Advice needed: Seiko Ananta Diver SRQ013 vs IWC Aquatimer Chrono Galapagos

[jilgiljongiljing]

The Seiko looks a bit generic IMO, doesnt really stand out. I think the rose accents are very well done and thats kinda neat, but overall, it doesnt really stand out like the Aquatimer IMO. I would go with IWC

[carrollp]

Time for a poll me thinks!

[incontrol]

The Ananta all the way! This and the GS Watch lines from Seiko are absolutely the finest you will find!

[camb66]

In the end- i would go IWC.

[Leonine]

The seiko looks better, but I prefer IWC in general. Both look good, what kind of setting will you be wearing it in?

[carrollp]

Thanks all.
@Leonine, to be honest I'd probably wear them for daily or casual wear in general like most of my other watches. I have a couple of other watches I can use for more formal wear or that are a bit more versatile. However I tend to just wear/rotate my watches for enjoyment regardless of occasions as I believe they should be enjoyed and not locked away in a watch box or cabinet!

[whitestardan]

Here's an idea coming from the opposite direction:

If you buy either watch and DON'T like it for some reason, you'll take a bath on trying to resell the Seiko whereas the IWC will retain more of its value. Personally, I'd save the money and buy this version on the Ananta:



Differences are it's only 100M water resistant (a little worse than the IWC, but not much), no ceramic bezel, cheaper ($3,200 MSRP vs. $4,100), and a little less lume. The IWC has an MSRP of $6,900 so you can almost buy 2 Seikos for the price of the IWC.

And to make your decision even worse, you can try for this limited edition Ananta:



This one splits the price down the middle between the two and has the 6s37 that TAG Heuer licensed to make the 1887 movement, and it has a power reserve gauge.

[CitizenM]

This isn't close. The Ananta looks better, is better made and has a better movement.

[carrollp]

Thanks for the big monkey wrench in the works there @whitestartdan :)
That first Ananta chrono looks very nice indeed although I'm specifically looking for a black watch for something different to add to my collection and the nicest two I found thus far are the two I'm torn between here. I take your point re the potential hit if I wanted to move either piece on after purchase for whatever reason, which is obviously a possibility (hopefully not) but we've all been there before no doubt. Definitely a tough one this, swinging back and forth between the two, the photos don't really do the IWC justice (and the Seiko perhaps?), as I found out to my surprise other day when I tried the IWC on in a local AD having previously glanced over it numerous times in the past (think my local dealer knows me too well!). Unfortunately I'm unable to have the same opportunity with the Ananta not having seen it in the flesh.

[sea0bass]

I'd also look at this Seiko Ananta..

But none can beat The Seiko GS GMT Limited Ed