When I began collecting IWC watches in the early 1990s, the vintage watch to get was the Mark 11. IWC's catalog called it IWC's “first megastar”. Back then, IWC lead the way to a renewed market interest in military-styled watches, starting in 1988 with the mecaquartz pilot's chronograph.
The Mark 11 had everything: classic style, a heritage, a great movement, and it was rare enough to be valued but available enough to be popular. I recall during a factory visit in the late 1990s that several watchmakers were wearing the Mark 11.
But we've come a long way, and a lot of references, since then. There are many models today that are rarer, like the Special Wristwatch for Aviators or the Ref. 325 Vintage Portugieser. There are other contenders, too, such as vintage Ingenieurs, several vintage Aquatimers, or perhaps the original Big Pilot's Watch.
What's your opinion? Nominate below your first, second and third choices for “vintage megastar”? We'll compute votes and celebrate our winner.
Larry Seiden Wrote:I have a funny feeling that there will be time, very soon when the list of vintage megastars will also include original Da Vinci perpetual chrono!
Around the year 2000, IWC's magazine WATCH International did a survey of its readers for the "watch of the decade" if I recall. The winner was the orignal Da Vinci perpetual.
Greetings,
When I began collecting IWC watches in the early 1990s, the vintage watch to get was the Mark 11. IWC's catalog called it IWC's “first megastar”. Back then, IWC lead the way to a renewed market interest in military-styled watches, starting in 1988 with the mecaquartz pilot's chronograph.
The Mark 11 had everything: classic style, a heritage, a great movement, and it was rare enough to be valued but available enough to be popular. I recall during a factory visit in the late 1990s that several watchmakers were wearing the Mark 11.
But we've come a long way, and a lot of references, since then. There are many models today that are rarer, like the Special Wristwatch for Aviators or the Ref. 325 Vintage Portugieser. There are other contenders, too, such as vintage Ingenieurs, several vintage Aquatimers, or perhaps the original Big Pilot's Watch.
What's your opinion? Nominate below your first, second and third choices for “vintage megastar”? We'll compute votes and celebrate our winner.
Regards,
Michael
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
-the Mark XII
-the ref. 866 Ingenieur
-the ref. 812 Aquatimer
BUT, I can't seem to put them in any order- they are all so great, yet so different. I think they all deserve to be Vintage Megastars.
Nelson
Last edited: 15 February, 2011 - 20:21
2nd: Mark XI
3nd: Portofino Ref 5251
Last edited: 7 March, 2013 - 19:31
My choices:
ref. 325 - ref. 5441 (maybe not vintage but substantially same watch)
ref. 431
ref. 3750 - ref. 1832
Regards,
roberto
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07
Second, for me without hesitation the ref. 666 Ingenieur
Third, too many to chose from - the Beobachtungsuhr? the first Portofino ref 5251?
Dirk
Larry
The greatest IWC is the one that is inbound."
Last edited: 23 July, 2011 - 19:23
Around the year 2000, IWC's magazine WATCH International did a survey of its readers for the "watch of the decade" if I recall. The winner was the orignal Da Vinci perpetual.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
B-Uhren
Ingenieur ref 866
...probably in the order listed, but would jump on the opportunity of any of them!
Cheers,
Evan
evan_nanos at yahoo.com
Portuguese 325
The next on my list would be:
B-uhr
Ingenieur 666
Ingenieur 1832
Mark 11
Mark X (WWW)
Jens-Kristian
Last edited: 8 July, 2011 - 20:46
And any original old pilot Mark IX, X, XI
b.bunnik <u>at</u> zonnet.nl
Last edited: 27 August, 2011 - 21:53