Three days of wearing the IWC Caliber 89 to work,friends who I know at a local coffee shop gave me compliments. It solidified the fact that I had bought the right watch. Just to be sure,I went over to a nearby watchmaker who had pre-owned consignment watches for sale and on one side of the display cabinet,there were Omegas and Rolexes up for grabs.
A Rolex 6694 Oyster Precision domed bezel no date in stainless steel with jubilee bracelet was perched alongside a Rolex Ref.1803 in 18K Yellow Gold Day-Date on a white dial with Roman Numerals. I studied the two watches intently from afar,as I was comparing my IWC against these two Rolexes I realized that my 7 year search was worth the perseverance.
I've walked out of the repair shop a better person because knowing that if I had owned the Rolex,the watch would have been sold in a year or two,whereas the IWC Caliber 89 would be with me for the next twenty to fifty years.
Being 41 years old,I couldn't live with myself if I had bought a Tag-Heuer,Longines,Hamilton or Baume et Mercier with non-modified ETA Automatic Movements. These are not the same companies as they were known back in the 1950's and neither is Omega. The marketing guys in these brands have pumped themselves trying to reconnect with the past. I'm sorry but their quality has gone while making themselves look ridiculous in trying to relive their past glory.
Jaeger-LeCoultre,IWC,Vacheron-Constantin and Patek-Philippe are the ones whose reputations have not been tarnished by the Marketing Department,which is what makes these brands sought after by vintage collectors and modern buyers alike.
I can't put a monetary figure on 7 years of searching and the blood,sweat and tears of having to work six days a week for the past year and half in trying to find my dream watch without having to low-ball the seller.
To temporarily filled the void of not being able buy the 1957 IWC Caliber 89, all those years ago. I had to settle for a 1954 Omega Seamaster Caliber 354 Bumper Wind Automatic in stainless steel during the winter of 2010,a decision in which I've regretted because the watch was not properly taken care of.
The silver pie-pan dial was all original and in pristine condition but the movement was poorly serviced. For what I paid I could have been better off with a 1958 10K Gold Filled Bulova round dialed Self-Winding Jet-Clipper for much less!
The IWC Caliber 89 was always back of my mind,I kept promising myself that if one comes up for sale at fair price and was well looked after,it'll be mine.
Now,I can finally admit that I own an IWC and that life is worth living.
3,349 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 14, 2001
Congratulations Simon and thank you for your great story. You made up your mind very well for that decision and did the right thing. And you're happy and satisfied with the result of your hunt. That' what collecting watches is about. Enjoy this great heritage IWC for very very long!
2,079 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
Congratulations on your 89, smart move :)
It's hard to say who's marketing is to blame, same companies may offer good products and some other less, at the same time. I wouldn't exclude any brand you've mentioned, especially the last.
Watchmaking is about watches, just that, not reputation - imo.
This process that taught me about investing in a vintage watch that has pedigree with significant horological history. I can't really compare an IWC to a Rolex because Rolex is all about marketing and their movements are rudimentary and plain. Open the back of the IWC Caliber 89,the multi-bridge layout with the Cote de Geneve (Geneva Stripes)greets the unsuspecting owner with a sense of delight and inspiration.
flyrobyfly36 Wrote:Congratulations on your 89, smart move :)
It's hard to say who's marketing is to blame, same companies may offer good products and some other less, at the same time. I wouldn't exclude any brand you've mentioned, especially the last.
Watchmaking is about watches, just that, not reputation - imo.
Why not posting a picture to celebrate? :)
Roberto,
Omega is a good brand but their Co-Axial movements are a nightmare to service. The Omega Caliber 8500 is rated at 28,800 vibrations per hour and the Caliber 2500 is rated at 24,000 vibrations per hour,when spending this kind of price range. I can't justify in spending on a watch that has low-rate movement,therefore I am better off on a vintage timepiece and be happy with it.
670 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 13, 2002
Simon Leung Wrote:Tilo,
This process that taught me about investing in a vintage watch that has pedigree with significant horological history. I can't really compare an IWC to a Rolex because Rolex is all about marketing and their movements are rudimentary and plain. Open the back of the IWC Caliber 89,the multi-bridge layout with the Cote de Geneve (Geneva Stripes)greets the unsuspecting owner with a sense of delight and inspiration.
'You fritter and waste the prose in an offhand way'
You might be wise to re-evaluate your process Simon, if somebodies adviced you Schaffhausens workhorse trumps a 6694 then they may have forget to mention that by '57 Rolex were two decades into pushing automatics (if you choose to disregard this to be significant history....it is at least a great big factamundo or non opinion). If Rx are all about marketing...how do you personally square Schaffhausen producing Ingenieurs that ain't?
Nice watch by the way, any chance of a full dial view?
This process that taught me about investing in a vintage watch that has pedigree with significant horological history. I can't really compare an IWC to a Rolex because Rolex is all about marketing and their movements are rudimentary and plain. Open the back of the IWC Caliber 89,the multi-bridge layout with the Cote de Geneve (Geneva Stripes)greets the unsuspecting owner with a sense of delight and inspiration.
'You fritter and waste the prose in an offhand way'
You might be wise to re-evaluate your process Simon, if somebodies adviced you Schaffhausens workhorse trumps a 6694 then they may have forget to mention that by '57 Rolex were two decades into pushing automatics (if you choose to disregard this to be significant history....it is at least a great big factamundo or non opinion). If Rx are all about marketing...how do you personally square Schaffhausen producing Ingenieurs that ain't?
Nice watch by the way, any chance of a full dial view?
I didn't forget to mention that Rolex had been pushing their full-rotor automatics since the days of the Bubble-Back of the 1940's. I'm just stating that there is no personal attachment to a Rolex. The Original IWC Ingenieur in my opinion is an alternative to the Milguass, however the current line up of the Ingenieur you have a choice between the regular dial or a chronograph that you don't get in the Rolex Milgauss.
Three days of wearing the IWC Caliber 89 to work,friends who I know at a local coffee shop gave me compliments. It solidified the fact that I had bought the right watch. Just to be sure,I went over to a nearby watchmaker who had pre-owned consignment watches for sale and on one side of the display cabinet,there were Omegas and Rolexes up for grabs.
A Rolex 6694 Oyster Precision domed bezel no date in stainless steel with jubilee bracelet was perched alongside a Rolex Ref.1803 in 18K Yellow Gold Day-Date on a white dial with Roman Numerals. I studied the two watches intently from afar,as I was comparing my IWC against these two Rolexes I realized that my 7 year search was worth the perseverance.
I've walked out of the repair shop a better person because knowing that if I had owned the Rolex,the watch would have been sold in a year or two,whereas the IWC Caliber 89 would be with me for the next twenty to fifty years.
Being 41 years old,I couldn't live with myself if I had bought a Tag-Heuer,Longines,Hamilton or Baume et Mercier with non-modified ETA Automatic Movements. These are not the same companies as they were known back in the 1950's and neither is Omega. The marketing guys in these brands have pumped themselves trying to reconnect with the past. I'm sorry but their quality has gone while making themselves look ridiculous in trying to relive their past glory.
Jaeger-LeCoultre,IWC,Vacheron-Constantin and Patek-Philippe are the ones whose reputations have not been tarnished by the Marketing Department,which is what makes these brands sought after by vintage collectors and modern buyers alike.
I can't put a monetary figure on 7 years of searching and the blood,sweat and tears of having to work six days a week for the past year and half in trying to find my dream watch without having to low-ball the seller.
To temporarily filled the void of not being able buy the 1957 IWC Caliber 89, all those years ago. I had to settle for a 1954 Omega Seamaster Caliber 354 Bumper Wind Automatic in stainless steel during the winter of 2010,a decision in which I've regretted because the watch was not properly taken care of.
The silver pie-pan dial was all original and in pristine condition but the movement was poorly serviced. For what I paid I could have been better off with a 1958 10K Gold Filled Bulova round dialed Self-Winding Jet-Clipper for much less!
The IWC Caliber 89 was always back of my mind,I kept promising myself that if one comes up for sale at fair price and was well looked after,it'll be mine.
Now,I can finally admit that I own an IWC and that life is worth living.
Sincerely,
Simon
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31
Enjoy this great heritage IWC for very very long!
Tilo
Last edited: 20 November, 2012 - 10:38
It's hard to say who's marketing is to blame, same companies may offer good products and some other less, at the same time. I wouldn't exclude any brand you've mentioned, especially the last.
Watchmaking is about watches, just that, not reputation - imo.
Why not posting a picture to celebrate? :)
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07
This process that taught me about investing in a vintage watch that has pedigree with significant horological history. I can't really compare an IWC to a Rolex because Rolex is all about marketing and their movements are rudimentary and plain. Open the back of the IWC Caliber 89,the multi-bridge layout with the Cote de Geneve (Geneva Stripes)greets the unsuspecting owner with a sense of delight and inspiration.
Kind regards,
Simon
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31
Roberto,
Omega is a good brand but their Co-Axial movements are a nightmare to service. The Omega Caliber 8500 is rated at 28,800 vibrations per hour and the Caliber 2500 is rated at 24,000 vibrations per hour,when spending this kind of price range. I can't justify in spending on a watch that has low-rate movement,therefore I am better off on a vintage timepiece and be happy with it.
Regards,
Simon
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31
Last edited: 7 July, 2012 - 20:04
I didn't forget to mention that Rolex had been pushing their full-rotor automatics since the days of the Bubble-Back of the 1940's. I'm just stating that there is no personal attachment to a Rolex. The Original IWC Ingenieur in my opinion is an alternative to the Milguass, however the current line up of the Ingenieur you have a choice between the regular dial or a chronograph that you don't get in the Rolex Milgauss.
Regards,
Simon
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31
The greatest IWC is the one that is inbound."
I can't believe that I've just gotten a response from one of IWC's biggest Aficionado...You're most welcome Larry and Thank you for your support!
Kind regards,
Simon
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31
Last edited: 8 July, 2012 - 11:31