I purchased this 3717-01 around 2010, I love the size and clear dial layout. Of all the recent versions, this is my favorite. It has kept great time. I sent it for one service about 1.5 years ago and that was only because my daughter dropped it and gouged...
... although I do like the direction with smaller big pilot and yacht club, etc. As for the welding they definitely do, as well as ALS and VC. Maybe a richemont thing?
I have the same model and love the look/design. It's a little bigger/heavier on the wrist than more basic pilot watches like the Mark XVI or Stowa Flieger, so it gets less wrist time than it deserves. It's always great to see the 3717, however -- a keeper...
Evened out a little by adding the single fold deployant. I got rid of the standard strap and got the big pilot type from the more recent pilot chronos. I also have the oem nato which is nice but this is too top heavy for that IMO
... which works pretty well. But I agree that the watch is a bit chunky for many standard leather straps. I'd be interested to see more pics of the big pilot strap with single fold deployment and may check these out via a Google search. This watch works b...
So leather one likely more secure. I will post pictures later on of the bug pilot type strap and the deployant. Keep in mind with a single fold if your wrist is small, if the strap isn't a little shorter on one side it may wear uncomfortably.
Here is the strap. I call it big pilot style because that is how the strap on the BP looks where it tapers. Here is the model # The clasp IWC nato and OEM strap ...