IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Rose Gold Watch

A timepiece such as this makes the same type of sense that a decadently appointed off-road worthy SUV does. Why do you gild a device meant to go off the beaten track and be exposed to the elements? Just as most Cadillac Escalade owners don’t tread their pampered big-wheelers off road, such is the case with the owners of gold cased IWC Aquatimer Chronograph watches. “Strong enough for the sea, but made for cruising in the Bentley,” as I say.

The watch is still pretty as sin though, and for this Ref. IW3769 watch, IWC gave it their in-house made automatic caliber 89360 chronograph movement – beautifully decorated and finished as visible through the caseback window. The chronograph is special because it has a bi-compax array of subdials, but retains timing of up to 12 hours. The top subsidiary dial has two counter hands in it, for the chronograph minutes and for the hours. The chronograph hands are in all red for clarity, while the lower subdial is for the watch seconds and also has an integrated date window. Continue Reading… »

IWC 2009 Aquatimer Watches Defeat Early Gripes To Win Over Watch Collectors

No matter what their preferred watch brands may be, devotees of sports watches all seem united when it comes to the issue of dial design. Make ‘em big, make ‘em bold, and oh yes–make sure there’s plenty of luminous applications that keep a brilliant glow for more than just a few minutes.  With that last point in mind, I have to sing the praises of the IWC’s 2009 Aquatimer line, which I’ve recently been able to see live for the first time this year.    (Click here to read a summary of the 2009 IWC Aquatimer collection) Continue Reading… »

IWC Portuguese Automatic 7-Day Watch

Among today’s IWC timepieces, the Portuguese (7-Day) Automatic is unquestionably one of the best.  A bold statement to be sure, but there’s lots to back it up: this model respectfully follows the historical design laid down by the very first Portuguese watch IWC created back in the 1930’s (a large, highly legible and extremely accurate wristwatch that would give up nothing to pocket watch performance), it’s extremely handsome, and it has tremendous presence on the wrist.  What’s more, this IWC watch possesses one of the most interesting self-winding mechanical movements in current production.  Definitely a solid resume! Continue Reading… »

Watch Collecting: A Perspective From One Who Tried, And Failed

Watch collecting is an interesting pursuit, and can mean very different things to different people.  There is no “right answer”–only what works for that individual.  Some people enjoy a rotation of 3-10 watches, happily going to the safety deposit bank or the safe to pull stuff off the winder.  Others keep a few timepieces on hand they wear regularly, and leave the others–sometimes many others–wrapped up in plastic for posterity or investment purposes (I’m thinking of the Patek crowd here, particularly)  Then there are the fanatics for vintage Rolex or Panerai limited editions, who enjoy the hyper-minutiae and sharing a latest rare acquisition with their equally obsessed buddies at get-togethers where festivity levels are just slightly less than that of a Roman bacchanalia.   Continue Reading… »

‘Tis the Season to Get Married! Part IV: A Gift for the Groom!

Continue Reading… »

IWC Big Pilots Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupery: High-Flying Excellence In An Edition Of 1900

“Third time’s the charm”–or, maybe its the fourth, at least if you’re talking about IWC Schaffhausen and its limited edition watches dedicated to French author and aviation pioneer Antoine de Saint Exupery.  The IWC Big Pilot’s watch finally becomes the subject for one of these charming special editions, and in my opinion, it stands as the best of them all. Continue Reading… »

The IWC Big Ingenieur – “Engineered for Men”, Without A Doubt!

“Engineered for Men”, is a slogan which often accompanies advertisements for IWC watches–an additional reminder (if you needed one) that the product of the Schaffhausen-based brand have serious masculine appeal.  With that in mind, few luxury watches are designed as much for the Y-Chromosome as is the IWC Big Ingenieur.  

Continue Reading… »

IWC Spitfire UTC: A Perfect Watch For Holiday Travels

With the amount of travel that takes place in November and December, its natural to turn thoughts horological to timepieces that make journeying a little easier.  The IWC Spitfire UTC is one such watch.

Delightfully understated with its brushed stainless steel case and smartly designed rhodium-plated dial, the Spitfire UTC watch allows one to keep track of their home time, as well as the time zone in which they will be spending a bit of time.  Continue Reading… »

IWC Watches And The Intrepid Florentine Ariosto Jones

IWC recently debuted a charming production starring Kate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes, who portray a fictional account of intrepid IWC founder Florentine Ariosto Jones (Blanchett plays his wife).  Watching it, one becomes curious about the actual background of the man behind the IWC brand, and the story is in fact quite an interesting one–a “true grit” tale across two continents, marked by big ambitions, a promising start, failure, and ultimately a lasting legacy.

An American, Jones served as a director of F. Howard & Co., a Boston-based watch company.  This brand, along with Elgin and Waltham were the big players in the booming American watch market.  Despite the demand for fine pocket watches, Continue Reading… »

IWC Vintage Collection Da Vinci Watch Stands Out With Unusual, Striking Design

In the world of luxury watchmaking, an unusual or distinctive case design is perhaps most obvious way to make an unforgettable impression. Watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Gondolo Trapeze, and any of the Cartier Libres would be just a few examples of timepieces which stand out unfailingly. The new IWC Da Vinci watch from the Vintage Collection is most certainly in this category as well, with its striking hexagonal case. Modeled after the Continue Reading… »