A Warm Thank You thread for our Moderator Michael Friedberg

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!

Dear Michael,

before i met you i just was a customer from IWC.

But then you invited me to a collectorsmeeting years ago.

At this moment everthing changed. I was not only a customer anymore.

I felt i am a friend of the brand and my opinion is always welcome.

Thanks for this great moments with you and IWC.

I, too, fully agree- Michael deserves our thanks and best wishes. You built something which is the best of it's kind of any watch marque, and for 15 years you put so many countless hours into keeping it, improving it, and moving the Forum forward. We have some wonderful Collectors Forum watches, huge amounts of knowledge, multiple points of friendship with fellow collectors, great adventures, and lasting memories. And more.
So, like everyone else, many thanks for your huge efforts!

Nelson

Thank you Michael for making this forum a reality, and maintaining its character and knowledge sharing. This is an amazing group of people who come together daily and experience their passion for IWC watches. I wish you the best and look forward to any further contributions to this community.

Here here! Many thanks to Michael for all he has done to help build this Forum into what it now is. I challenge anyone to name a more successful brand sponsored forum anywhere. From the building of this Forum to the creation and launch of CF3, Michael has provided us so much.

And if I may speak personally to Mike for a moment....

Mike, you were one of my first friends and "guides" when I got into watches 16 years ago. You have taught me so much, and were always there to answer a question or provide advice. Oh sure, you pissed me off sometimes. So do my siblings and other friends. And no doubt I pissed you off, too. That's all part of friendship, right?

We on this Forum and especially I owe you a debt of gratitude that we cannot possibly repay. All I can say is Thank You!

Michael,

 Although we have never met, I feel that I know you through our past communication through this forum. Your knowledge and expertise will be missed by all of us on the forum!

Best of luck and God Bless

zyxtimer

I'm new to IWC, new to the forum. Would like to take this opportunity to thank Michael & team so that I can own an amazing piece of CF3.

Thanks so much Michael.

I first met Michael in London and then drew his attention some time later to a PW that he didn't have in his collection. This was duly purchased and I was glad to help. I met him again in Spa Town at the mass collection of CF3 by forum members and the Reveal of the Portuguese collection for 2015.
It's not easy I would imagine being a Moderator for the forum, in a way a task that can be thankless when we were plagued by people loading links that were non watch related let alone non IWC related.
I wish him well and hope his interest in IWC isn't diminished, even if he uses a new name on the forum. All the best MF and thanks for helping getting this forum up and running from its conception!

I am one of the oldest members of this Forum and I have been present continuously from the start. In former days old was associated with wise. I have learned that this assumption is not correct. What I am going to say represents only my personal view, not more. Many forumers might wonder why the transition of moderatorship has not been announced officially by IWC. I guess we will never know all the considerations and details. And that is ok for me.
It is better to stick to the facts which matter for us, collectors. If I think what it means to be a moderator, I realise that few people can be one. A moderator should have numerous qualifications and it is impossible to meet all the requirements expected by so many different collectors. I have made a summary in my mind about what has been achieved and of what hopefully can be expected in the future. What has been realised by Michael Friedberg is unique, extensive and overwhelming. All the details have been posted in this thread. Thank you so much. Fifteen years of moderating this Forum is a (very) long time and nearly twice as long as an American president may serve his country. When a true leader president leaves office after 4-8 years, the country hopes that his successor will do even better. After a different election procedure for the moderator of this Forum this will be a big challenge for Tonny Berteloot. His warm personality has been recognised and appreciated by many over the last years. His enthousiasm for the brand is delightful. I wish him lots of success in moderating our Forum.
kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc)

Dear Michael

Hmmmmm.... What to say to this information....????

It it is on one hand quite easy:

THANY FOR ALL YOU DID FOR THIS FORUM.

On the other hand it is so complicated to explain what the IWC-forum and the IWC-events could become without Michael, the heart of our IWC-Collectors-Forum-Community.

Kindest regards

Ralph

Is Michael going to do so? I wonder who will spot him first then. Has he already posted since he is a normal member?

Kind regards,
Paul

I have never met Michael in person, but his input into this forum is invaluable.

Thank you very much, Michael!

Cheers
JK

Paul, are you suggesting that should Michael Friedberg decide to continue posting in the forum, as many of us hope he will, would do so under a pseudonym to conceal his identity?

I wouldn't be where I am today without Michael and IWC would have sold a lot less watches to me without him and this forum. Thanks for your patience, trust and advice. I hope to see you again in Schaffhausen or elsewhere.
Chapeau!

Well, not me, UK Greg suggested something like that. I personally would think that strange, but maybe UK Greg knew more than I do. It could be that the connotation with the previous function would stand in the way of a spontaneous reaction, but now I am fantasizing, which is a bad idea when it comes to people's intentions.

Kind regards,
Paul

Michael, you deserve a big big thank you for all you have done for IWC and especially for us IWC collectors who have visited this forum thru the years - chapau my friend!

Personally I really owe you big time for not only helping me in my early days on this forum but for extending a very suprising but oh so exciting invitation to SIHH in 2012. Thie invitation and the event changed my watch collecting forever, but even more importantly brought me friends I know will be with me for life!

So thank you Michael, my best wishes in all your future endeavors, and please come visit us here sometimes.

Tonny, welcome as our new chief - let us know how we can be of help.

Thank you Michael.
Moderator Mirabillis.