Comments:
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.
A decade with a watch! That means a lot.
How many of us can make such a post, in an era where we " eat " watches?
Very interesting thoughts, my friend.
I laughted a lot when I read your comments on the issue of your Watch, and the simple solution which was found by the man of the mountains.
I hope you will have many other years with it!
All the best,
Nicolas
Very interesting thoughts, my friend.
I laughted a lot when I read your comments on the issue of your Watch, and the simple solution which was found by the man of the mountains.
I hope you will have many other years with it!
All the best,
Nicolas
That is not a simple post ... It's ... History ...
Cazalea,
Thank you for sharing the saga of your wonderful IWC.
After those 10 years, it's a beauty and a mechanical wonder.
I have A LOT of respect for IWC watches and, in fact, I just added another to my meager set of watches.
Another point that you made on your history was "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.".
This shows how important to us is the independent watchmaker that most, if not all, brands wants to kill.
Congratulations and my deep respect to you that is able to keep a watch for ten years, considering that my oldest watch in my possession has ... one year or so.
Cheers,
Nilo
Thank you for sharing the saga of your wonderful IWC.
After those 10 years, it's a beauty and a mechanical wonder.
I have A LOT of respect for IWC watches and, in fact, I just added another to my meager set of watches.
Another point that you made on your history was "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.".
This shows how important to us is the independent watchmaker that most, if not all, brands wants to kill.
Congratulations and my deep respect to you that is able to keep a watch for ten years, considering that my oldest watch in my possession has ... one year or so.
Cheers,
Nilo
But what will you do on 12/31/2199?
Will it damage the watch to try to advance the century indicator to 22? Won't you need to get the watch serviced and upgraded before then? Should you order the replacement century now just to have it on hand? 
Great watch and great post.
Regards,
Jon
Jon, you can't out-think the Swiss!
Here's the spare part already in the box, hermetically sealed ...
Along with 3 books, warranty card, polishing cloth, spare links and so on.
Cazalea
Along with 3 books, warranty card, polishing cloth, spare links and so on.
Cazalea
Wow! Amazing.
I'm not easily surprised, but you and IWC have done it. I was, of course, just trying to be a little funny. It is so charming that they would think of a little detail like extending the calendar function an additional 300 years.
With no productive work left for humans by that time, the year 2499, I'm sure there will be a cadre of people making watches in "the way of the ancients" purely for their personal satisfaction. At least, I hope there will be. I hope your watch is the treasured possession of one of these people and he or she manufactures the part for the coming 300 years, which, given advances in medicine, will correspond to his or her old age.
Regards,
Jon
We found an optimist
Whirling,
You reveal yourself as the consummate optimist........
MTF
Simply great !
Hi Cazalea,
I enjoyed reading your post. It's a IWC time stamp on many occasion of your last decade.
Your story about the inverted hour hand speaks of bloopers that can occur during the assembling of a watch. How it went undetected. That prompts me that the things that we may be alerted to as we stare closely at our watch while admiring them, especially at the turn of the day, month or year or lunar phase.
I am a fan of the moon phase complication. That shot of the golden moon is impeccable. In my mind, if there is watch with an illum moon. It would be one which I would buy.
I also enjoyed the image showing the gears of the watch. The calculations speaks of the gear ratio. I believe, the top gear on the side facing away from us has a smaller gear at the center with 30 teeth. (it should be draw in dotted lines for clarity IMHO). However, just as you are unable to understand the watch, I too am confuse about the numbers 59.xxxx. (why 59 ?)
Many images still stay on my mind of your watch as I write this reply.
The watch in the wine glass, the watch on your TV screen, the watch on the ground with ash from the fire and the watch within the cracks of the ground.
(I am sorry to hear about the passing of your mum.)
This IWC perpetual is one of the most outstanding I have seen. Many perpetuals do not feature the year in "YYYY" format. But this one does and it's amazing !
I was looking at the pictures of your watch dial up close trying to spot the "leap year indicator" (1, 2, 3 , 4) but found none. Is there a complication that I miss out ?
Congratulations on owning this piece of watch tech. Enjoy the watch for many decades to come.
God Bless.
I enjoyed reading your post. It's a IWC time stamp on many occasion of your last decade.
Your story about the inverted hour hand speaks of bloopers that can occur during the assembling of a watch. How it went undetected. That prompts me that the things that we may be alerted to as we stare closely at our watch while admiring them, especially at the turn of the day, month or year or lunar phase.
I am a fan of the moon phase complication. That shot of the golden moon is impeccable. In my mind, if there is watch with an illum moon. It would be one which I would buy.
I also enjoyed the image showing the gears of the watch. The calculations speaks of the gear ratio. I believe, the top gear on the side facing away from us has a smaller gear at the center with 30 teeth. (it should be draw in dotted lines for clarity IMHO). However, just as you are unable to understand the watch, I too am confuse about the numbers 59.xxxx. (why 59 ?)
Many images still stay on my mind of your watch as I write this reply.
The watch in the wine glass, the watch on your TV screen, the watch on the ground with ash from the fire and the watch within the cracks of the ground.
(I am sorry to hear about the passing of your mum.)
This IWC perpetual is one of the most outstanding I have seen. Many perpetuals do not feature the year in "YYYY" format. But this one does and it's amazing !
I was looking at the pictures of your watch dial up close trying to spot the "leap year indicator" (1, 2, 3 , 4) but found none. Is there a complication that I miss out ?
Congratulations on owning this piece of watch tech. Enjoy the watch for many decades to come.
God Bless.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments I
In response to your question, there is no leap year indicator (I think) as they felt showing the entire year was enough. It is very rare, if not unique, to show all four digits of the year in a perpetual.
Cazalea
Cazalea
And onto many more decades...
Thanks for sharing! Spending a decade with one watch is a long time.
A toast to many more decades.
Congratulations on Decade one with your IWC
That sets up well for decade two.
Best
Bill
Best
Bill
Just as long but not as much....
cazalea,
Thank you for sharing the decade with us.
Many may have watches for just as long but few will have the photo archive that spans a decade.
Your horo-psyche is partially revealed.........
What makes this watch different from the others in your considerable experience?
Regards,
MTF
What makes it different from others?
It has a clear sense of what it is, style wise. No flash. Titanium.
An Engineer watch, not for basketball or polo players.
Useable in many contexts except under dress shirt cuffs.
The incredibly cool bracelet.
I met Kurt and that always increases the vibe of a watch.
That "perforated" tip on the chrono second hand.
Large enough to see, not too large to be uncomfortable.
Uh, is that enough?
Mike
' nuff said
'nuff said! That was the phrase of one of Marvel Comics's most taciturn characters - The Thing. He also said, "It's clobberin' time!" But that is a different story.
Your reasons are enough. I also like the hollow point arrow seconds hand.
Regards,
Melvyn
One more image . . .
. . . from my files, Mike . . .
. . . taken a few hours before yours.
Fun times! Next year, same place? . . .