Sunday Morning Showdown: Rolex Land-Dweller 127336 Vs. Patek Philippe Cubitus 7128/1G
It’s Sunday again, and for our showdown this week, we set up a clash between two polarizing watches that inspire no shortage of fervid opinions. First, there is the brand-new Rolex Land-Dweller that the brand unveiled during Watches and Wonders a few weeks back. It goes up against the much-debated Patek Philippe Cubitus, which debuted in its 45mm form last fall. However, Patek added a 40mm size to the lineup during Watches and Wonders. Today, Mike will back the 40mm version in white gold (ref. 7128/1G) and go up against Jorg and the 40mm Rolex Land-Dweller in platinum (ref. 127336). Ultimately, you get to decide which watch will emerge victorious.
This week’s matchup is remarkable. You probably all know the stories of both watches because they have been the most widely covered releases over the last couple of months. Patek Philippe unveiled the Cubitus last October, and enthusiasts greeted it with a raging storm of criticism. During Watches and Wonders, we saw how the divisive Cubitus holds up in a more modest 40mm size. At the same time that Patek displayed the smaller Cubitus, the other Genevan powerhouse introduced the Land-Dweller in the booth opposite Patek’s. This new Rolex line harks back to the days of the Oysterquartz and introduces a rather impressive new movement. But people also had some strong opinions about the looks (and name) of the Land-Dweller. It makes today’s Sunday Morning Showdown between the white gold Cubitus and the platinum Land-Dweller more than interesting. And picking “neither one” is not an option.
Last week, on Sunday Morning Showdown…
But before we get into it, let’s quickly look at last week’s showdown. In a double-Pelagos battle, the trusted 42mm Pelagos won over the new 43mm Pelagos Ultra. The regular model took 55% of the votes, while the Ultra took 45%. It was a fairly close contest, which makes sense. Ultimately, the watches are closely related. However, the preference for the classic Pelagos was also visible in the comments. Granted, quite a few commenters own the 42mm model, so that encourages a greater sentiment and, therefore, a vote. An interesting take from one of the commenters was that you should put the watches next to each other and try them out to choose the winner. We had the chance to do so, which changed quite a few opinions on the Fratello team. Either way, the classic Pelagos is still the Pelagos of choice for now.
Jorg: Rolex Land-Dweller 127336 — 40mm in platinum
Let’s kick in the door with my main point in this week’s showdown: it’s much easier to like the Land-Dweller than the Cubitus. Yes, that’s right, and it’s because we all know that a different dial could make for a great series of Land-Dweller watches. Unfortunately for Mike, the problems with the Cubitus run a lot deeper. The issues are rooted in the watch’s derivative and divisive design. The looks are a debatable play on the aesthetic of the popular Nautilus. Knowing that Patek Philippe deliberately downsized the Nautilus collection and followed that up with the Cubitus understandably raised a whole lot of eyebrows. Additionally, the PR nightmare that followed the introduction of the Cubitus also affected the court of public opinion.
It makes the choice in this battle easy for me. Do I love the Land-Dweller? No, not in its current form. But there are a lot of things that I like about it, which could cause it to turn into a love affair. First, I am a big fan of the Oysterquartz aesthetic, so seeing that return is wonderful. Whether it is the pre-Oysterquartz Date ref. 1530, the brilliant Oysterquartz Datejust ref. 17000, or an Oysterquartz Day-Date ref. 19018 in full yellow gold (or even an understated white gold ref. 19019), there is no going wrong. And to see Rolex breathe new life into that aesthetic is a win for watch fans all over the globe. Weirdly enough, the brand itself did not hint at that in its official presentation during Watches and Wonders, but it’s impossible to deny the Land-Dweller’s roots.
A platinum Land-Dweller versus a white gold Cubitus
The inaugural Land-Dweller models come in 36mm and 40mm sizes, which are spot-on relevant choices. Both are available in Rolesor (a combination of stainless steel and white gold), Everose gold, or platinum. To make this matchup even remotely similar, I picked the platinum version of the 40mm Land-Dweller. The watch comes in at €64,800 versus €76,000 for the white gold Cubitus. We could have also gone with the rose gold model, but the price difference would have been substantially bigger. On top of that, we love a bit of quiet luxury here at Fratello.
By now, people who know Rolex will know that an ice-blue dial equals a platinum watch. This immediately brings us to people’s main gripe with the Land-Dweller. The stylish 40mm × 9.7mm case is paired with a dial that seems too erratic for Rolex standards. The open numerals at 6 and 9 o’clock look awkward and too big. They are not the same numerals that The Crown uses for its Explorer dial, although I don’t think those would have helped either. A full set of baton markers without numerals would be the preferred way for many Rolex fans, including yours truly.
The dial is the only issue that needs solving
On top of that, I am not a fan of the honeycomb pattern. I do like the link to the vintage honeycomb dials, but the pattern feels gimmicky. The shape is far from ideal, and it lacks any kind of refinement. That pretty much sums up what the current dials are missing — the refinement to make this a classy integrated-bracelet watch that proudly shows a link to the original Oysterquartz models.
We will undoubtedly see new dials, and I think Rolex will surprise us with great options that are a step away from the dials presented during Watches and Wonders. If the brand takes care of that, nothing will prevent the Land-Dweller from being an absolute hit because all the fundamentals are there. It has a great case design and a flat Jubilee bracelet that looks, feels, and wears wonderfully, especially with its hidden butterfly clasp.
The Rolex Land-Dweller is powered by the impressive caliber 7135
This brings me to another big feature that made headlines — the introduction of the Rolex caliber 7135. This movement might not be up to a Patek Philippe caliber’s traditional high-horology standards. Still, it is a horological tour de force in and of itself. This high-beat caliber operates at 36,000vph, has 66 hours of power reserve, and includes a silicon hairspring, a ceramic balance staff, and the new Dynapulse escapement. Lastly, the 7135 is a certified chronometer rated to an accuracy of ±2 seconds per day.
Without getting into the wider discussion of what makes this caliber so impressive, it is a massive technological step forward in movement production for the brand. With this new in-house movement, Rolex is redefining industry standards regarding quality and scale. On top of that, it also follows Rolex’s recent steps in making movements visible through display case backs. As a result, the calibers that are on display are finished impressively and look good. Overall, the new 7135 is a big headline for the brand that makes the story of the Land-Dweller even more impressive.
Even in a battle of names, the Land-Dweller wins
All in all, picking the Rolex Land-Dweller in this Genevan face-off is a no-brainer for me. The watch ticks all the boxes but one. Okay, maybe two…because that name isn’t doing it any favors either. But even when it comes to the names, the Land-Dweller beats the Cubitus every day of the week and twice on Sunday. It makes me wonder why anyone would spend the extra €12K on the Cubitus. Is it because of the brand name or the Haute Horologie pretense? I won’t deny that there could be some reasoning in that. But does that make up for a derivative design that is not pleasing to the eye, especially if you put a Nautilus next to it? It simply can’t win, neither against its peer nor the Rolex Land-Dweller. But I’d like to hear your thoughts, Mike.
Mike: Patek Philippe Cubitus 7128/1G — 40mm in white gold
I won’t kid you, but Jorg and I decided to have some fun with this week’s Sunday Morning Showdown. We decided to pit two of the most polarizing watches in recent memory against each other. The best thing is that the Land-Dweller and Cubitus come from the two most popular brands in the industry. If we were in the ’80s and talking cars, it would be akin to placing the Ferrari Mondial against the Lamborghini Jalpa. I love it!
Now, on the face of it, it seems that I’ve drawn the short straw with the 40mm Patek Philippe Cubitus in white gold. But have I really? I was no fan of the original 45mm (what the hell were they thinking?) Cubitus because it looks like a cuff. Or perhaps it looks like the silver bangles worn by Linda Carter as Wonder Woman. Regardless, it’s a ridiculous watch and looks grotesquely out of proportion. The 40mm version changes things dramatically.
The Cubitus finds its sweet spot at 40mm
I’m not a loon, and I won’t sit here and tell you that the 40mm white gold Cubitus is the next “it” watch. It’s still not drop-dead gorgeous, and it certainly won’t make anyone forget the Nautilus anytime soon. Yet, and you can scream at me, I think it’s a pretty good-looking watch now, and — get this — I’d actually wear it.
An okay movement with Patek finishing
The 40mm Cubitus is equipped with the automatic 26-330 S C/434. It has a frequency of 28,800vph and a paltry power reserve of 35–45 hours. Yes, it is adjusted, but let’s face it: this movement pales in comparison to the Rolex caliber in every way except for finishing. And honestly, the 7135 caliber may beat it in that respect as well. But hey, it’s a Patek movement, and that’s worth something, I suppose.
So, why consider the Patek?
I’ve not swooned over the 40mm Cubitus thus far, so why would anyone vote for it over the Rolex? Well, for the same reason that I like this watch over its gargantuan 45mm sibling, I like the smaller 36mm Land-Dweller instead of the 40mm version. Jorg’s watch is too damn big, and it loses any elegance that it once had (okay, the initial dials do that on all models). The Cubitus is finally an elegant-looking watch, and the dial is much cleaner. Thankfully, Patek gave us an appropriate dark blue dial, and it sings on this reference.
Also, the Cubitus is just 8.5mm thick, a 1.2mm advantage over the Rolex. Yes, it only has a 30m water resistance rating, but who cares? The watch is comfortable, and the bracelet is fantastic. In fact, we’re probably talking about two of the best bracelets in the game (throw the Parmigiani Tonda PF in as a third gem). This watch begs to be worn, and it looks great in all situations. Is there any other reason to consider this watch over the Land-Dweller? Well, and I don’t say this lightly, it’s a Patek Philippe! I wouldn’t take any Patek over a Rolex, but this watch feels like you’re paying the price because it’s where the brand competes. On the Rolex, it seems more like a tarted-up version of a much less expensive watch. They’re both nice, but only one belongs in the uppermost tier.
Time to vote!
For €11,200 more, is it worth paying for the white gold Cubitus instead of the platinum Land-Dweller? It’s a tough choice, and like Jorg, my money would probably go toward something altogether different. Still, if I had to choose, I’d pick the Patek. It seems more special, and I think the 40mm model will age reasonably well. However, I’m only one person with one vote, and you need to choose in this challenging battle. It’s okay if you don’t love either watch, but tell us why you chose the one you did in the comments section below.
