3,726 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
A few days or weeks ago Nad lost the plexi glass of his 5441 while flying high in the sky. That must have been a bit of a distressing experience: like how to take care of the unprotected watch during the latter part of the journey?
IWC always made a point of having all of its Pilot's watches especially protected against such mishap, like mentioning it in the latest catalogue. Such feature is not mentioned with the other watches. Still, I didn't notice such an incident to any of my neighbouring passengers during my flights, so I believe those sapphire glasses sit very tight nowadays.
My question is: are there still differences in the way the glass of the Pilot's watches is mounted into the watches, when compared to the other watches like the Portugueses, the Ingenieurs or the Aquatimers of the present collection? If so, what are the differences? I must say that I believe that the Portugueses, the Ingenieurs and the Aquatimers are able to stand any flight without the glass popping out: am I correct in believing so?
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)
3,726 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
Nobody got a clue about this technical issue? I think it to be interesting to know whether there is a difference in the mounting of the glass of, let's say, the Big Pilot and the Portuguese Automatic, two very popular watches here at the forum. And to know about this difference, if any.
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)
4,730 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
Hi Paul,
I have been looking for a schematic drawing about this subject but to no avail. I seem to remember that for the Pilot's watches, the glass is fitted from the bottom, e.g. it can't get out of the bezel.
3,726 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
Thank you, Clemens, for a first start of a reply. But I feel the answer is not given yet. Please Michael, could you tell us about it? I guess you may be one of the few on this best IWC forum who knows the answer.
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)
The issue is plexiglass versus sapphire crystal. The plexiglass will distort and a pilot's watch would require a retaining ring to prevent it coming from the case in a sudden pressure drop. Sapphire does not have a distortion problem and is glued into the case to prevent if from coming adrift.
3,726 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
cellar Wrote:The issue is plexiglass versus sapphire crystal.
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your answer. Nad had his mishap with the plexi glass, the sapphire glass is so much stronger. I am quite sure that IWC uses sapphire glass for all its watches now, even the minute repeaters. But only with the Pilot's watches the catalogue mentions a feature to secure "against displacement by drop in air pressure". So, the Big Pilot has this feature, and the Portuguese Automatic has not. I wonder how that feature looks like: a special ridge in the glass, or a trapeze-like shape of the glass, preventing it to pop out? Or special glue? Maybe the question could be: why not use this feature for all watches? Or is it that this feature is not really necessary anymore, as I never heard of a sapphire glass popping out, or?
Not really getting the answer that should be known by some, I would think, makes me really curious.
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)
3,726 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 28, 2001
This is an interesting diagram of the construction of the Big Pilot, I remember it vaguely from the early Big Pilot days: thank you, Greg, after three weeks. But I am not sure whether it offers an explanation as to how the Pilot's watches have the feature to secure "against displacement by drop in air pressure", and other watches, like the Portuguese, don't. Does anybody have a clue: Rob, Michael?
Kind regards, Paul, wearing yellow gold Portuguese Perpetual Calendar: I still would trust to fly with it.
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)
IWC always made a point of having all of its Pilot's watches especially protected against such mishap, like mentioning it in the latest catalogue. Such feature is not mentioned with the other watches. Still, I didn't notice such an incident to any of my neighbouring passengers during my flights, so I believe those sapphire glasses sit very tight nowadays.
My question is: are there still differences in the way the glass of the Pilot's watches is mounted into the watches, when compared to the other watches like the Portugueses, the Ingenieurs or the Aquatimers of the present collection? If so, what are the differences? I must say that I believe that the Portugueses, the Ingenieurs and the Aquatimers are able to stand any flight without the glass popping out: am I correct in believing so?
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
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 have been looking for a schematic drawing about this subject but to no avail. I seem to remember that for the Pilot's watches, the glass is fitted from the bottom, e.g. it can't get out of the bezel.
Kind regards,
Clemens
Last edited: 30 May, 2012 - 20:59
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
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
The issue is plexiglass versus sapphire crystal. The plexiglass will distort and a pilot's watch would require a retaining ring to prevent it coming from the case in a sudden pressure drop. Sapphire does not have a distortion problem and is glued into the case to prevent if from coming adrift.
A clue about glue
http://www.iwc.com/forum-en/message/28834.html
Cheers from the cellar
cellar@gregsteer.net
Last edited: 4 January, 2013 - 22:35
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your answer. Nad had his mishap with the plexi glass, the sapphire glass is so much stronger. I am quite sure that IWC uses sapphire glass for all its watches now, even the minute repeaters. But only with the Pilot's watches the catalogue mentions a feature to secure "against displacement by drop in air pressure". So, the Big Pilot has this feature, and the Portuguese Automatic has not. I wonder how that feature looks like: a special ridge in the glass, or a trapeze-like shape of the glass, preventing it to pop out? Or special glue? Maybe the question could be: why not use this feature for all watches? Or is it that this feature is not really necessary anymore, as I never heard of a sapphire glass popping out, or?
Not really getting the answer that should be known by some, I would think, makes me really curious.
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
The side of the crystal looks smooth in this diagram but an actual photo of it may be different.
Cheers from the cellar
PS I had a really hard time finding this image.
cellar@gregsteer.net
Last edited: 4 January, 2013 - 22:35
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing yellow gold Portuguese Perpetual Calendar: I still would trust to fly with it.
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