Dress watch for daily wear 5196 vs 3940

[myk7000]

Hey guys, I've been entertaining more and more the idea of wearing a dress watch as a daily.

Two particular references that tickle my fancy are the 5196P and the 3940G/P. Both are somewhat similar in size & metal color, but have some significant differences too (PC vs time only, manual vs auto, age, price...).

Curious to know your guys' thoughts on which would serve as a more practical and lifelong daily watch you'd be happy to wear. I could see pros and cons on each (eg: perhaps delicacy of PC, or annoyance of manual wind), but would love to know your thoughts.

[bobernet]

3940 by far. More interesting dial, classic look, meaningful complications.

[sensui]

If it's a true daily, the 3940p by far. If you actually rotate, the 5196p.

[agsstructures]

3940G for me, I love Breguet numerals on the 5196 but I don’t think it can compare to a 3940!

[ts3]

3940P

Not a fan of the Rhodium plated WG which Patek used into the early 2000s. Maybe some late production 3940G were already executed in the current homogeneous grey gold which would make them ok for me but not sure.

[JSol1]

3940…interestingly I’m also looking for a dressier watch that I could also daily. I have many Rolexes and since I rarely dress up these days, I’d like a dress watch that doesn’t just come out a handful of times a year…currently considering the 5396 for this role, but love your choice as well…

[mps354]

3940 without a doubt

[jw0n]

I really, really like 5196P but if this is meant to be a daily, I cannot think of anything better than 3940P.

[myk7000]

Fair enough y'all 3940 it is! Now just the painstaking difficulty of finding a reasonably priced good example.

[bob101]

Excellent choice. Very few watches as slim and as comfortable on the wrist as a 3940. I love the 5196 but it doesn’t hug the wrist like a 3940.