IWC Vintage Collection: Real Life Photos & Opinions

SJX · 2008-05-20T09:06:26Z

SJX reviews the IWC Vintage Collection, offering real-life photos and opinions on the Portuguese, Da Vinci, Portofino, Aquatimer, and Flieger models.

SJX

WPS member · IWC forum

20 replies13769 views15 photos

SJX offers an insightful first look at the IWC Vintage Collection, sharing candid opinions and real-life photos. This article provides valuable early impressions, highlighting which models truly shine in person and which fall short of expectations, making it a crucial resource for collectors considering these heritage-inspired pieces.

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Here are some quick and dirty photos of the IWC Vintage Collection, and some quick and dirty opinions.

(Images of the Ingenieur are missing, for some reason I couldn't find them in my memory card, I must have accidentally deleted them)

My favourite by far is the Portuguese. It looks a whole lot better in the metal and on the wrist than it does in press kit photos. Despite the straightforward "IWC" logo instead of the old style lettering in italics, the watch is a beauty.

Surprisingly, my other favourite is the Da Vinci. It's cool and funky, and it looks great on the wrist. I initially thought it looked horrid, like a bad flashback to a forgotten era. But the end result is really brilliant. This is one watch that will look equally good on a male or female wrist.

Aside from the Portuguese, the other crowd favourite is the Portofino - I don't like it. It is near impossible to read due to the black dial and shiny hands, and the moon phase disc just doesn't stand out; a moon phase watch should be beautiful but this one is not. Still, it is not an ugly watch.

The rest of the vintage series leaves me indifferent. They are well executed but not extraordinary, with the exception of the Flieger which is completely unappealing; the dial, greenish luminous material and case just don't look right.

The Aquatimer

The Flieger

The only two I may actually buy are the Portuguese and Da Vinci - IWC did a fantastic job with those two. Bravo!

Many thanks to the great folks at IWC Singapore - Andreas, Connie and Vivian - for the hospitality extended to me today.

- SJX

This message has been edited by SJX on 2008-05-20 09:14:29

Key Points from the Discussion

zephyr49 expresses disappointment with the current IWC logo on the Portuguese, suggesting it only suits the Da Vinci and Aquatimer models, and proposes design changes for the Portofino's moon phase to improve legibility and aesthetic continuity.
amanico finds the Portuguese more appealing in person than in press photos but is disappointed by the Flieger's greenish indexes and the Portofino's real-life appearance, while strongly disliking the Da Vinci.
AnthonyTsai notes that the platinum versions of the Vintage Collection watches feature white dials, contrasting with the black dials of their steel counterparts, and shares images of these platinum models.
Dirk praises the Portofino's white dial for its pocket watch aesthetic and appreciates the Ingenieur for its classic, generic looks, despite its lack of a Faraday cage.
amanico prefers the black dial of the steel Portuguese over the white dial of the platinum version, finding the latter to have a 'weaker look.'
pdnb raises a question about a rumored 10-15% price increase for the IWC Portuguese Automatic 5001 in June, indicating market interest and potential impact on buyers.

The Discussion

amanico

May 20, 2008

A confirmation, SJX

The Portuguese is a very nice beast, and seems, as you said, much more appealing than what we saw in the Press files... I will certainly see it asap in the flesh to make my mind on it, but I really think that I'll appreciate it. A deception, now, the Flieger...For the same reasons than you, SJX..These greenish indexes are just not for me..I find them ugly..It's ok on the Aquatimer, not on the Flieger... The other deception is the Portofino, much less appealing in real than in the Press Files pic

SJX

May 20, 2008

Then it appears we share the same bad taste

:-) - SJX

Dirk

May 20, 2008

Whereas the Portuguese looks great with the black dial

the Portofino is stunning only with the white dial, which makes it come closest to a pocketwatch worn on the wrist I have ever seen, in the nicest possible way. The other watch I like is the Ingenieur, not despite but due to its generic looks - this is what a watch looked like when I grew up, though in a larger case to suit today's tastes. I can overlook - or rather, see through - the lack of a Faraday iron cage to enjoy the movement. Cheers, Dirk

AnthonyTsai

May 20, 2008

For me, some of the platinum Vintage Collection pieces look better

than their corresponding steel pieces from Vintage Collection. The Platinum versions all use white dials while the steel versions black dials; and for those wondering, you can click here to see pics of the Platinum pieces. I personally like the below watch in a white dial for some reason. Cheers, Anthony

SJX

May 20, 2008

Thanks Anthony.

Hopefully I can get some photos of the platinum ones also. - SJX

AnthonyTsai

May 20, 2008

The huge box of the platinum set is awesome

so try to see the box too if u have a chance. Cheers, Anthony