IWC Schaffhausen

Currently, I understand that the Portuguese Chronos use a modified Valjoux movement, and I was wondering if there were any plans to fit an in-house movement in it anytime in the near future (next couple of years).

At the moment, I think it's one of the most beautiful watches out there, but the one thing holding me back is that I would prefer my next big purchase to have an in house movement. If this "upgrade" was on the cards then I would happily wait.

Hi RANO85,

I don't have the answer but you may like this :)

http://www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/31401/?page=1

You're not alone!

Regards,

Roberto

Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07

Hi RANO85

There are rumors about this, but honestly: I would not want that. I hope IWC stays with the 7750. There are more than 10 good reasons why they should:

1. Service: A service of a 89xxx Calibre is about 10 times more complex than servicing a 7750 calibre. This will have an influence on
   
   1. your waiting time when the watch has to go to service,
      
   2. on the price of the service and
      
   3. on the fact that you will not have the choice where to have it serviced
      
   
   
2. Robustness: No chrono calibre in the world can be more robust, as this calibre probably is the one with the longest history and is the most used mechanical chrono in history
   
3. Accuracy: The 7750 is by far more accurate than the 89xxx. The accurate movement has been invented already.
   
4. Price: The watch would be higher priced
   
5. Rattrapante: It is technically almost impossible to have a Rattrapante function on the basis of the 89xxx. I still hope IWC will bring that complication also back to the Portuguese - as it was with the 3712 - the REAL icon of that time
   
6. Size: I am almost sure that the elegant size of the 3714 can't be kept with a 89xxx calibre.
   
7. Capacity: IWC would have a constraint in producing the number of movements needed
   
8. Lack of steel back: IWC would for sure use the sapphire glass back. This would make it impossible to personalize the watch, as there is no space for engravings
   
9. History: The 7750 still exists because IWC saved the production at ETA from being stopped, by agreeing a minimum number of movements to be ordered per year. It is actually more an IWC movement than many people think.
   
10. Relation to Swatch Group: IWC has a good relationship to Swatch Group and therefore can order this movement according to its quality standards. Nobody fears that Swatch would stop delivering this movement.
    

So by all means, buy the watch now as long as you can!

You come from nothing, you go back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!

Last edited: 31 January, 2013 - 15:22

Regulateur, whilst one could discuss and compare opinions for each and every point you list, (and I'm sure there would be 101 opinions - LoL) the one point I do want to dispute/raise is your comment of;

"Accuracy: The 7750 is by far more accurate than the 89xxx. The accurate movement has been invented already."

May I ask, on what you base this statement?

Accuracy of a movement, always depends on how well the I individual movement is regulated. I own IWC's with both Caliber's and can assure you that the Cal. 89365 fitted timepiece is as accurate if not more, than any of my Cal.7750's. (IWC modified) pieces.

Best regards
Mark

Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36

I am not commenting, one way or the other, on any rumors, future plans, etc.

However, with respect I must disagree with some of the statements made by Regulateur relative to factual matters. I'm candidly not sure where some of this information is obtained, but it is inconsistent what I've been told.

Specifically:

1. A rattrapante could be done with the Cal. 893xxx....whether it's too thick from a design perspective might be another question. Whether it makes sense from a sales perspective or cost-benefit perspective might be still another question.

2. Based on information I have, I am not at all sure of the conclusion, stated as fact, that "The 7750 still exists because IWC saved the production at ETA from being stopped, by agreeing a minimum number of movements to be ordered per year."

3. Based on information I have I am unsure about the conclusion, stated as fact, that "IWC has a good relationship to Swatch Group and therefore can order this movement according to its quality standards. Nobody fears that Swatch would stop delivering this movement." I believe that IWC tries to have very good relationships with its suppliers but also I know there was some "tugging" to get some of IWC's specifications done by ETA here.

In all events, none of these three points support (or deny) Regulateur's premise regarding 7750 movements in Portuguese Chronos.

Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com

Last edited: 7 December, 2012 - 17:27

8541 Wrote:Regulateur, whilst one could discuss and compare opinions for each and every point you list, (and I'm sure there would be 101 opinions - LoL) the one point I do want to dispute/raise is your comment of;

"Accuracy: The 7750 is by far more accurate than the 89xxx. The accurate movement has been invented already."

May I ask, on what you base this statement?

Accuracy of a movement, always depends on how well the I individual movement is regulated. I own IWC's with both Caliber's and can assure you that the Cal. 89365 fitted timepiece is as accurate if not more, than any of my Cal.7750's. (IWC modified) pieces.

for me my two 89XXX movements are more accurate than any of the 7750 movements. 89XXX deviates say a second fast in a week, but the 7750s about +1 to +2 per day.

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

Ahhhh, no comment...

Last edited: 7 December, 2012 - 20:32

Michael Friedberg Wrote:I am not commenting, one way or the other, on any rumors, future plans, etc.

However, with respect I must disagree with some of the statements made by Regulateur relative to factual matters. I'm candidly not sure where some of this information is obtained, but it is inconsistent what I've been told.

Specifically:

1. A rattrapante could be done with the Cal. 893xxx....whether it's too thick from a design perspective might be another question. Whether it makes sense from a sales perspective or cost-benefit perspective might be still another question.

2. Based on information I have, I am not at all sure of the conclusion, stated as fact, that "The 7750 still exists because IWC saved the production at ETA from being stopped, by agreeing a minimum number of movements to be ordered per year."

3. Based on information I have I am unsure about the conclusion, stated as fact, that "IWC has a good relationship to Swatch Group and therefore can order this movement according to its quality standards. Nobody fears that Swatch would stop delivering this movement." I believe that IWC tries to have very good relationships with its suppliers but also I know there was some "tugging" to get some of IWC's specifications done by ETA here.

In all events, none of these three points support (or deny) Regulateur's premise regarding 7750 movements in Portuguese Chronos

.

[/QUOTE

Hello Mr. Friedberg

Ad 1: This information was obtained directly from Stefan Ihnen, the Engineer who developed the calibre.

Ad 2: You can ask Kurt Klaus for verification. He is the source for mine.

Ad 3: My statement was a repetition of what Mr. Kern told to a group of collectors three years ago.

But actually, I am very happy to see that only these few points found disagreement.

You come from nothing, you go back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!

Last edited: 31 January, 2013 - 15:22

Please do not misunderstand me. I also disagree with several of your other points, but I consider those subjective values judgments, and I had no need nor desire to debate those with you. I was only mentioned the factual issues where I disagreed.

I of course know and communicated somewhat regularly with Messrs. Ihnen, Klaus and Kern. I stand by what I wrote. I sometimes find that asking a person a question in one context gets an answer which, depending on wording, might differor be variously interpreted. I also sometimes find that paraphrases or translations sometimes distort. But we have to agree to disagree here.

Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com