When IWC announced its revolutionary Calibre 5000 –its first in-house automatic in years-- in 2000, the movement contained several special features, including a seven-day power reserve. Some people were intrigued, since the watch would have a week's “autonomy”, and for example it would be “set to go” if perhaps just worn on weekends. Others scoffed at the notion of an automatic with a seven-day power reserve. They understood why a lengthy reserve would be useful on a manual watch, but not on an automatic which should stay fully wound when worn.
IWC also did something unusual to create the lengthy autonomy: it used a huge barrel, specially coated, and had an enormously long mainspring inside. It was a simple solution, in a sense, since the long spring would take longer to unwind. This was unlike what some other watch manufacture's then did –such as using two smaller barrels, in one watch, that would run in tandem. Kurt Klaus told me 10 years ago that IWC's design was simpler and, therefore, there was less to go wrong.
But –did IWC make a mistake? The huge barrel needed for the lengthy mainspring takes up a lot of space, and requires a large movement (and correspondingly a very large watch). Some have argued that the pressure from such a large mainspring as it unwinds creates greater isochronism error –that is, accuracy can be affected, and even a few seconds can make a difference. Or do we really need 7 days' power reserve? For normal use, isn't 36 or 78, or even 72 hours enough?
Still, the feature is useful and distinctive. Perhaps IWC not only didn't make a mistake but also accomplished something important.
334 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 25, 2005
I love the 7days movement in my 5002, because it's not easy for me to wear this with suit in weekdays. Also, winding the watch on the 5th day is a pure pleasure... so the longer it takes to get it fully winded just prolong my pleasure moment.
3,750 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 22, 2001
Michael - I would have to say that the 7-day power reserve is quite practical and innovative. The ability to wear a Portuguese, or Pilot, etc just 1 or 2 days a week to keep it running is great. I always have thought about the "chicken or the egg" paradox - is the case big because of the power reserve? Or did IWC correctly design a large, stylish case that made it possible to "go big" with the power reserve?
Below is a link to a movie I shot of another Forum member's Cal. 5000 during a presentation on the Cal. 5000 power reserve by none other than Kurt Klaus....
93 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2009
Well its clear that for everyday use an AUTO 7days PWR is not necessary...BUT...what about if you rotate it your IWC with other pieces?...Now...makes sense!
I do...and I see really useful to have a full week when taking again one of my favorite watches and see it´s "ready to go"!
I also see that the 7Days IWC movement very reliable and really accurate compared with other long power reserve pieces I own.
Many time is not just coming with something new that the others are not offering...but offering a new perspective to the market. And IWC did it great!
My other mechanical watch has a power reserve of 42 hours and I inevitably have to wind it by hand and set it if I don't wear it for a couple of days. So I find the increased autonomy of the 7 day movement extremely practical as well. Perhaps the large movement did compel a large watch, but I personally love the classically elegant and superbly legible result it produced-
My 2 week old 5001-07 has also kept perfect time so far!
4,760 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
I am very happy with the 7 day power reserve in my BP and Portuguese Automatic. Having more than one watch means that a long power reserve is a big plus. I agree that if you own only one watch, it's less of an advantage.
28 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 12, 2010Skokie, Il,
United States
The seven-day power reserve is a godsend, in my opinion. If I don't want to wear my 5004 for a few days, I never have to worry about it winding down -- and having to reset the time. None of my other watches -- including other IWC and Breitling models -- has this feature, and they're always winding down if I don't remember to keep them wound. How about a big YEAH! for this wonderful feature.
3,775 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
I think that a longer power reserve has practical advantages when you wear different watches in a kind of rotation. Certainly with a perpetual calendar you can feel the advantage at not needing to set that calendar: that may be easy, but I don't know because I never did until now. However, more useful to me is the power reserve indicator. That would be certainly more useful with a short power reserve, but after a while you really don't know whether the watch would survive the night, no matter long or short power reserve. This is certailnly true if you are not such an active man: sitting all day checking e-mail and so doesn't really rock the watch.
So, well done IWC. What will the next innovation be?
Kind regards, Paul
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
184 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 18, 2008The Beach,
United States
I also think the 7-day power reserve is a great achievement. My PPC ran down only once since since purchased in December and I did that to see if it would become more accurate. As I thought, it did not and continues to be ~12 seconds fast per day.
Greetings,
When IWC announced its revolutionary Calibre 5000 –its first in-house automatic in years-- in 2000, the movement contained several special features, including a seven-day power reserve. Some people were intrigued, since the watch would have a week's “autonomy”, and for example it would be “set to go” if perhaps just worn on weekends. Others scoffed at the notion of an automatic with a seven-day power reserve. They understood why a lengthy reserve would be useful on a manual watch, but not on an automatic which should stay fully wound when worn.
IWC also did something unusual to create the lengthy autonomy: it used a huge barrel, specially coated, and had an enormously long mainspring inside. It was a simple solution, in a sense, since the long spring would take longer to unwind. This was unlike what some other watch manufacture's then did –such as using two smaller barrels, in one watch, that would run in tandem. Kurt Klaus told me 10 years ago that IWC's design was simpler and, therefore, there was less to go wrong.
But –did IWC make a mistake? The huge barrel needed for the lengthy mainspring takes up a lot of space, and requires a large movement (and correspondingly a very large watch). Some have argued that the pressure from such a large mainspring as it unwinds creates greater isochronism error –that is, accuracy can be affected, and even a few seconds can make a difference. Or do we really need 7 days' power reserve? For normal use, isn't 36 or 78, or even 72 hours enough?
Still, the feature is useful and distinctive. Perhaps IWC not only didn't make a mistake but also accomplished something important.
What are your thoughts?
Regards,
Michael
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
Last edited: 7 March, 2013 - 19:31
Below is a link to a movie I shot of another Forum member's Cal. 5000 during a presentation on the Cal. 5000 power reserve by none other than Kurt Klaus....
http://homepage.mac.com/rsheridan/.Public/Larrys_5000.mov
Regards,
Ardoise
Last edited: 1 January, 2012 - 17:55
I do...and I see really useful to have a full week when taking again one of my favorite watches and see it´s "ready to go"!
I also see that the 7Days IWC movement very reliable and really accurate compared with other long power reserve pieces I own.
Many time is not just coming with something new that the others are not offering...but offering a new perspective to the market. And IWC did it great!
Cheers!
Nacho Martinez
Spain
http://people.timezone.com/mfriedberg/articles/einstein_from_schaffhausen.html
My other mechanical watch has a power reserve of 42 hours and I inevitably have to wind it by hand and set it if I don't wear it for a couple of days. So I find the increased autonomy of the 7 day movement extremely practical as well. Perhaps the large movement did compel a large watch, but I personally love the classically elegant and superbly legible result it produced-
My 2 week old 5001-07 has also kept perfect time so far!
Kind regards,
Clemens
Last edited: 30 May, 2012 - 20:59
Steve
So, well done IWC. What will the next innovation be?
Kind regards,
Paul
What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)
Last edited: 23 October, 2011 - 13:31
I'm still debating when I want to send it in??
With my best regards, Eric
Last edited: 25 June, 2011 - 21:14