17 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 24, 2012
Hello all,
I've long admired IWC. I went to Schaffhausen in 2011 purely to visit the IWC museum. Recently, I have set aside enough money for an IWC that I have a few options.
1) used IWC portuguese chronograph black face - near mint condition. 2) new portofino, chronograph. 3) new IWC portuguese chronograph white face.
I have had - and still do have - the option to buy the used chronograph at a decent price. But over the past couple of weeks I have given it a lot of thought and I am starting to really like the automatic. Now it annoys me that in the time since I caught the IWC bug in 2010, prices went up by a large margin in 2011 (A response to the flood of european money that entered Switzerland and drastically increased the value of the Swiss Franc), but prices never went down when the Swiss Franc stabilized to its pre-2011 value. This - completely understandable - annoyance aside, I'm not sure if it is worth waiting until I have the change for the automatic, or get one of the options above.
I'm also starting to question whether I want a black faced portuguese. I think the watch looks brilliant with a suit, but the black face makes an already dressy chronograph even more dressy, such that I (my subjective opinion) couldn't wear it with jeans and a sweater.
The whole price thing does annoy me as well, in large part because Jaeger's master calendar costs less and has more functionality (and is equally impressive). I just happen to like IWC a smidgen more than JLC - though any more price increases by IWC may see that gap narrow.
Although I know ultimately the result of a cost benefit analysis balanced against my patience will decide the answer to the above question - I would still like some other IWC fans' thoughts on the matter.
122 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 20, 2012
My vote would lean towards the Automatic. I think both are beautiful watches, but the Auto has an in-house movement and the 7-day power reserve. And that is just cool.
I personally don't mind watches that only have a 40-hour reserve, but then i've never owned one with more...
As for the expense, check out some of the ADs in Thailand if you're ever in that neighborhood. I can suggest some but perhaps this is better done by email, as this isn't a commercial site.
2,996 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 2, 2011Hong Kong,
Hong Kong
personally, I love IWC for its great design - whether old traditional classic look, or a modern re-interpretation, or a new re-invention...and I acknowledge that I often pay a premium for that design.
I think the options u have listed are great choices, and if unlimited by any specific function (like date) that you require, I think the choices boil down to...
what is for me a timeless classic, and a 'very IWC' inhouse movement, and brilliant dial design - the 5001 series....
or what is for me a modern re-interpretation of a pocket movement/watch look in the current Portofino Chronograph, i.e. the very round dial, and the lug placement of the straight and shorter 'wire-lugs'...
or the modern re-interpretation of the 60s and 70s chronographs (hence the lack of a date), in the ref 3714s ...
I believe each of the above wrist-watch or lines have its defining quality and a place in my personal watch-collecting taste and aesthetic - but if forced to choose I would no doubt go with the ref 5001, which was the starting point for me for IWC.
these below may prove worthy alternatives too perhaps ? in terms of limited edition and price points.
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch. all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
I've long admired IWC. I went to Schaffhausen in 2011 purely to visit the IWC museum. Recently, I have set aside enough money for an IWC that I have a few options.
1) used IWC portuguese chronograph black face - near mint condition.
2) new portofino, chronograph.
3) new IWC portuguese chronograph white face.
I have had - and still do have - the option to buy the used chronograph at a decent price. But over the past couple of weeks I have given it a lot of thought and I am starting to really like the automatic. Now it annoys me that in the time since I caught the IWC bug in 2010, prices went up by a large margin in 2011 (A response to the flood of european money that entered Switzerland and drastically increased the value of the Swiss Franc), but prices never went down when the Swiss Franc stabilized to its pre-2011 value. This - completely understandable - annoyance aside, I'm not sure if it is worth waiting until I have the change for the automatic, or get one of the options above.
I'm also starting to question whether I want a black faced portuguese. I think the watch looks brilliant with a suit, but the black face makes an already dressy chronograph even more dressy, such that I (my subjective opinion) couldn't wear it with jeans and a sweater.
The whole price thing does annoy me as well, in large part because Jaeger's master calendar costs less and has more functionality (and is equally impressive). I just happen to like IWC a smidgen more than JLC - though any more price increases by IWC may see that gap narrow.
Although I know ultimately the result of a cost benefit analysis balanced against my patience will decide the answer to the above question - I would still like some other IWC fans' thoughts on the matter.
Portuguese Chronograph
Last edited: 18 November, 2012 - 19:06
It looks absolutely great from any angle.
The 7-day power reserve makes it easy to shift between several watches.
Go for it!
watch the time...
Last edited: 9 April, 2013 - 19:22
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
So you're saying to get the 5001 so you can feel less guilty about giving other watches more wrist time....
I'm mainly used to (real) vintage watches with power reserves of 40-45h.
I can admitt that sometimes makes me hesitate to swap - could of course use winder(s) but one can be sure that one would like to use one not winded...
/Anders
watch the time...
Last edited: 9 April, 2013 - 19:22
As the white face, it give a larger feel for the dial size and not forgetting a clean look.
Follow your heart as it will bring you to where it belongs....
If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!
Last edited: 29 November, 2012 - 12:45
I personally don't mind watches that only have a 40-hour reserve, but then i've never owned one with more...
As for the expense, check out some of the ADs in Thailand if you're ever in that neighborhood. I can suggest some but perhaps this is better done by email, as this isn't a commercial site.
Todd
tlando80@yahoo.com
Regards
Dave
Last edited: 20 November, 2012 - 05:17
I think the options u have listed are great choices, and if unlimited by any specific function (like date) that you require, I think the choices boil down to...
what is for me a timeless classic, and a 'very IWC' inhouse movement, and brilliant dial design - the 5001 series....
or what is for me a modern re-interpretation of a pocket movement/watch look in the current Portofino Chronograph, i.e. the very round dial, and the lug placement of the straight and shorter 'wire-lugs'...
or the modern re-interpretation of the 60s and 70s chronographs (hence the lack of a date), in the ref 3714s ...
I believe each of the above wrist-watch or lines have its defining quality and a place in my personal watch-collecting taste and aesthetic - but if forced to choose I would no doubt go with the ref 5001, which was the starting point for me for IWC.
these below may prove worthy alternatives too perhaps ? in terms of limited edition and price points.
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
Last edited: 8 December, 2012 - 16:07
Tilo
Last edited: 20 November, 2012 - 10:38