, but Rolex entering the conversation so completely brings it to the fore again.