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Cantabrigian

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Of those two, I prefer the GO mainly because I think it is beautifully balanced. On the IWC: I do not like gap-toothed dates at 6:00 at all, the highly blued numerals, and the red PR. So in IWC I far prefer the Portugieser (automatic, unless you really want a chronograph).

Dornblüth & Sohn also make many superb iterations of the marine watch, many complication combinations, various case materials, printed applied numerals, etc. All of them are beautiful.

web-99AuA-1-ST.png

Caliber 99 or Q-2010.2 up & down

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Caliber 99.2


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Quintus 2010.9

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Caliber 99.4


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Caliber 99.5

The date on the GO is indeed better.

I prefer the applied and blue indices of the IWC though.

The Dornbluth watches look nice but I'm not particularly interested in a small brand, especially since it would more or less be impossible to see it before owning it.
 

Cantabrigian

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That IWC is lovely. It's even better in person. If the larger case diameter doesn't bother you, go for it. If you want that but in a smaller, more manageable case diameter, then I recommend the new Portugieser 40 mm,

I looked at the Automatic as well and didn't find it quite as interesting.

I have one watch, a Snowflake, which wears quite small so the idea here is for a bit of contrast - a more substantial, weighty bit of steel.
 

Cantabrigian

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100% the GO. Finishing is generally a step up from IWC and they are available at very attractive prices used. If you go new, push for 25% - 35% off. You can use my super cheap indian dude method too and just blanket email 10 - 20 ADs. Just BCC them all and basically let them bid themselves down. This is how I got my ALS for wayyy below list and then profitably sold it when I got bored.
GO is a step above IWC... and once you go big date you won't go back...
Everyone that says GO is “a step above “IWC”… really? Come on.

In what sense is IWC behind GO (at least as regards the Portugieser and Senator lines)?
 
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Fraiche

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Might be a longshot here but does anyone have hookups for Rolex AD in the US?
 

Drek Galloche

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We live in a tiny time-bubble where things appear solid and permanent, but then something comes across to remind that it is all fleeting in less than one human life. The double signed factory dials from Caracas 1960s.
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mebiuspower

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In what sense is IWC behind GO (at least as regards the Portugieser and Senator lines)?

No swan neck, no 21ct rotor, no big date, no off set weight on balance wheel. GO movement is better finished and is simply more beautiful.

In the end, IWC is mass produced brand with huge annual production numbers like Omegas, versus GO which is haute horology.

100-14-a.webp


IWC-Portugieser-Automatic-7-Day-7.jpg
 
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Drek Galloche

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Watched a few trade show episodes from NY and FL. Watches? This **** ain't rare. Grey dealers have humongous stocks. They gobble up so many desirable watches that it is no wonder desirbales are doubling tripling in price, One hedge fund should come and corner the whole market. What does it take 20 mill 100 mil to make a monopoly?
IMHO, if you are buying anything other than big three at retail, you are giving money away.
 

Neville Southall

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Watched a few trade show episodes from NY and FL. Watches? This **** ain't rare. Grey dealers have humongous stocks. They gobble up so many desirable watches that it is no wonder desirbales are doubling tripling in price, One hedge fund should come and corner the whole market. What does it take 20 mill 100 mil to make a monopoly?
IMHO, if you are buying anything other than big three at retail, you are giving money away.
Somewhat of a narrow point of view. Some collectors, myself included, buy whatever we want and we prefer AD’s for warranty and authenticity purposes. I never look at a watch and think “oh, I’ll lose money on that.” I look at a watch and think, “do I love it?”
 

Phileas Fogg

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Somewhat of a narrow point of view. Some collectors, myself included, buy whatever we want and we prefer AD’s for warranty and authenticity purposes. I never look at a watch and think “oh, I’ll lose money on that.” I look at a watch and think, “do I love it?”

yeah, trying to rationalize cost doesn't make sense. I mean, step back for a second and realize you’re paying thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of $$$ for something that tells time.
 

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