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Genealogical studies (I/II): From the Roger Dubuis Sympathie to the La Monégasque

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : August 31st, 2013-09:35
Investigating the gallery of ancestral portraits is quite revealing if we are speaking about watches. It tells about management decisions, changing tastes & preferences as well as of watchmaking capabilities. I seized the opportunity of a recent trip ...  

I prefer the original Sympathie case.

 
 By: Mel : August 31st, 2013-14:11
I think it really exudes class and style in an understated fashion. The Sympathie 43 line was OK a little radical exaggeration in design for my tastes. The Monegasque is more in line with my tastes and I like its clean design elements. For me, the order o...  

Glad you liked it, but your Sympathie...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 8th, 2013-23:19
is a watch one could die for! Excellent image of an exciting piece! Thanks for sharing, Magnus

I prefer...

 
 By: stere : September 2nd, 2013-02:48
.... the Sympathie 43 Why? I don't know. For me this one has a sporty and a elegant look...the optimal size...perfect. Everything RD stands for. The real truth is: the Symathie 43 was on cover of an earlier RD catalogue and I had it for more than a year o... 

The Sympathie 43 is both a continuation and a departure

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 8th, 2013-23:23
it carries over the essence of the original Sympathie and adds a sporty touch to it. I was prepared to repudiate it when I saw the first images, but upon closer, personal inspection I really grew on me. Its one of those watches you want to take to the bea... 

Thanks a lot for this excellent post Magnus.

 
 By: foversta : September 2nd, 2013-11:49
For me, the original Sympathie is a masterpiece... so my choice is easy. The Monegasque case is a very valuable way to soften its style. Fx

If you had a magnificent start like this collection...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 8th, 2013-23:31
its always different to evolve and follow-up. They are icons which fix an expectation about a given collection. Another example would be the original Lange 1, I guess. Really difficult to improve on! Thanks, Magnus

Will own a RD soon... Tough choice for first

 
 By: Atlantajuice : April 15th, 2014-18:56
I am new to the forum and really enjoy the expertise of the RD brand...I saw a Sympathy model which was different than the pictures shown earlier, with a bigger, more detailed bezel. Any idea what that might be..a follow up to Sympathy 43? I was leaning t... 

Wow great post Magnus! Monégasque

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : September 4th, 2013-20:22
To answer your question, my first choice would be the Monégasque. I find the lines of this case more soft but yet it still possesses the vintage feel and look as of the original Sympathie case. My 2nd would be the original Symphatie followed by the Sympat... 

Interesting thoughts about the third lug...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 8th, 2013-23:27
Have you ever compared its wrist feel to a Hommage 43, or a Lang & Heyne? Cheers, Magnus

As an old, former Roger Dubuis collector

 
 By: MTF : September 11th, 2013-15:26
Magnus, Thank you for the genealogy. I did not see the link between the Sympathie and the Monégasque. The current Mrs MTF and I used to collect "matching" dials in the days (1999 - 2000) when Roger Dubuis made lots of "Limited Editions" of 28 pieces. We w... 

Perhaps a car analogy might help?

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 12th, 2013-01:51
Let's look at what Mercedes has done between 1965 and 1979: 1965 (W108): The 'Sympathie' equivalent of the Mercedes S-Class. Exuberant style, almost baroque 1972 (W116): The 'Über-Mercedes', reinforced body structure (safety), almost tank-like: the third ...