Jb boin Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Brand: IWC Model: Portuguese Automatic 7 Days (5001) Movement: Asian 23j 21600bph Crystal: Sapphire with AR (double sided) Original Seller: PureTime Price: 160-180$ (price excluding shipping and depending on the seller) Thanks for wizardtiti on RWI who sent me this watch, i had to make a review because i really think this watch needs one as nobody ever talked about it and the rep seems pretty new (not sure about that) Pictures: I made many pictures of it unfortunately my camera is a compact one that doesnt fit to do macro but i tried to do my best You can see photos in full size here (there are way more pictures than in this page) And here you can see pictures of the gen First Impression: To make short, my opinion for now (after 1 day with it) is that watch is wonderful with a nice AR and transparent caseback, the dial (i really love the tall metal hour markers and the dial background that makes me think of anodised aluminium on bright light and not simple paint) and the hands are a true beauty with no flaws and the case quality looks quite nice. Comparing to the genuine: Well... the most important flaws are the movement (its normal, we cant make a 21/23j looks like a 44j ) especially with the bad quality rotor that look like chromed metal and not brushed and the fact that is definitively doesnt seems to be correctly greased (i talk about it later). The easiest to spot flaw is the white datewheel instead of the black one (it would be really nicer with a black one) and the date window is also not correct because there is a cyclop glass on the datewindow (that is in fact hard to spot). I am not totally sure but it looks that the gen doesnt have a date change pusher on the side as the rep have one (but it looks nice and its rather discrete). Gen: Size and feel: It is a little bit thicker (without counting the crystal, if we do its almost the same on the center of the watch) and case size is almost the same than my 2 years old 108$ Omega SMP GMT (A21J) but it feels bulkier because the bracelet doesnt fit my wrist and the crystal is almost totally flat so the watch looks like a block on my small wrist compared to the SMP that is thin in the bezel, there is no rotating bezel (and so the dial and hands are bigger which looks nice) and thin hands makes it more discrete. And you can see through crystal from any position (you can see it on the crown picture). In fact it doesnt fit my tiny wrist as the SMP and it finally doesnt fit better than a Montblanc Timewalker Chrono (A7750) (what i tought at first). I think its mainly because of the bracelet and clasp that doesnt fit really nicely my wrist and also because the caseback of the IWC is bigger than the two others and as the bracelet doesnt tightens my wrist enough the watch looks loose on it. The IWC is way lighter than the SMP but i cant compare a diving watch with a metal bracelet and a dress watch with a leather one The movements: The rotor is making enormous noise and i can feel it when it moves fast (i had the same feeling/noise on a 40$ Daytona in the past), in comparison, i dont feel or hear the rotor of my SMP. I recorded the sound it produce (not the best recording but i did it with my iPhone) : http://plusquenet.net/watches/rotor.m4a After almost 1 month of use the rotor movements became even worse with more noise i have to manually rewind the watch as i dont wear it while sleeping and as it doesnt autorewind correctly. I finally managed to find what was the problem with the rotor, its that the rotor seems to touch the case on some spot; after 2 months and a half, there is less fricition but the problem is that now there is metal dust on the watch So i ordered a tool to open the case and i will try to clean it For the rest, as i am not an expert i cant say much thinks except that the power reserve works fine (about 2 days ~=7hours for 1day marker) and that the watch looks to be manually rewinding quite fast. Also, the rotor finish is quite horrible and the decorative metal brushing doesnt look as nice as on my brother Montblanc Timewalker Chrono (A7750) but its still very decent. The Crown: The crown is really nice and is not mirrored as with some cheap IWC reps. I cant operate the crown as i dont have much fingernails (a bit anoying as i can without problems on my SMP for example), i have to use a little screwdriver or my teeth (at least it cant easily scratch case) to open it and i havent found a way to change date by itself as the crown is not with 2 positions like the SMP (if you have the solution tell me) The strap: Honestly, it doesnt feel very nice, its definitively not soft and it looks and feel like plastic (had the same kind of feeling as on my Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Mate this is a cracking watch review you should put it in the IWC area I would of missed this for sure. well done and thanks its been on my list for ages I may have to go for it soon. ST4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jb boin Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Thanks If an admin thinks the topic would fit better in the IWC area, he can feel free to move it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 This should definitely go to the IWC area. Great write up and pics. Thanks for posting this. Great to see some new blood putting up quality like this. Welcome to the Review Team!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db1 Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 hey, thanks for the review! the Asian 21j 21600bph you have in your IWC portuguese 7 days, is actually a very good asian made movement ! it has more than functioning 21jewels in it if i am not mistaken. i have the same movement in a PAM Luminor Power Reserve and it works like a charm with good power reserve, and working power reserve (knock on wood hehe) wear it well my friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jb boin Posted September 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 Thanks, i wonder how i could edit my message, i dont have any edit button Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrgod Posted September 26, 2009 Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 Thanks for the good review. It is posts like this thats makes the forum! The display caseback really shows of the nicely decorated movement. Shame about the rotor, but you cant have it all.. Stange that it is hard to adjust the date, though. It can be tricky sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jb boin Posted September 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2009 In fact i figured out how to change the date There is a small pusher, i was thinking it was a HE valve but its a for setting the date and it works perfectly, i have modified it (among many other things) on my review on RWI but unfortunately i dont seem to be able to edit my post here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Excellent watch and a great review! Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jb boin Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 Updated today with the modifications i made on the RWI post last month and by explaining what is the origin of the rotor noise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yacinto Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 Ravishing review, although still concerned about the date wheel problems after all these years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhitesox Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 6 years later and you're still concerned about the date wheel.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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