During a transit through Hong Kong late last year I found myself at (i.e. made a rapid beeline for) the IWC boutique.
On discussion with Gavin, the senior sales associate, my excitement at the array of models made it apparent that I was a uhren virus sufferer and in the throes of a serious exacerbation. When I confessed to him that I did not own an IWC pilot’s watch he looked at me, almost dumbstruck, and asked in a shocked tone “but why not?”
I was at once overwhelmed by a sense of embarrassment, shame and guilt. He was right to be shocked, how could I call myself an IWC lover and not include an example of probably the most iconic line in the IWC stable in my collection?
As an act of contrition I immediately turned my attention to the Pilot’s watches on offer and was drawn to the Pilot’s watch chronograph LPP version. The blue of the dial and calfskin strap made for an alluring colour combination and the applied numerals and font unique to the St Exupery range attracted me. The triple date display appealed to my sense of respect for authenticity by its intended consistency with an altimeter.
With confidence and loyalty to my AD I contacted them and asked to order one in for me. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts they could not as Schaffhausen had clearly put a hold on the current productions ahead of the impending release of the new models in January at SIHH. I would just have to wait, firstly to see if the new range appealed and secondly because of the inevitable delay between release and availability.
When the release day finally came there were changes – the LPP now had standard pilot font and hands, numerals were no longer applied and the date display was single… I loved it!
There was still the LPP blue dial and Santoni calfskin strap as a nod to the pioneer aviator that St Exupery was, but somehow it now seemed even more of pilot’s watch.
I HAD to have it!! My brilliant AD managed to obtain one in record time given it was such a recent release, and within 2 hours of receiving the call it was on my wrist where it has remained ever since. Big thank you to Will at Watches of Switzerland.
Here are a few mandatory wrist shots to tempt any other forummers with a similar leaning.
Thanks for reading and sharing the enjoyment.
Regards
Peter
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