IWC JOURNAL: Big Pilot on my Mind – Story of Patrick Stachel

The Journal

Big Pilot on my Mind – Story of Patrick Stachel

By Tonny Berteloot

Read Time: 2 min

Tonny Berteloot

Who are you, Patrick Stachel?

I am a collector from Germany, living near Cologne (Köln), 43 years old, father of a son Alexander. Outdoor lover, working in the automotive industry. Addicted to IWC since 2017.

That is recent, what was the click towards IWC?

I had an interest in watches from young age. My father had a quality watch related to space travel. Later I bought the same one, as my brother did. IWC got my attention with the ref 5002 Big Pilot advertising in 2002, but at that time, just coming out of military service, it was financially out of reach for me.

The Big Pilot stayed on my mind, and I wanted more information about the brand IWC and joined the collectors’ forum in 2013, as a reader. After the company I worked for got a big international contract for the aviation industry and I got more responsibilities combined with a raise, I bought the Big Pilot Slow Beat in 2017. I took the watch everywhere, hiking, climbing, you name it.

The watch virus really took over in 2018 and 2019, when I bought three IWC watches. And the collectors meeting in 2018 enforced that love for the brand. A lot of likeminded great people, supporting and stimulating each other in their shared passion for collecting IWC’s.

I later started writing for some watch blogs and guess what, most of my articles were about IWC watches.

IWC collector Patrick Stachel wearing his Big Pilot “Slow Beat” Ref. 500201 in stainless steel

— IWC collector Patrick Stachel wearing his Big Pilot “Slow Beat” Ref. IW500201 in stainless steel

— The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ref. IW371815 in Ceratanium®

What is on your wrist now?

The Double Chrono in Ceratanium - hard to get at the moment, but I love it. I hardly ever take it off my wrist. A very cool watch!

You have another hobby I believe?

Yes, I am a Star Wars fan, and I have a nice Star Wars collection. Sometimes I wonder, if I should sell it and instead add a Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar Mojave Desert to my collection. That watch is my dream watch for the moment, but any Big Pilot Perpetual is on that list.

I felt immediately at ease amongst the old-time collectors. You can always get some great detailed answers and advice from the fellow collectors.

If you were CEO of IWC for a day, what would you do?

In my business, my working background is benchmarking, and keeping an eye on the competition. So, I would check out the competition to know the right entry point to create a steel sports watch at an affordable price to attract a new generation of clients.

I like my Mission Earth Ingenieur, and something like this watch, which you can wear doing any activity you want, would be a perfect example. Young people nowadays look only at the obvious, hyped models, and I believe IWC should have a steel sports watch to counter that.

What does the forum mean to you?

I was so happy to be able to join the collectors meeting when I applied. That was the beginning of some nice friendships and interesting talks for sure. I felt immediately at ease amongst the old-time collectors. You can always get some great detailed answers and advice from the fellow collectors. Although I am active on different platforms, the forum remains a very special place on the internet.

Thank you, Patrick. May the force be with you in your quest for the BP Perpetual.