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erwinner

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Posts posted by erwinner

  1. If u are considering an alternative, also consider the STOWA. They make the pilot watch as of WWII as well and thus have a long history (although from the German side ;-)

    more can be read in my earlier post http://www.rwg.cc/members/IWC-Mark-XVI-t65...143#entry506143

    or u can save up some cash and treat yourself with a gen like I did last summer.... I bought it through chrono24.com and saved over a 1.100 euro (but still expensive enough not to wear the watch in the weekend)

  2. I'm no Italian but have been traveling quite some times to Milan; both the Rollie Sub and IWC GST Chrono did not raise any issues although they did spot the special can-of-coca-cola I tried to put in my luggage as I was supporting Coca Cola for a project at that time. The can went straight into the trash....

  3. There has been an ogoing thread on TZ about the direction of the AT line and how they really dropped the ball this year. Sure some of the designs are pretty enough, but pretty common looking too. We are all sort of confused in the thread about why IWC would choose to abanodon the things that make teh line complpetely unique and historically inconic - the internal bezel system, the most confortable and interesting bracelet system ever, and my favorite an abandonment of Titanium...

    No Ti after they managed to be the only brand to present that metal in such a way so as to make it actually seem like a luxury item and not cheap costume jewelry like everyone else? Nobody executes Ti like IWC. And anyone who has spent any time with one of their Ti pieces knows it.

    But anyway, those three items alone and seperately make for a watch which is unmistakeably IWC and the bailed on all of them. I happen to own the version that preserves all of those iconic properties and I will never sell it. Not saying that I wouldn't like one of these - maybe the black piece (which is rubber coated SS) - but it will never be an Aquatimer to me really. Not like this. And I have a 2008 Vintage Jubilee in steel on order too so no matter what I can preserve the vintage AT from 1967 in a time capsule so to speak. Now these are what Aquatimers should look like...

    Totally agree on all-of-the-above... Reason most of us became 'IWC addicts' after our initial adventures with flamboyant watches like Breitling, Rolex or Panerai was it's simplicity and classic style. But now it looks like they are going the Graham Chronofigther route with their button protectors and outragous colours.

    Personally I'm still a huge fan of the former models and will stick to my gen mk XVI forever and expand the rep collection with more pilot's, GST's, ingy's and portugueser watches from the 'old skool'. Just embarked on a Franken mk XV project so will show off asap...

    @RobbieG: Where did you source the jubilee AT? Is it a Gen or a rep? If a rep exists, I'll definately pop the cherry!

  4. and again.... why are the real collectors not picking up our hints and investing a couple of bucks to source a decent gen and make the perfect clone?

    should not be to difficult with an ETA based movement in the gen and most parts readily re-usable like the engraved crown and caseback?

  5. Had 2 3717's around lately and had it side-2-side with my gen mk XVI

    both had the same black colouring dial colour issue. when compared to the gen (which is deep-black) the 3717's looked rather grey. When you put the 3717 on your wrist though, this issue pretty much disappears ;-)

    so totally agree... get a set of ETA DD-wheels, but preferably also the newer double-AR; this will really make your eyes roll once you get it back on your wrist. Can say this as I have been wearing an Ingy rep for quite some time and was always put-off by the shine. After getting a double-AR version now I know I should have done this before. It's even better than the AR on my gen mk XVI!!!

  6. I had the same issue and found after ordering over 10 different reps that the following requirements are needed to match a suit and make a watch a decent part of your business outfit:

    - not to big (indeed; 42 mm is allready pushing the enveloppe as a great number of cuffs do not accomodate bigger wachtes)

    - (double)-AR for high-end rep's as it will scream FAKE for the connaissours who are certainly out there (especially in Banking)

    - apply the rule-of-thumb that a men's watch is always appr. 1.5 times his montly income. So if you make say 5,000 a month and suddenly show up at work with a tourbillion worth 100k+ everybody will have a great laugh

    - thus also best to start showing off your watch at meaningfull moments (end-of-year; promotion; birthday; bonus-payments, ...)

    Personally my current favorites at the office include:

    - IWC mk XVI (have to admit it's a gen)

    IMG_1691.jpg

    - IWC GST (yep; the white-face dial perfectly matches a white shirt! but they also come in Ti which is a blast according to Pug and SD4K)

    96fffc81.jpg

    - IWC Ingenieur (works especially well in the more IT related parts of business)

    IMG_2290.jpg

    But other great-timers like the Omega Seamaster and Planet Ocean (bond-watch) and Rolexes work fine offcourse.

    although you will raise more eye-browse and get the questions 'is that a rep your wearing'?

    Personally I never pretend a rep to be a gen, but that's just my style....

    oooppss; almost forgot the last rule-of-thumb... as you can see from my personall preference it's also a sign of character if you 'stick with a brand'. same for BMW vs Merc driver; guess those will not 'step over to the dark side' once they've made their first purchase?

  7. totally agree on previous posts.... my personal history:

    - after my first couple of watches I went for a 4-watches leather box to protect the pieces from dust and clutching into eachother

    b48735b0.jpg

    - a year later this was upgraded to a 6-piece case with display glass on top

    IMG_2034.jpg

    - last birthday my wife gave me a big dispay winder which winds 4 pieces simultanously and provides space for 2 or 4 additional watches

    - the boxset of my GEN IWC MK XVI is also stored in the attic as it just takes up space (it looks great with the watch inside, but kinda stupid when you wear the watch; also the box needs to stay open to have the watch on display as it has no glass display; this ends up as a dust-pile after a couple of month's)

  8. I own the 3717 (with AR & DW-swap), GST (out-of-the-box) and Ingy (lello DW) and a Gen MkXVI;

    if it's a first buy, go for the Ingy.... reliable ETA movement and not to much that can go wrong

    my first IWC was the GST (white dial on SS) and I still wear this watch proudly without any mods

  9. Definately go for an IWC...!

    I had 4 PAM's up till now (started with the 090with power reserve, than the 231 radiomir rosegold, then the 111H and 177H Ti)....

    But except for the 177H Ti I've traded all of them and am now the proud owner of IWC's... (a gen mkXVI, the 3717, the Ingy and the GST SS White Face).

    Read my collection post for more info on the collection.

    I would say: Start with the Ingy!

    reasons....

    - It's a non-chrono (less risky and less trouble with hands falling off or a stalling A7750)

    - it's got an ETA movement

    - it's got double AR as well as the 3717 out-of-the-box

    - you don't need a new strap, which you do need for the 3717 (major flaw for all rep's coming with a leather strap)

    - only upgrade possible is a better datewheel, but that's so tiny that most stick to the rep

    - the 3717 needs at least a better AR, strap, and most often ETA datewheels.

    total sum of the mod's and waiting time for the 3717 are over 250USD+ (and even more if you go for a high-end strap) + shipping costs + 3 months of shipping your watch around the globe with all customs and movement failure risks....

    so.... start-off with the ingy! you won't regret it and can always buy a 2nd 3717 once you have more free funds and waiting time available ;-)

  10. after trading some of the PAM's (111H and 231 radiomir rosegold) and the MM GT XL for 2 IWC's the watchbox is full again....

    After waiting for over a year for a nice 3717 on the members trade section, jkarpas offered both his 3717 and Ingy for a trade. Thanks JKARPAS for this great opportunity!

    As also the ingy was on my 'most wanted' list for some time allready I decided to give jkarpas the opportunity to pic from my collection. He's now the proud owner of a 111H Luminor, 231 rosegold Radiomir and Mille Miglia GT XL White Face (all with decent strap's offcourse).

    But now back to the IWC's... the were both in need for some help which my watchsmith took care of last saturday.

    the 3717 allready had Jakub's AR (an earlier version though as I've seen a Jakub with almost invisible crystal last month from another member), ETA wheels and a new A7750 installed. One of the markers on the V1 (!) dial was loose though and needed some superglue. also the chrono-second-hand and chrono-hour-hand needed to be reset which my watchsmith did perfectly. So now the only thing left is a nice strap and the 3717 will often compete for wrist time with my gen mkXVI.

    IMG_2043.jpg

    IMG_2044.jpg

    the Ingy also needed attention. apparently during transport the hands got blocked somehow; luckily I wanted to install the original rep dial which was supplied with the watch and replace the allready mounted AMG-dial. I did ask the watchmaker though to keep the red second-hand which I think is a great combination. Also the lello DW was installed fine.

    IMG_2052.jpg

    IMG_2054.jpg

    so now my collection is back to 6 again and i guess this will be sufficient for the near future...

    IMG_2050.jpg

    IMG_2035.jpg

    some spec's on the other watches in the collection:

    - mk XVI is a gen so nothing much more to say then 'read the 17 page thread on this long wanted beauty'

    IMG_1682.jpg

    IMG_1730.jpg

    - Sub is just a regular sub (with ETA) which is great for holidays and the occasional swimmingpool

    9889bc17.jpg

    - GST was the first high-end rep out there and started my lust for IWC (guess I'll never part with this one as it's a great dress and weekend watch)

    5288ff64.jpg

    - 177H is the titanium watch which is great in the weekends (mounted on a fiero strap)

    PAM177H_015.jpg

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