By-Tor

@Randy: you now have 2 functioning El Primero-Daytonas, eh? Or did you just make a dial swap... and the other one is still WIP? So...which one you like better? Black or white? I'm 100% sure it would be a tough choice for me.

I put this on yesterday... and checked the accuracy just 10 minutes ago: +/- 2 seconds. Not bad for unserviced 18 months old ETA 2836-2. Will wear it today as well. How about you...what's your watch choice?

No... that's probably Redbigjoe Special.

Not really. The guy just has very small wrists and hands. Beautiful watch, nicest Breitling there is (imho). This rep looks stunning to me (save the bad datefont). The Angus' version has to be perfect to beat this. Thanks for sharing the pics Elprimero!!!

I don't think we need a review section. That wouldn't be a good idea. If people search information and reviews of IWC they should search it from the IWC section. We should make brand-specific NOTICEABLE subforums for the major rep brands: Omega, Rolex, Panerai, Breitling, IWC and TAG. Actually...just like it is now... but they should be proper subforums ala TRC and RWI, not some unnoticeable and obscure "photo galleries". People constantly post brand-specific questions and discussions about new rep models to "General discussion" (which is totally idiotic, imho). It also makes searching for information extremely difficult. Not people's fault... it's just because we don't have a proper place for these questions. This is the best watch board in the world, but it's also the only watch board in the world that doesn't have proper BRAND-SPECIFIC subforums. Most watch boards are built around these. I think we should get rid of as many low-traffic subforums as possible... "RWG activities" has 8 topics. "Tips" has 33 topics. Do we really need these? The only change from the "photo gallery" is to make the font bolder and bigger and change the "photo gallery subforums" to ROLEX FORUM, PANERAI FORUM, OMEGA FORUM, etc. Look how it's done at RWI and TRC... and almost all watch boards on the Internet. I don't like separate "eyecandy" forum, either. Why not keep it as simple as possible: If you got nice shot of your PAM why wouldn't you post it to the PAM forum? People could post PAM eyecandy, questions, references and reviews and all PAM discussions to Panerai forum. Could it get any simpler than that? I always click "view new posts", but apparently many people don't. Personally, I don't see any other proper way to read the posts (and make sure I don't miss anything). Some of my reviews (which I thought were fair efforts) went virtually unnoticed as well. Especially watches that don't create huge mainstream interest. IWC makes wonderful watches, but it's not a mainstream brand like Rolex or Omega. When you review a Submariner or Planet Ocean you'll get lots of attention.

That's a genuine watch without a doubt.

Nice collection...and very nice pictures too. Thanks for sharing mate!!! I love that blue Longines!!! PS: My first-ever watch was automatic Longines. Got it from my dad when I was 7 years old... that started it all!

Nice work Space! And good observation about the bezel. The black GMT is such a great looker!

Great shots Reg and Bazz! I made this reference pic of Seagull ST19 for my review. It's the Venus copy movement (and falsely called as Lemania). Favourite child has many names, eh? Everyone should own at least 1 rep with this movement. It's not only a great looker... but also very reliable and good movement.

Come on guys... excellent review and pictures and only 154 views!!! after over 24 hours!!! Wonder if it has something to do with the fact that this review is "hidden" in the "photo gallery"... all members probably never see these posts (if they're not using "show new posts" option). Or maybe it has something to do with IWC not getting much attention (except from the small core group of followers). Personally, I enjoy reading all kinds of watch reviews, even of the ones I'm not considering to buy. It takes a lot of effort it takes to create a post like this... so show some support!!!

Good Monday morning (if Monday mornings can be good). I'm wearing my Seamaster Chronograph today.

Breguet Transatlantique full gold. Ok...make it platinum to avoid excess bling.

I agree TAGs are best choices. TAG Formula-1 should be a good rep too. But does it make any sense to buy a rep of a $400 watch? I'd like to see rep of the Aquaracer 2000 Chronograph (quartz version). There's only the rather poor rep of the automatic chronograph with (quartz movement).

The IWC design is "German". Very simplistic but functional design. Germans have always used the same philosophy in the cockpits of their cars. When you look at the meters you'll notice that everything is there... but there's never anything extra... and nothing that would bring the attention away from their only purpose: to tell the speed... and time on this matter. The finishing and details on genuine IWC's is probably exceptional... I can clearly see where the attraction comes from... On the other hand... look at Italian cars... old Alfa Romeos used to have adventurous speedo/RPM-meters, but they weren't very readable or functional. Oh yes, the black leather is very "German" too.

Outstanding review and pics (as usual). It tells everything you need to know about this rep. Very good looking watch, typical classy IWC design. But I find those dial flaws strange. Wonder if this rather just the issue of a different model/production year... and perhaps not a flaw at all? Did you have more gen source pics to compare?

Yep... what I really admire in Neils photos is the way he brings up the bracelet. I've noticed that you need to have exact lighting if you want to bring up the details of the bracelet finish. If you use too much light the details disappear... and if you use too little you get grainy, dull and noisy look. The PO doesn't have very noticeable satin finish (gen or rep)... but I managed to capture my TAG bracelet quite nicely in this shot (another million monkeys thing perhaps). But then again the satin finish is more obvious on the watch. For a shot like this natural lighting and forcing the bracelet reflect white (white A4 paper) works for me. And dark reflector card over the dial. But then again this is by far the toughest of my watches to photograph. No AR coating, polished bezel and very exceptional dial design.

Ok Puggy... I reduced the noise from the black dial. Just simple magic wand -> fill. Frankly, I don't see much difference... or improvement. I guess the monitor plays a big role too. It looks almost exactly the same in 1024x768... on my screen. I know there was some natural noise... but not so much that I would have been bothered. Perhaps people who use modern hi-tech monitors and bigger resolutions can spot these things easier? I shoot all my "studio shots" in "Fluorescent light" mode in my camera. It gives pretty good white balance... but reducing "cyan" just a little bit from the saturation menu is sometimes required. Sometimes I take 5-10 shots and just direct the light a bit differently in each shot. I don't pretend to be any kind of pro...it's more like the "million monkeys" thing for me. Eventually you just come up with a good one. And besides... I've seen lots of people bragging about their equipment and technical knowledge in the gen watch forums... and their shots aren't anything special.

Yes... I said my "corrected" shot was dead wrong too, just for the reasons you mentioned. It's impossible to make it look natural... when the picture is grossly oversaturated and has white balance wrong. Thanks. This is something I'd like to have people's opinion of: I could correct all noise from the dial with ease... but wouldn't that be considered manipulation? The pic is almost completely untouched (save the contrast/brightness setting). If I'd "fix" the dial it wouldn't be natural anymore. Right? Or would you just consider that "natural enchancing"? Where do you put the line?

And btw Randy: This is one of my favourite shots of yours. I have it saved on my hard drive. Outstanding shot... pure art!!! The watch isn't bad, either.

I guess that goes without saying. But people see pics differently. I often drag my fiancee to the computer and ask her opinion about some pics I've taken (which pisses her off). She likes some of my pics, but sometimes when I think I've managed to shoot exceptionally good one she mercilessly puts it down. I thought this PO shot was one of the best I've taken (almost zero PS used by the way) the judgment was just harsh: "That's one boring shot!" But I like it... and that's all that matters (to me). So asking opinion about pics is difficult... especially if you're only after positive comments. Just like people reacting differently to art.

Yeah, forgot to say that I like the torchlight shots as well. Third is very, very nice!!! And I agree with Ryyyyyyanon: whatever floats your boat.

I think the pic Puggy corrected looks a bit unnatural. In his corrected pic the dial reflects green and rich yellow, while the bracelet and bezel simultaneously heavily reflect red and magenta (which is the initial problem of this pic). If you start desaturating you have to remove all reflected saturated light from the whole surface (imho). Dave's picture has the same problem as the original... but instead of being too red it's now too green. My pic changes look unnatural as well... because the surrounding granite still has too much red and magenta (due to camera's white balance being off... and lack of light), but more pleasing to my eye. I just quickly desaturated the bracelet and bezel completely, which makes the surfaces grainy... and they look out of place compared to red granite and the dial which now has almost natural colors. So this is one of those "artsy" pics, eh? If you need to start desaturating the pics heavily it isn't good. If you have to do this you have a problem with your lighting and/or white balance. But generally... who is to say what's right and wrong in someone's pictures? That's why having these debates are sometimes annoying. It's in the eye of the beholder. But these discussions can be fruitful too... everyone can get good ideas from others. PS: Ubi... your pics are very good. I would just experiment with more light, and some kind of transparent surface to diffuse the lighting.

Some old Navis had inferior dials... like my "Serie Speciale". The subdials looked like stickers. Some older Navis had perfectly good dials, too. Just make sure you won't get one with the "sticker" subdials. Those subdials didn't prevent me from loving the watch. I would probably still own it... and be happy with it... if it only fit on my wrist.

That's a great Sub Gio. Definitely one of the best I've seen (besides Randy's of course). Superb cg job!!!

I have owned both old and new Navi reps. I'm not 100% sure about this... but I believe the cases are the same. But I also suspect the bezels are the same... and the problem is with the dial markers (which should align with the bezel markers). I mean... they changed the dials for the new batch Navis and the problems arised. Sounds logical, eh? So changing the bezel wouldn't necessarily help. But this is all just speculation from my part...