cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20750
A Decade With One Watch
There's nothing like a scan through the history files to depress and amaze one. I was prompted to do so by Andrew's question the other day about keeping a watch running. If you're interested, here are a batch of photos from the last decade featuring my favorite IWC watch.
This is not my only watch, but it is the only watch I have loved so long and kept so happily for all these years of my collecting mania.
Silver dial with white detailing, in SS case. Not enough contrast on the multiple hands for chrono and date (IMHO)
Salmon dial - available in multiple languages
A rare GST chronograph (not perpetual), in a gold case and bracelet. I don't think the Perpetual was ever made in gold, but IWC experts please correct me if I'm wrong.
The International Watch Company (IWC) Gold Steel Titanium (GST) Titanium (ti) Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is powered by a 7750 engine with complications and case protection spearheaded by IWC master Kurt Klaus.
but who would want to give up this fantastic bracelet with quick-release buttons for every link?
THE END
In 1985, the Da Vinci from IWC is the first chronograph to feature a perpetual calendar that is mechanically programmed for the next 500 years and can be set using only the crown. Another exclusive feature is the four-digit year display.
In the Fall of 1997, IWC introduced a new model line, called “GST”, which was an acronym for “gold, steel and titanium”. These models were shown at the Basel Fair in March 1998, and first in the 1998-9 catalog... One magazine, WatchTime, reports that IWC’s changes to the base movement were such that “you could almost describe it as a total revision….Nearly all critical components along the path from the escapement to the mainspring are removed from the movement and replaced with corresponding components from IWC’s own manufacture.”
Come on in behind the vault door...
The earliest photo I can find indicates that I had received the watch and had it on my wrist by September 23, 2003. I got it from a second-hand watch dealer here in SoCal.
And here we have the Perpetual with a watch I wish I hadn't sold to Frank in Germany
Alongside my first Grand Seiko and my first and last RGM
The first time I did a SOTC (State of the Collection) post. Don't you love that hollow arrow-tip on the chrono second hand?
Comparison shots with the Seiko Flight Master ti-ceramic, etc. etc. A great watch.
The only rear shot I have of the GST, by the way. And I have never opened this watch, unlike many of mine
Side views?
Stacking
With another great watch that I still have (and it's never been serviced either - I'm tempting fate)
Into 2006 now, with one of many other GSTs I have owned. I love that gold moon!!
Closeup for you
With its brother, the Rattrapante. This is the only one I've had, the only steel GST I've had, and a gorgeous blue dial.
The earliest photo I can find indicates that I had received the watch and had it on my wrist by September 23, 2003. I got it from a second-hand watch dealer here in SoCal.
The watch had not been running for 9 months, and it took me a few hours (all afternoon) to wind it forward, one day at a time.
Comparing IWC chrono moons. A substantial difference in bulk - the watch on the right powered by the JLC mecha-quartz movement in a Porsche Design case made by IWC
Months later, in February of 2004, I realized the watch was changing days & dates at 6 am. That was irritating! I sent this plaintive note to IWC's service center:
Dear IWC,
I have an IWC GST Perpetual titanium watch, which I purchased used from a dealer in the US about 6 months ago. It is dated 12-24-2001 on a warranty card from Les Ambassadeurs, Geneva.
A week or so before New Year's, in getting ready to watch the date change to 2004, I noticed that it does not switch at midnight. It begins to change at 6 am precisely.
The day, the date and the month all move in about 10 minutes time. They point to the right places and dates, and it keeps the correct time.
I believe it has been this way since I bought the watch, but cannot say I as I never noticed it before. My dealer's expert watchmaker recently passed away and they have no one to help me.
A week or so before New Year's, in getting ready to watch the date change to 2004, I noticed that it does not switch at midnight. It begins to change at 6 am precisely.
The day, the date and the month all move in about 10 minutes time. They point to the right places and dates, and it keeps the correct time.
I believe it has been this way since I bought the watch, but cannot say I as I never noticed it before. My dealer's expert watchmaker recently passed away and they have no one to help me.
Could you please advise me on what I can do? Is this an adjustment or repair situation?
Thank you
Thank you
The reply was basically "You broke it. Send it in for the $1000 service" to which my dealer said, "No way I'm paying for that, take it to my man Ken in the mountains". Ken turned out to be an old bike-riding pal of mine I hadn't seen in 20 years. He stared at the watch for about 8 hours pondering, then said "Someone put the hour hand 180 degrees off from where they should have!" He unscrewed the front crystal/bezel, swapped the hand around, and it's been running correctly for the last decade.
Let's take a look:
And here we have the Perpetual with a watch I wish I hadn't sold to Frank in Germany
Alongside my first Grand Seiko and my first and last RGM
The first time I did a SOTC (State of the Collection) post. Don't you love that hollow arrow-tip on the chrono second hand?
Comparison shots with the Seiko Flight Master ti-ceramic, etc. etc. A great watch.
The only rear shot I have of the GST, by the way. And I have never opened this watch, unlike many of mine
Side views?
Stacking
With another great watch that I still have (and it's never been serviced either - I'm tempting fate)
Into 2006 now, with one of many other GSTs I have owned. I love that gold moon!!
Closeup for you
With its brother, the Rattrapante. This is the only one I've had, the only steel GST I've had, and a gorgeous blue dial.
Too heavy for my taste though, and very thick. A result of Mr Richard Habring's genius while at IWC.
During my Titanium acquisition phase ... some lovely pens and a Boker knife along with a normal 2000M Aquatimer.
During my Titanium acquisition phase ... some lovely pens and a Boker knife along with a normal 2000M Aquatimer.
I've also had the minute chrono, the regular chrono, the alarm and so on. Down to one GST now. The Perpetual.
Into 2007
The great wildfires in October 2007 that burned out my friend's house in 20 minutes, and covered my car with ashes, 50 miles away
I believe this infamous shot is the best-known with my GST - at the Rainbow Grille in Hollywood on Leap Year change day, 2008
A minor distraction for you - how the calendar mechanism works. At this phase in my watch-owning life, I was trying to understand this watch. I gave up.
Yup. Gave up the watch books, started on a bottle of wine, washed away all those confusing thoughts.
I had no idea what this was about when I found this picture today on my hard drive ? ! Clearly under the influence of champagne, as it's changing years on the calendar.
Now we've come to 2010. Not many photos of this watch that year. The year my mom passed and 6 weeks later Mrs C's mom died.
Into 2007
The great wildfires in October 2007 that burned out my friend's house in 20 minutes, and covered my car with ashes, 50 miles away
I believe this infamous shot is the best-known with my GST - at the Rainbow Grille in Hollywood on Leap Year change day, 2008
A minor distraction for you - how the calendar mechanism works. At this phase in my watch-owning life, I was trying to understand this watch. I gave up.
Yup. Gave up the watch books, started on a bottle of wine, washed away all those confusing thoughts.
I had no idea what this was about when I found this picture today on my hard drive ? ! Clearly under the influence of champagne, as it's changing years on the calendar.
Now we've come to 2010. Not many photos of this watch that year. The year my mom passed and 6 weeks later Mrs C's mom died.
Visiting Seattle for a moms memorial celebration in 2011
I guess I just took this because I could - can't remember the context. Maybe cooking steaks, as the (highly useful) chrono is running in this shot.
2012 is now upon us. The year almost went by but I got a shot of it on Hwy 5 heading up to Napa Valley for a family Christmas celebration.
And stopped in Santa Barbara to talk watches, drink wine and fuss with my collecting buddy's new pooch.
2012 is now upon us. The year almost went by but I got a shot of it on Hwy 5 heading up to Napa Valley for a family Christmas celebration.
And stopped in Santa Barbara to talk watches, drink wine and fuss with my collecting buddy's new pooch.
Its home for most of the decade
This is the only lume shot of taken of the watch - today. After all this time, it's not bad. Used my iPhone too with no sneaky tricks or long exposure.
The rare and expensive Velcro strap option for GST watches
but who would want to give up this fantastic bracelet with quick-release buttons for every link?
check the plastic still on the back of the watch!
And so we come to
THE END
Cazalea
APPENDIX (photos from the web)
The Man
Silver dial with white detailing, in SS case. Not enough contrast on the multiple hands for chrono and date (IMHO)
Salmon dial - available in multiple languages
A rare GST chronograph (not perpetual), in a gold case and bracelet. I don't think the Perpetual was ever made in gold, but IWC experts please correct me if I'm wrong.
