Larry Seiden
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I"m a bigtime IWC collector...
Or let me say, I was a big time collector.
I look at modern IWC as 2 distinct companies with different watch philosophies (1940-2005 and 2007 - present). Nothing wrong with either, although as a collector, I consider the pre-Kern days as the Golden Era. From the Ports to the Pilots to the Inges to the DaVincis and the Aquatimers. When I look at my collection, the only contemporary (2007+) timepieces I have purchased are the CF3, the Kurt Klaus PerpChrono, and Port 3714 for my wife. With great expectations, I did purchase the 75th Anniversary Port and quickly realized it did not tick all the boxes for me. Lost a great deal of money on that one. I think that says it all about how I feel about IWC now. That's not to say they may not introduce a special watch any day soon that will catch my eye, but for me, their appeal and their best days are looking back, not forward.
However, since IWC has moved to a lifestyle brand, I've been able to find myself more attracted to Lange, vintage Rolex and many "down market" brands like Junghans! If I were a Richmont shareholder I'd be slapping Kern on the back and toasting him with his favorite bubbly.
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New IWC Ingenieur is online... (press pictures added)
Are we convinced? Press pics give me the impression of overly-large bezels and, generally speaking, a sense that this isn't a modern classic in the making. Place the new three-hander next to a ref 666 and I fear there will be little to recommend the new o...
You're spot on
IWC in recent years seem to be a marketing driven company and no longer one that takes pride in great mechanical watches. I suppose there is a market for this, but for those like me, marketing has very little to do with my purchase and if not done right, ...
Richard, thanks...
I\'m pleased to see I\'m not alone here! The strategy IWC has pursued under its most recent CEO has not been one I identify with (to be fair, I haven\'t been attracted to what they\'ve been doing since the late 90s). My fear is that with his ascendancy wi...
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Which route did they take or what did they change that you aren't very fond of? I am not into IWC that much so as an 'outsider' I wonder what is going on.
Largely agree with your assessment. IWC is one of my "anchor brands" when it comes to....
.....vintage. They had their best time in the 60ies, 70ies and early 80ies when they were a technically innovative company. The Pellaton movement, the first titanium watch, the first a-magnetic watch, the first serial watch capable to dive to 2000 meters,...
More than 100.000 watches sold last year
So it seems that Mr Kern did a great job (although i don't know past revenues). Here i see many people glad he has achieved a more leading role in Richemont group. I'll be polite but i want to say that all these praising people are likely blind, because n...
I just saw the four models
and there is not a one I would want to own. Really generic-looking watches. Even the last line-up released 4-5 years ago was more distinctive. IWC could really slow down with the releases. They've lost the way. And Kern in his new position makes me fear f...
+1...my first thought was "Mall Watches"
..."And Kern in his new position makes me fear for Lange and VC." And JLC...please lord, keep JLC safe.
Seeing the new Inges ...
I don't complain about the low end / mid range Selita powered ones. IWC is doing right, having entry level models, something that all brands must learn. Any watch manufacturer must have entry models to initiate new customers. The righ ends Inge Chronograp...
While I can see your points about not expecting as much from a brand's lower-end offerings as from their higher-end offerings, and the marketing sense of a brand having...
a portfolio of products which spans different price points, I remember a time when you could go and buy an "entry-level" IWC whose ETA 2892's and Valjoux 7750's were purposefully and meaningfully modified at and by IWC, and bereft of meaningless bloat and...
If we never complain about the quality
what's the purpose of our speeches? Having entry levels doesn't necessarily mean to accept the lowering offer in terms of quality. Sellita provides affordable and reliable calibers,it's easier to buy movements than pay R&D, but may i say i don't like this...
We are talking about quality or ...
About prejudice against Selita? I have a Mark XV (presumed ETA) and a Mark XVIII (presumed Selita) and I don't see any quality variation. An entry watch works fine as an introduction to the brand (any). I agree that all those "ambassadors" don't hold wate...
Why does Richemont not invest in manufacturing factories?
Well, the answer is easy, choosing an ambassador is quicker than develop a caliber. But i will always complain, because although i like the Portoguese, when you try the chrono pushers it's like using a shift with no clutch. For me, a watch is a balance be...
Agree with the general criticism
IWC is a mass producer. I\'m a big fan of the vintage Ingenieur references and the early Da Vinci perpetual. Georges Kern had a mandate from Richemont to grow the business and for over a decade now, it\'s been about marketing the hell out of revamped mode...
IWC just improve there movements. There not made in house.
They get it from selita eta etc. Thats why i don't buy IWC. But thats me. I only have one IWC the mark xv. Spitfire. Thats as far i will go with that brand. Best. Geross. ( no offense to IWC enthusiasts )
When I saw the presentation on Facebook I thought I liked the three-hander...
But now that I've seen better photos/renderings of it I'm disappointed. I think it pales in comparison to the original 666 on which it's loosely based. It seems that they have tried to make the new Ingenieur too sporty and it's starting to look more like ...
Im interested in what's going to happen to the Genta Ingenieur
I have been hoping they would improve that model, however I\'m beginning to think it\'s as good as it\'s going to get (if it will even be continued) and the accessible Genta design will be gone.
Just to clarify:
GG had nothing to do with the 666. That was Pellaton's baby. In the 70s Genta was hired to "freshen" the Ingeneur and this resulted in the SL. IMO the SL doesn't have the same panache as the RO or Bulgari; even the Nautilus. The 666 does. It is a monster ...
You're certainly right about panache
However, the IWC Ingenieur is in a very different price bracket to the Royal Oak. That\'s why I think it\'s an important model. I\'m hoping that in the future the Ingenieur line will have the 666 and the SL design coexisting happily, in their antimagnetic...
Very disappointing looking watches
That's my really kind assessment what I really feel would most probably get me banned if I typed it. But seriously if you took all the writing off the dials would anyone ever be able to say yes that's an IWC? I seriously doubt it they are just so bland an...
I"m a bigtime IWC collector...
Or let me say, I was a big time collector. I look at modern IWC as 2 distinct companies with different watch philosophies (1940-2005 and 2007 - present). Nothing wrong with either, although as a collector, I consider the pre-Kern days as the Golden Era. F...
Interesting post, since I know you to be an IWC aficionado and have written about the brand.
I agree with your breakdown of the brand's eras. The new stuff burned me out after awhile. Big, gaudy and always something new. These newest Ingeneurs are not gaudy, but they are so generic I wonder if they are trying to tip the scale back-and a bit too f...
Still an IWC fan despite the releases
While I am gutted that they did away with the Ingenieur case which I thought was something that stood out in the IWC range, I can understand it from a business point of view. I understand from the retailers that Ingenieurs really do not move well. That sa...