Which watch: Submariner 16803, Yachtmaster 16622, or Ennebi Fondale?

[markrlondon]

Ok, this is an odd question. I might soon be in a position to purchase one of these watches: A two tone blue dial/blue bezel Submariner 16803, a Yachtmaster 16622, or an Ennebi Fondale (either black dial or red dial). I know these watches are not exactly directly comparable... one of each would be nice, but that's not going to happen. So which one would you choose and why?

Some pics for your consideration (shamelessly borrowed from the web with credits below).

Rolex Submariner 16803, two tone yellow gold and stainless steel, blue dial and blue bezel:

Source: http://relojesexclusivos.com/catalog...mariner-16803/

Rolex Yachmaster 16622:

Source: http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....41&postcount=1

Ennebi Fondale:

Sources: http://www.gnomonwatches.com/product-detail.asp?pid=172 and http://www.gnomonwatches.com/product-detail.asp?pid=859

[ASW1]

For me the Ennebi wouldn't even feature as an alternative to the others. It's just not my thing. Of the others it's predominantly a debate of two tone or not. For me (and also taking 'counsel' of SWMBO) I make the choice 6 years back that the YM was for me vs. a TT GMT-C. The YM is a class act and subtle, whereas the TT is more in yer face. Personally for TT I would go black as opposed to blue as IMO the blue is even more bling (in both ceramic and non-ceramic). I do still hanker after a TT Rolex, but no enought to replace the YM, so must conclude that when the chips are down TT looses.

For your viewing pleasure.......

[alexandr0s]

V. easy choice for me: the YM all the way.
Classic, understated, an not that common (compared to submariners).
I don't much like two tone watches and the ennebi is fine but not even in the same league

alex

[JonRA]

YM for me - although I love subs, I am not a fan of two tone sports watches. As others have said, the YM is a class act

Being a bit new to this, I'm not familiar with the EF brand

ATB

Jon

[Captainhowdy]

YM for me as well, but if buying new I'd be tracking down the blue dial version.

[markrlondon]

YM for me as well, but if buying new I'd be tracking down the blue dial version.

The blue dial is lovely but more than I'm willing to pay.

[Omegamanic]

I'd be buying a plain Submariner, or the YM from your choices.

[TheDude]

YM. Oh, look, I have one for sale!

[Marios]

I don't like two tones and out of the YM and EF I prefer the looks of the latter.

[herusix]

+1 for the Yachtmaster

Just really love the sparkle to the dial, for me its one of those designs which get more interesting the more you look and start to notice the little details.

[Curelin]

me also, +1 or the yatch master.

I don't like at all the Fondale. instead, I love the Submariner, but not the 16803 gold and steel version! only full steel for me

so, I voted for the yatch master!

[seffrican]

I voted for the YM, not so much in favour of it as wanting to vote against the other two.

[iml]

Don't like any of them, but of the three the YM is probably the least nasty.

[dixie]

I was never sold on the YM but after seeing photos on here over the last couple of years, it has really grown on me.
I have never been a fan of two tones, although I have to say I don't mind this one so much.

Still it HAS to be be the YM in my opinion

[markrlondon]

YM. Oh, look, I have one for sale!

If it's still available in a few months time then I might (or might not, as the case may be) be in touch. ;-)

[michalko82]

That Ennebi is horrendous, wouldn't put that cr@p on my wrist, anything with dial like that and bezel as useless too.

My choice would be TT Sybmariner if you could get a Black TT, blue is ok though. YM is too chavvy with the glittery dial, but thats my 2p....

[dforgrieve]

Not really a fan of either Rolex models, I voted for the Ennebi.

Assuming you can get on with the size, which I couldn't!

Dave

[gunner]

Or wait a while and buy the new blue faced YM...?

[markrlondon]

Or wait a while and buy the new blue faced YM...?

The blue dial looks lovely but I'm not willing to pay new or near-new prices for the Rolexes.

[markrlondon]

I'm surprised that the Fondale has received more votes than the 16803 so far!

[James.uk]

YM. then the SUB

Ennebi is hideous imho...

[markrlondon]

Ennebi is hideous imho...

I thought that when I first saw them. And then they somehow grew on me...

[cliffrichard]

the Ennebis are amazing , but that is a very tough choice

[verv]

YM.. the ennebi's dont do it for me at all.

[numberjack]

Yachtmaster by a long, long way.

[no.3]

i would,nt buy either of those 3, maybe a 4th option 'none of the above'

[dejjl]

Big fan of the Fondale here.

[Curelin]

Or wait a while and buy the new blue faced YM...?

hell yeah!! http://www.worldwatchreview.com/wp-c...atic-watch.jpg

the blue dial is awesome!

[TheDude]

If it's still available in a few months time then I might (or might not, as the case may be) be in touch. ;-)

It's going nowhere fast, and in no hurry to sell.

[Saxon007]

Or wait a while and buy the new blue faced YM...?

I would be doing this even if I had to pay more. Although I could be persuaded to get a green sub instead...

[James.uk]

I thought that when I first saw them. And then they somehow grew on me...

Like mould? Hehe

[Snowdon]

YM. The bezel is something else

[camb66]

Not really a fan of any of those.

[markrlondon]

Well, aren't we a conservative lot here. ;-)

It seems that the Yachtmaster is the clear winner in people's preferences. And it seems that the voters hate gold even more than 'acquired taste' watches like the Ennebi Fondale (which surprised me a bit)!

So which one am I going to go for? I still don't know, but thanks for all your input.

As for the blue dial YM versus the sparkly white dial YM, it's a difficult choice for me in terms of aesthetics but the value for money argument wins it: It's got to be a 16622.

As you can tell, these three choices were not made for reasons of subtlety. The YM is the classiest looking of the three but is still not subtle. I prefer the blue dial two tone Sub over the black dial simply because I find it more visually interesting. And the Fondale... well, it's very different and that appeals to me.

We'll see what happens in due course. I might decide to go for something entirely different. Who knows.

[nibby]

It would be the Blue Submariner for me out of the three not so keen on the TT but love the blue dial. Quite like the Yatchmaster but the spakly dial and PCL put me off.
So i seem to be in the minority

Nibby

[markrlondon]

So i seem to be in the minority

No need for sadness! Be happy, be a contrarian, choose your own preferences! :-)

[markrlondon]

Oh, I see that the two tone Sub has caught up with the Fondale in the votes! Come on then, any last minute votes for the Fondale? ;-)

[Bassplayer]

I couldn't vote. There wasn't a Grand Seiko button. :)

[markrlondon]

I couldn't vote. There wasn't a Grand Seiko button. :)

That's because GS comes into a different mental 'slot' for me: A GS is planned in addition to one of these. ;-)

So assuming you had your perfect GS (and also assuming that you didn't want another GS right now), which one of these would you choose? If you don't like any of them, which is the least bad?

[Henrik Gelardi]

Ennibi doesn't do it for me at all, and I'm not a huge fan of tt, but hope to grow into it one day...

The YM, however... A dial like that is something else

[Chinnock]

I don't want to like it but the YM is growing on me.

[markosgr28]

I voted for the Rolex Sub. This model is one of the two watches that got me into watches 22 years ago. I really love this combination. The Ennebi Fondale is interesting, but I wouldn't for that at this price range. The yachtmaster is nice, but its look makes no difference to me.

[walkerwek1958]

Forget the Ennebi....not in the same league as the others.

TT Sub would get my vote if it was black and post 2001 (better bracelet).

Yachtmaster wins....but it's watch I`m not sure I`d really want to own and I`m hardly likely to spend the money finding out. Wouldn`t dare wear one for fear of damaging the mega-expensive bezel!

Look for a black-dialled TT Sub.

Paul

- - - Updated - - -

Forget the Ennebi....not in the same league as the others.

TT Sub would get my vote if it was black and post 2001 (better bracelet).

Yachtmaster wins....but it's watch I`m not sure I`d really want to own and I`m hardly likely to spend the money finding out. Wouldn`t dare wear one for fear of damaging the mega-expensive bezel!

Look for a black-dialled TT Sub.

Paul

[therooster]

Of the 3 listed it would be the Yachtmaster for me. I would normally have said the Sub but I think 2-Tone with Gold has less classic appeal than the plainer Yachtie.

Also, love the bezel on the Yachtmaster.

[TheDude]

The YM's bezel has an unjustified reputation for being easily damaged, I don't know why.