A Warm Thank You thread for our Moderator Michael Friedberg

I think a silent departure is not the way to say Goodbye, or Happy Watch Hunting , or God Speed to a man that did so much for this IWC watch lovers Forum , and was instrumental in the (partial) development of 3 very special watches.
It may be his private wish not to have a lot of noise about it, but i think we all owe him at least this thread to thank him in a positive way, textual or with watches that you may have found through his knowledge or this forum.
Impossible maybe to please a very critical crowd for 100%, but i doubt very much if anyone could or should have been more pleasing.
For me it was his postings about the CF3 that made me a true IWC fan, still am sorry it has remained out of my reach. But i do love that watch!

Gentleman, show your appreciation if you wish, pictures are welcome.

Never a dull moment with Michael as moderator of this forum. A big Thank You is definitely in order: this forum cost me a small fortune well spent on very beautiful watches! The highlight for me was SIHH 2008, where the Vintage Collection was presented, of which I eventually bought four watches. Thank you for this invitation, the event will not be forgotten!

Kind regards,
Paul

Congratulations Michael Friedberg, for such an accomplishment in building up the best brand-sponsored forum and setting the bar very high for Internet-based consumer outreach in the luxury industry.

You are responsible for holding the attention of thousands of IWC watch zealots for so many hours over the last 15 year. This forum has held my attention for the last 15 years - thanks to you. That is incredible. The First Collector's Forum watch after just a few year of building up this community - and the organization, planning, and diplomacy needed to bring this community together in person at collector's events, in Schaffhausen, Geneva, London, Chicago, New York, etc.

All the best. Hope to see you again, soon.

Indeed we all owe Michael a lot for putting up this Forum and making it so successful. There would be no such network of IWC collectors without Michael always striving for both, to present knowledge on IWC and to make the collectors talking with one another. The footsteps Tonny is going to step in are huge.

Warm thanks to Michael and "Good Luck" for Tonny!!

Th. Koenig

Dear Michael,
it is only a few days ago that I got to know you personally in Geneva. I had not been aware that there are plans for you to retire and I was completely surprised as this was announced during the Collector´s Dinner at the SIHH.
I hope you will still be around as a source of great knowledge about IWC watches, as a collector, as a driving force behind the excitement for beautiful watches, as a friend of the brand and -most of all- as a wonderful person. Meeting you was a great pleasure and I hope it will not have been the last time.
All the best!

Hi Michael, we owe you a warm and BIG 'thank you' for getting this fantastic forum in place and maintaining it! You've been a great moderator and expert, which I think is a rare combination of skills.

Since the first time I met you at SIHH in 2006, it has been a great experience 'talking' to you on- and offline.

All the best and keep us posted on your future acquisitions.

Best regards,

Bob

Thank you Michael for everything you've done for the Forum, us collectors and IWC.

Kind regards,

Clemens

Although Michael has always insisted that he is owed no thanks, it is hard to imagine that this forum could have become so exceptional without his hard work and dedication. I am truly most appreciative - Thank you.

Well said Thomas. I make mine your words.

Tonny has indeed some big shoes to fill. I wish Tonny all the best.

Indeed Tonny, You will be severely challenged on that "25 Hour Watch" side of things - MF spent countless hours moderating over such topics as "the 24 hour watch" and drawing out the regulars and others to post great posts and to share the knowledge - making this the greatest watch forum on the net.

This is the heritage you inherit - and as Antonio writes, we wish you luck in continuing the journey. Know, in that challenge you shall have my (and I am sure I speak for others too ) support - flying the flag high!

So like you, a very big warm thanks to Michael for all the years of inspiration, knowledge share and passion.

Dear Michael,

Thank you very much for moderating for so long.

We've known each other before the IWC forum. This watch at watchtime and timezone. It were times that you discovered a lot of vintage watches. I remember you finding a Jumbo Ingenieur ... A watch nobody ever heard of.

You've assisted me in purchases ... telling stories about these watches and looking at the quality. I learned a lot of you.

We met several times in Geneva. This first collectors meeting is still in my memory and I can't remember what year this was.

Last few years the knowledge about vintage watches seemed all sorted out and new watches were winning. I lost interest in the forum as my love was in older timepieces... but I still checked in and had a look at forum and you covering stories about watches.

Thanks again for all these years.

Martijn

I want to thank Michael too for all his efforts and enthusiasm and I'm quite a bit sorry that he quit so quietly here.

Click on the pics to see the album original size.

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I would just like to add my thanks to Michael for all he has done for the forum/IWC and the collectors of IWC in general. The CF3 is a fantastic legacy to leave behind and I have enjoyed my brief meetings with you immensely. Hope to catch up with you at some point in the future for a beer and a chat.

Thank you Michael for your tireless efforts towards this Forum and the Collectors in general. This Forum has become a home from home, and a place to make plans to meet friends no matter where one is travelling, and this is due to your hard work in growing this fantastic place to what it has become.

Not only the Forum, you successfully guided 3 amazing Collector's pieces through the design and production phases as well. I think CF3 is a fantastic watch and will always be remembered as your baby.

Thank You for everything you have done for us.

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Unfortunately I never had the chance to meet you Michael, but without you and your brilliant CF3 project, I would maybe not have ended up with so regularly activities in this forum.
Thank you very much for your amazing effort you have done to this forum as a moderator.
I hope to benefit from your watch knowledge also in the future, if not as a moderator then as "normal" forum member. I am sure your passion will stay.

Cheers Chris

Very nice thread. There is not a lot of news I could add myself, the work of Michael has been appreciated. Thank you, Michael!

I'd like to add my appreciation for your efforts with this forum Michael.

This is a daily internet stop for myself and I have learnt a lot from the community and articles posted. More importantly, though, I have been able to meet and make friends with collectors as I've travelled... something I would never had the good fortune to do were it not for this forum.

Also, although I do not own any of the Collector's Edition pieces, your efforts with the initiatives and production of the three models to date is a fantastic legacy.

Thanks again Michael for encouraging IWC and collectors alike to connect - it is genuinely appreciated.

Cheers!