The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

Originally Posted by Singular

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The reason that IWC is not going for JLC is Richemont policy, for sure. IWC has for the sake of separation a more germanic (as Foo says) approach, with a more geometric design and a feel that is closer to instruments and utilization than JLCs haute horologerie approach and elegant design. Of course there are models that are cannibalizing a little (like the Port and the MC Diving) but they are separating themselves by some variables (the Port being bigger, the MC Diving far more exensive...).

/M

Again, I am well aware of IWC's history as a Schaffhausen-based brand and their Germanic-heritage (they did, after all, help in the revival of A. Lange). Thus, their styling should certainly be different from the more expressive JLC.

My point was that all their recent pieces seem to have bolder / gaudier "look-at-me" designs and larger-and-larger sporty cases.

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

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Again, I am well aware of IWC's history as a Schaffhausen-based brand and their Germanic-heritage (they did, after all, help in the revival of A. Lange). Thus, their styling should certainly be different from the more expressive JLC.

My point was that all their recent pieces seem to have bolder / gaudier "look-at-me" designs and larger-and-larger sporty cases.

Well, that is the fact for all Richemont brands - all launching larger and more fashion-forward models, killing the brands with a zillion of LEs...

/M

Originally Posted by Singular

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Well, that is the fact for all Richemont brands - all launching larger and more fashion-forward models, killing the brands with a zillion of LEs...

/M

I dunno - while everyone is slowly moving towards larger case sizes (and I'm ok with that) - Vacheron, JLC and Lange continue to 'stay classy' and somewhat conservative across the brand (naturally with some exceptions like the Squadra). But IWC seems to be positioning itself more and more as a fashion timepiece.

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

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My point was that all their recent pieces seem to have bolder / gaudier "look-at-me" designs and larger-and-larger sporty cases.
Totally agreed. The Portuguese and pre-Mark XVI pilot watches are really gorgeous watches--things you'd wear while shooting your Leica. Now they look more like things you'd wear if you were an asshole who spray tans and wears too much cheap cologne.

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

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I dunno - while everyone is slowly moving towards larger case sizes (and I'm ok with that) - Vacheron, JLC and Lange continue to 'stay classy' and somewhat conservative across the brand (naturally with some exceptions like the Squadra). But IWC seems to be positioning itself more and more as a fashion timepiece.
Well, actually all those makers have also increased their sizes. 40mm is pretty common across the board for JLC. Patek's Calatrava dials are no longer as harmonious because the cases have enlarged beyond the sizes originally intended for the movements. Lange has "Grand" versions of it's Lange 1 and enlarged some of its other models. That said, it is certainly true IWC has gone off the wall, even by the standard of its peers. Where the Portuguese use to be the largest IWC at 42mm, now it's downright modest. I liked the fact it was peculiarly, yet correctly, big for a dress watch. Now it's just a regularly small dress watch in a line-up that is overall oversized by a cartoonish margin. The Big Ingenieur is 46 mm, like the Big Pilot, but entirely useless as an "engineer" watch since it's lost the original soft iron casing for fashion's sake. Anyway, I could rant on this forever. IWC used to be my favorite watch brand. I would have put them up against Patek, Lange, anybody, for quality of craftsmanship and refinement, with a leg-up in design, but the've become a joke.

This may be of interest:

http://ablogtoread.com/erwin-sattler...gtoRead.com%29

Originally Posted by jhcam8

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This may be of interest:

http://ablogtoread.com/erwin-sattler...gtoRead.com%29

WOW!

Omega Speedmaster 3573 is my choice...

A pic of it on the steel bracelet:




...and one on the black Sharkskin:

Originally Posted by jhcam8

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This may be of interest:

http://ablogtoread.com/erwin-sattler...gtoRead.com%29

porno in the bottom draw...

Originally Posted by jubu

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Omega Speedmaster 3573 is my choice... A pic of it on the steel bracelet:

...and one on the black Sharkskin:

Also try it on a blue NATO, it's fantastic.

...

or khaki (on my wrist now)

Originally Posted by echau

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You can purchase the 3570.50.00, otherwise known as the "Moon Watch" from an AD for about 30% off MSRP (MSRP = $3850, expect to pay $2695 new). This is the manual wind, hesalite (acrylic) crystal version, and is the most true (of the current line up) to the original.

Other versions include:

3572.50.00 (Hesalite crystal, sapphire display caseback, no longer in production)
3573.50.00 (Sapphire crystal, sapphire display caseback)
3576.50.00 (Sapphire crystal, sapphire display caseback, moonphase and date functions)

I really recommend the 3750.50.00 simply because it's most true to the original, and the hesalite crystal is just beautiful. The hesalite crystal is more prone to scratching, but you can easily polish it with polywatch, or even toothpaste.

Here's mine for reference:

PM me if you'd like info on a reputable AD, or you can do more research on http://forums.watchuseek.com/index.php

Always wanted one of these.....

Late to the party, but here are some I like. I have a very small wrist (6") and I've emphasized items that I find aesthetically appealing over expensive movements or complications. All are manual movements. Also, I'm not rich. 8^) In order: Hamilton Tourneau (original dial), Zenith sterling silver (porcelain redial to replace cracked original), Hamilton gold-filled (redial, watch was my grandfather's), Revue 30s (daily beast).

those are some beautiful pieces

Originally Posted by faketrain

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those are some beautiful pieces

Nice to see fellow Moonwatch'ers here on SF! You have great taste.