IWC V2 Top Gun

[Mickey Padge]

Picked up this little beauty cheap from Sql_pl, as the day/date was not working, thanks for a great transaction Sql_pl! After a trip to Germany for Domi's great care and attention, she is up and running perfectly now, thanks Domi!

I also picked up a RIOS 22mm aviator strap from ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270210314956 after seeing a member on repgeek post some sweet shot of his watch....

Here are a few pictures, click to expand:

A really nice watch, and so light, I didn't expect that! The crystal has the blue double AR that I like, very effective! The "TOP GUN" engraving on the side of the case is very sharp too

I noticed when I accidentally scratched the back of the lugs as I squeezed the 22mm strap in place (D'OH) that I could remove the marks! I took a small piece of my rubber abrasive block and lightly scrubbed it away! Afterwards I just rubbed my finger over the effected area, and it was as if the case was never marked, sweet!

Comments and observations welcome!

[redwatch]

Looks fantastic on that strap Mickey!! Congrats on a great find!!!

[Mickey Padge]

Looks fantastic on that strap Mickey!! Congrats on a great find!!!

Thanks redwatch, the strap seems to be made for this watch, a really great fit!

[plaifender]

That's what i call a SWEET watch! I love the strap! Really unique combo!

[Mickey Padge]

Thanks plaifender!

A member on repgeeks mentioned the strap looked like a chronissimo strap:

It costs over $90, but does look nicer, maybe a future upgrade?

[plaifender]

Very nice.. i like the fact that i've never seen it before!

[Mickey Padge]

I have a TWB's kevlar style strap too, which also looks pretty cool, a more "clean" look to my eyes

Click to expand:

Cheers!

[deniz21]

man the kevlar is the perfect strap for it

i think it will also look great on a 3717 ss

[coolfire]

Sweet, sweet Aviator you've got there, Mickey! I may have to get one for my TG2 too. BTW, is TWB's kelvar thick?

[Mickey Padge]

Thanks chaps!

The TWB's strap is not that thick, and I think it is just kevlar "look", feels like rubber, but it was only $40 or so. I would love to know where to get a real kevlar strap, but can only find OEM straps for $170+....

[jmarin.72]

Looks great MP TG v2 is one of the best out of the box reps

Domi works miracles indeed

Here is my 3789 on a pilot's strap

Wear it well my friend

[Mickey Padge]

Hey great pictures jmarin.72, thanks for sharing!

Looks like Domi relumed it for you? May I ask how the lume on the hands looks, is it nice and smooth/even? Seems Domi did a fantastic job as always!

[jmarin.72]

Thanks MP.

Yes Domi relumed it for me,he did a great job although on the hands there seem to be some uneven lume fills or small holes left by bubbles during application,this is visible only under certain light conditions so it does not bother me,but i will try to source a gen pair of

hands.I don't know what he is using (SL or Tritec)but the lumed areas seem to remain visible in the dark more than 10 hours,with only

a few minutes of exposure to daylight

I will definitely use his lume skills for future projects without any doubt

Here's a lume shot

P.S I have just tried to erase with a rubber eraser the scratches made the same way as yours on the back side of the lugs and also on a small area of the caseback and it worked like a charm !!!

thanks for the tip mate

[Mickey Padge]

Very nice lume indeed, obviously Domi will get better and better with the more lume work he does

Glad you could remove those scratches, a very handy way to keep the watch looking new!

[jmarin.72]

Well whatever he uses as a lume base one thing is sure....this thing is strong

[jmarin.72]

+1 for ceramic is that this material is hard to scratch and even if this happens it is reversable with a simple rubber eraser!!!

but -1...this thing is brittle and can break easily if it falls at a wrong angle...my V1 case broke just like that when the watch

fell on the floor

[Mickey Padge]

Oooh nice, gen movement, dial and crown maybe?

Yep the ceramic in reps definitely won't have the same properties as the gens, aside from resisting scratches at least!

[jmarin.72]

Oooh nice, gen movement, dial and crown maybe?

Yep the ceramic in reps definitely won't have the same properties as the gens, aside from resisting scratches at least!

I don't think it is a matter of gen/rep,no matter what,if the ceramic case is dropped at the wrong angle there are pretty good chances to break,this has been discused in gen forums as well

In my case it landed on the tip of the lug,the strap was not mounted on the case at the time,which was the main factor for the damage.If the strap was on chances are the lug would have survived the fall.

[Mickey Padge]

Ouch! hard lesson to learn, sorry for that

I will change straps sitting crossed legged on my carpet with this IWC then!

[Mickey Padge]

Well I purchased the chronissimo strap, looks fantastic!

Well worth the money, excellent quality, and waterproof too!

http://www.fredawatchstraps.com/dimchron.html