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A melancholic tone SJX - you seem to feel as if the Swiss watch
industry, breathing again with new life, new Grande Complications which were honest, while 'Grande' were nonetheless solving the problems in the most straightforward and uncomplicated manner, and that after winning this new lease of life, have (for the most part) squandered the riches they could have had.... Much has been lost in hyperbol and marketing departments, rather than with true master watchmakers and craftsmen.
Great photos - brilliant detail and the images really 'bounce' off the screen. Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the photographer! Enjoyed the read and photos.
Andrew H
PS. I agree!
Remembering the Il Destriero Scafusia from IWC
At the time of its launch the IWC Il Destriero Scafusia was touted as the most complicated wristwatch in the world. It was one of several remarkable grand complication watches that emerged at the end of the eighties and early nineties, as the Swiss watch ...
Il Destriero Scafusia photo essay (lots of images)
This message has been edited by SJX on 2009-08-14 03:45:30...
WOW again! Its a pity
they don't extend this level of craftmanship to more of their collection.
So all IWC had to do was squeeze a minute repeater, and a perpetual
calendar chronograph watch into a nice gold or platinum case. And they call it a Grand Complication? Of course then cram in a rattrapante. Spin in a tourbillon. Whirr. Ding DaDing. Give it a sapphire window and carve a few hundred designs in. And actually...
A melancholic tone SJX - you seem to feel as if the Swiss watch
industry, breathing again with new life, new Grande Complications which were honest, while 'Grande' were nonetheless solving the problems in the most straightforward and uncomplicated manner, and that after winning this new lease of life, have (for the mo...
Thank you for this most refreshing perspective!
and wonderful pictures of this unique watch!
Thank you so much for that hommage to a milestone timepiece!
You rightly said that the Destriero (meaning "battle horse") is a design belonging to the past, but in spite of that a true classic. Since you mentioned Günter Blümlein and Kurt Klaus being part of the legend, I was, however, astonished to miss a name tha...
Ah yes that was an unfair omission
which completely slipped my mind. Richard indeed needs mention, especially for his work on the tourbillon. Though he has done much else, I always associate him with that. - SJX
Doesn't the AP Tourbillon
I can't remember the model name, but the 50-second hammer-wind caliber, use a Titanium cage? a
Marcus, you are right to remind us on Richard's involvement, ...
but if I recall correctly Audemars Piguet used Titanium for the tourbillon cage already in 1986 in the first automatic Tourbillon? Here is a pic of that watch (courtesy Foversta): For the entire discussion please click here Best, Magnus...
You are of course correct, Magnus! So can we credit Richard to be the first ...
... using a titanium cage in a flying tourbillon? Regards, Marcus
I guess so...
but honestly for me, these discussions on who is the first, who is the best, etc are simply tiring. How often have we seen such claims which then have to be corrected/qualified/withdrawn? Do they really intensify our appreciation of watches: "The first au...
... says "the first Magnus ever to wear an MIH-watch"!! ...
... what would life be without our ability to find ever more special categories we could be "first" in? But of course, in the matter you are right. Regards, Marcus
Thanks JX for enlightening...
myself and perhaps others on this masterpiece. Indeed, a testament to this wonderful piece of horology is that it is based on a workhorse Valjoux 7750. Being such, it is even more of an achievement that it has succeeded in what many others, with so much m...
Loved seeing this at the IWC Museum in Schaffhausen
Excellent report and thanks for the reminder of the importance of this icon to the IWC tradition. It is "Probus Scafusia" to the max. Bill
Ah, to see again, so clear and close, the ram of Schaffhausen ...
excellent reminder and thoroughly enjoyable write-up. I've always enjoyed that IWC incorporated the town symbol of Schaffhausen in the movement's engraving. Thanks, JX
A lovely watch
SJX - Thank you for the photo essay and also for your thoughts on this timepiece. Every time I see it, I'm impressed by the unusually beautiful decoration on the movement and the friendly usable layout of its dial. Cheers, Daos
Thanks SJX for this review
Undoubtedly an important and historical watch in IWC's history. I saw one recently, in platinum. It looked less aged than this one. Thanks again for your post and your fantastic pictures. Emmanuel
Nice review
Nice review and it amazing how a ETA base movement can be transform to such a high end watch. By the way, when you say green liquid, are you refering to tritium gas filled tube? Cause never heard of any watch that has green liquid in it. I never heard of ...
SJX is referring to the Concord C1 QuantumGravity
press release: home.watchprosite.com...
Thanks for the update!
Cause last time i saw the C1 is only the movement where the string is attached to the tourbillon only. Well these C1 is really full of out of watch world complication.
Hummm International Watch Company was indeed a great watch brand:!
Hi, I obviously would not say that it is the only brand who suffered from the last decade, but perhaps one of the old established brands who suffered the most (IMVHO)! It is smartly pointed at that International Watch Company has been replaced by the twin...
Great article
Many thanks for this great article of one of the icons in horology. In spite of the many complications, IWC manages to keep the watch clear and legible, allegro
Thanks for the great read SJX
I've been dying to read this article for such a long time, and I finally have some free time tonight to catch up on old posts. I would love to strap one of this bad boys on my wrist someday. And the day I'm in the market for a minute repeater, the IWC Il ...
An impressive review
On an impressive watch! This one is one of the very few I never had the opportunity to see in the flesh... I was dreaming about it, when I saw the pics around 1997. It would be interesting to quote all the complications housed in this legend, to compare i...