IWC

And will launch a re edtion of some of their most interesting watches...Da Vinci, Aquatimer, Portuguese, Ingenieur, Pilot Watch and Portofino moonphase...
I have a pic, that is posted on the IWC official forum...
The Portuguese is sublime as the Aquatimer, and the Pilot watch.
Go on the Official Website, and have a look, please...
It may be a good year for IWC...And Happy to see some interesting stuff again, as it wasn't the case for some years now, IMHO.
Let me know what do you think, as I don't feel authorized to post here the pic taken on this official website.
Read you soon.
Nicolas

Last year's IWC collection was not extraordinary, all of the watches were obviously going to be commercially successful but in my opinion there was nothing outstanding. With this retro-collection, IWC has gone a long way towards winning back the hearts of hardcore fans who think it has gone off the rails. I am very eager to see these watches in the metal.

- SJX

...bought an IWC watch. My Swiss father in law always wore one and it was gold and truely a nice solid watch.

Of the new collection, the only  model that grabs me is the moon phase...though the bad english often used by IWC seems confusing in that it only comes in Stainless or PLT....but they show a gold model.

I think stainless watches are a must for work....but for a fine watch I am a yellow gold guy and there lies a problem.

I feel that with modern IWC watches they, according to their profile drawings, put a lot of emphasis on the "soft iron inner case" which protects against magnetism.

I have never thought magnetic fields were such a problem with a basic brass and  stainless movement...and I have this feeling that it is in their interest, more than most other makers, to use this as a gimmic to trade gold for iron.

Sure you pick up an IWC and it feels heavy like gold, but when you consider that it is a much smaller movement than is represented by the outer case size, when you consider that it has a substantially thick iron inner case, an iron inner back and an iron dial...then the mind starts to wonder if the iron is a replacement for gold and it's anti magnetic properties just all makes a good story.

Certainly compared to a gold Rolex 's stamped gold case, or a gold Breguet with it's silver plated gold dial, its rather substantial gold case, solid gold lugs and gold winder in the autos...IWC to me is charging prices almost right up there and may not be giving such a solid gold product......but they have a good story about the need for their inner iron chastey belt.

To me, although for sentamental reasons and a genuine like of some models, I am not confident that it is an honest watch when compared to other simular "gold" watches.

Having said that, I like the look of their simple moon phase "Gold" model as shown in their web site you referenced.

I also love their Pilots Crono in gold with stark black dial and white hands....very clear, very clean....but a soft iron dial, an  iron back,  and an iron inner case wrapped around the movement.....!!!!

There now seems the be Gold watches, Gold plated watches and IWC Gold iron watches.

If someone can correct me I would be pleased to be converted but to pay top dollar for an IWC Gold iorn watch...not yet.

So for the moment I am still to be converted.

As for the other five models representing their 140 th birthday...they do not grab me.

With kindest regards to all,

Jack

This message has been edited by justpen on 2008-02-28 08:20:13

You are obviously referring to the Pilot or Ingenieur product lines as these are the only lines using the soft iron core. Yes you can question the practicality of the core but no more so than the use of a mechanical watch in the 21st century in the first place. It's a nod to the past and for most has no real practical advantage. Who cares?

Regarding pricing, I don't know where you're coming from. No way is the price of a SS IWC close to that of other brands in gold cases. By the way the size of the iron core is a moot point. The 42mm Fliegerchrono uses a 30mm movement and that is no different than many other manufacturers who use the same movement in equal or substantially larger cases.

Thanks, Mike.

 Will try again.

This message has been edited by justpen on 2008-02-28 16:14:43

...But no, not comparing stainless IWC with other gold watches....rather comparing IWC gold content against other gold watches of simular price.

 And just asking the question about the value of a gold IWC with it's iron core.... against simular priced gold watches  where the metal surrounding the movement is all gold.

Take a look at the photo and drawing and this might help you to see where I am comming from.

By the way it is not just IWC that have Iron inners....others also do but IWC seems the biggest .....so it is just the question about price comparrison and wether my dollars are buying a "Gold" watch....... or an "Iron" watch with a very thin gold wrapping.

Kindest regards to all,

Jack

This message has been edited by justpen on 2008-02-28 16:17:44 This message has been edited by justpen on 2008-02-28 16:18:46

The only way I can answer is to say that retail prices on watches are arbitrary and to correlate them with the amount of gold in the case is nearly impossible to do. So many other factors that go into the equation including the movement, strap, dial material and most importantly and harder to quantify, supply and demand.

Look at the beautiful new Rolex Milgauss. I only picked this model because it too has antimagnetic properties but it retails for less than a comparable IWC Ingenieur yet generally sells for much more due to its newness, rarity and demand.

Thanks, Mike.

No message body

IWC Has many watches I don't like, and some I just can't wear, but that new moonphase and the sub-second one are quite nice looking.  As a side, that Da Vinci REALLY looks like a 70s Omega I've seen somewhere...
-a