First, excellent photos. Now that I've seen the DQL in the flesh with enamel dial, I realize that your photos capture it perfectly.
I'm partial to black dials and white metal, and I love the white gold Duometre a Chronographe enough to own it. But I also love enamel dials, so this Duo Email leaves me conflicted.
Above all, the enamel dial is a rich, deep, and rare beauty. I feel that the 40.5mm case is a judicious choice, since the watch may have overwhelmed with the brilliant white enamel and white metal in the original case size.
My reservations concern the original philosophical problems with the QL and the lack of visual power of such a bright combination of metal and enamel. While the QL is better realized in the enamel version than in the launch design, the combination of a date and a moonphase still seems like under-utilization of the Dual Wing system. In my mind, it should be reserved for serious complications with huge power drains (e.g., chronographs, perpetual calendars, spherotourbillons). In this application, it seems wasted, and the flying second seems like an affectation... not organic to the basic complication as in the chronograph.
Second, the white enamel is a visually delicate look. It is exceptionally done, and the "email" text doesn't bother me, but the overall aesthetic is so refined, tender, and formal that I'm not sure it would pair well with anything but strict dress apparel. I prefer the versatility to wear all of my watches in everything but a bathing suit, so more experience with the watch in casual wear is necessary for me to reach a final impression of the watch's "range" of use.
JLC has shown outstanding capacity for invention and execution with this piece, even if the complication seems underwhelming assignment for the dual wing. It's handsome, technically fascinating, and infinitely more inspired than the endless parade of tribute watches. I hope watches like this DQL enamel represent the future direction of the manufacture... and if we could just get a black enamel dial... ;-)
Thanks again for a great post!
-Tim
This message has been edited by Tim_M on 2014-12-01 07:45:20