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… »

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.  

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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 Pilot’s Watch Chrono-Automatic Edition TOP GUN Watch Flies High With Technical Substance And Style

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chrono-Automatic Edition TOP GUN watch is a great thematic limited edition timepiece.  A nice follow up to the brand’s more complicated split-seconds chronograph of the same name, it should allow collectors and IWC fans a chance to obtain a companion chronograph that has an equally cool aura.  The neatest feature of these IWC watches, in my opinion, is the case–which is manufactured from Continue Reading… »

IWC Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère: Sheer Magnificence In Rose Gold

It’s amazing how well suited certain metals are for a specific watch model.  A perfect example is the stunning IWC Portuguese Tourbillon Mystère in 5N 18K rose gold.  The combination of that deep, (nearly red) shade of rose gold with the slate gray dial is gorgeous, and exudes a decidedly powerful aura of luxury.  This watch is certainly beautiful in white gold, but if you want Continue Reading… »

IWC Pilot’s Watches For Father And Son-Could There Be A Better Father’s Day Present?

With Father’s Day right around the corner, there’s bound to be many suggestions about what to buy dad.  Ultimately, watches are a very subjective thing, so there’s really no right or wrong answer.  However, when a father and son can SHARE something, it’s bound to mean much more.  Continue Reading… »