As a new member, I introduce myself : interview with a collector

Welcome to the Forum, Felix!🙌🏼

Good morning all, a new member here based in South East UK.

After concentrating for too many years on Rolex and Omega, I purchased my first IWC in Dec 2025, a beautiful IWC Portugieser 42 Automatic in Steel, with silver dial, blue hands and blue leather strap - and I’m now addicted to the brand and wish I looked into IWC far sooner.

I’ve based a trip to Schaffhausen soon purely to visit the factory. 

Although a “lesser spec” compared to my 42, my next purchase will be the IWC Portugieser 40 in Steel with the Salmon dial and black leather strap.

My grail is the Portugieser Eternal Calendar in Platinum. 

Thanks for reading !.

kind regards / Bryan 

 

Hello everyone,

It's great to be part of this community.

1. Where are you from?
   I'm from Pakistan.
2. How did you become interested in IWC?
   I've always appreciated products that combine timeless design with precision engineering. Learning about IWC's history, craftsmanship, and mechanical movements made me admire the brand even more.
3. Which IWC watch(es) do you have?
   I'm still exploring the collection and hope to own my first IWC soon.
4. What is your next IWC or holy grail?
   The Portugieser Chronograph and the Big Pilot are both at the top of my wishlist.
5. Would you like to meet other collectors?
   Absolutely. It's always enjoyable to learn from experienced collectors and hear the stories behind their watches.
6. Profession and hobbies?
   I work in web development and SEO

Looking forward to learning from everyone here and becoming part of the community!

I’m from [your country/state]. I became an IWC collector after trying on a Pilot’s Watch and falling for the clean design, solid build and understated elegance — that first wear was the key factor. Currently I own [your watch model(s)]. My next target (and holy grail) is [desired model, e.g. a Portugieser Chronograph or Big Pilot]. I’d be happy to meet other collectors at gatherings if the opportunity arises. By profession I’m a [your job], and outside of watches I enjoy [other hobbies]. Looking forward to learning from everyone here!

Great introduction! It’s always interesting to hear how collectors got into IWC and what makes certain pieces special to them. Looking forward to seeing more of your collection and reading about your collecting journey.

Dear all,

I am Mattias Johansson from Sweden I recently inherited this watch and would really appreciate some help fidentifying it from you professionals. I have not had an IWC before but I know about the brand, what I have had previously i a Siöö Sandström Chronolink and a vintage Omega, which I like both.

The information I have so far:

• Movement: IWC Calibre 88
• Case number: 1,129,358
• Bracelet: Stainless-steel bracelet, although I am not sure if it is original to the watch

I would especially like to find out:

1. The approximate year of manufacture

2. Whether the dial, hands and case appear original

3. Whether the bracelet is likely original or a later replacement

Thank you in advance for any information or advice!

Best regards

Mattias Johansson

I’m based in the US,

• I became an IWC collector after getting drawn to their clean engineering and timeless design. That balance of heritage and precision really convinced me.
• I currently have the IWC Portugieser Automatic.

Weddings and collector gatherings actually have something in common — the small details can make a big difference to the overall experience. At events, things like guest comfort, seating, parking, and restroom access are easy to overlook when planning the main attractions. For larger outdoor weddings especially, having enough restroom facilities is something worth planning early.

• Digital creator with a passion for precision engineering, hardware aesthetics, and high-performance tech setups curated

Hi Tonny and everyone,

Glad to be here! Here are my quick answers:

1. Where are you from? United States.
2. How did you become a collector of IWC watches? I’ve always admired clean, functional engineering. The heritage behind IWC’s design language—especially their pilot and dress watches—was the main factor that drew me in.
3. Which IWC watch(es) do you have? I currently own a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, which gets plenty of wrist time as my daily driver.
4. What is your next IWC / Holy Grail? My next target is a Big Pilot, but my absolute grail would be a Portugieser Perpetual Calendar.
5. Are you interested in meeting other collectors? Definitely! It’s always great connecting with fellow enthusiasts.
6. Profession & hobbies: I work in local contracting and craftsmanship, and outside of work, I enjoy home restoration projects and classic design.

Looking forward to participating in the forum!

Hello all,

I am Miel van Hutten from the Netherlands, let me introduce myself by replying to your questions.

1. Where are you from ( country/state ) ?

As already stated above, I am from the Netherlands and my home is in the province of Noord-Brabant.

2. How did you become a collector of IWC watches ? What was the key factor for you to buy an IWC ?

I am not a collector, but after clearing the attic, I discovered I might be a collector after all. I have found a few interesting watches form my parents and great-parents, amongst which a gold pocket watch with the name International Watch Co. After opening the lid, I found an inscription 30th April '31. I love to buy an IWC, but sofar the pricing of these splendid time machines prevented me buying one.

3. Which IWC watch(es ) you have ?

A gold pocket watch with # 926898 and the inscription Probus SCAFUSIA. I learned it is latin for "good, solid, craftmanship from Schaffhausen".

4. What is your next IWC ? Or your holy grail from IWC ?

That would be a Portugieser (Portugieser Automatic 40, IW358312) or an Ingenieur (Ingenieur Automatic 40, IW328902)

5. Are you interested to meet other collectors during a collectors meeting ?

Yes!

6. What is your profession and other hobbies ?

I am a retired civil engineer. Hobbies? A lot: Photograpy, Genealogy, playing golf, driving my 34 year old british sportscar.

Great introduction thread. It’s interesting to learn how different collectors got into IWC watches and which models they consider their favorites. The questions about the next watch and collecting experiences make this a nice way for members to get to know each other.

Happy to introduce myself following the moderator's questions.

1. I'm from Pakistan, currently based between Lahore and Karachi.
2. My interest in IWC started when I came across the Pilot's Watch collection. The combination of engineering precision and clean functional design drew me in immediately. For me it was less about luxury and more about the philosophy behind the watch built for a purpose, nothing unnecessary.
3. I currently have the IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII. Simple, honest, and wears perfectly every day.
4. My holy grail is the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar. The way the complication is displayed on the dial is something I find myself coming back to again and again.
5. Absolutely interested in collector meetings. Would love to connect with people who share the same appreciation for the craft.
6. Professionally I work in digital technology and design. Outside of watches my interests are photography, travel, and following developments in AI and design tools.

Hi everyone,

I’m Rowan Felix, from US. I’m interested in content writing, and digital projects, and I enjoy learning from online communities and meeting people with similar interests.

I’ve always liked watches for their design, craftsmanship, and the amount of detail that goes into making them. I’m still learning more about IWC and its different collections, but the Pilot’s Watch and Portugieser lines have really caught my attention.

Outside of writing, I enjoy exploring new technology, watching movies, and learning new things online.

Happy to be here, and I’m looking forward to learning from the community and joining the conversations!

— Rowan Felix

Hi,

I'm Romeo from California, USA.
I haven't yet started collecting IWC, but I've always liked the Pilot watches. Those were probably the first IWCs that I ever noticed.  
I'm looking into a Ref. 819, as my first IWC. I find the latest version of the Ingenieur (in Pool) really nice. But, way above my current budget. Older generations are interesting. The 3521 and 3508 are nice, but  still expensive for me. So, Ref. 819 it is.
I'd be interested in meeting other IWC enthusiasts, for sure. 
I work in the solar industry. I like older Italian road bikes and recently started following the Napoli football club. 
 

Hello everyone, I'm Lisa and I'm new to the forum. I don't own an IWC yet — I've been admiring the brand's pilot watches and clean, functional design from afar, and I joined to learn from the experienced collectors here. Looking forward to reading your stories and learning more about these timepieces!

Joseph Bush

1. Where are you from ( country/state )

    Colorado Springs, USA

2. How did you become a collector of IWC watches ? What was the key factor for you to buy an IWC ?

   I'm not.  I'm a military collector who has stumbled onto some interesting things over the years.  

3. Which IWC watch(es ) you have ?

   a WWII German Luftwaffe Pilot's Observation Watch (Beobachtungs-Uhr or B-Uhr), manufactured by International Watch Co. (IWC).

4. What is your next IWC ? Or your holy grail from IWC ?

  I have it.

5. Are you interested to meet other collectors during a collectors meeting ?

Absolutely - I'm always interested in gaining knowledge.

6. What is your profession and other hobbies ?

   Retired Software Engineer.  Former AF Vet.

     Interests - History <concentration, but not limited to, military history>, coins, comics, autographs, sports cards, ephemera, ....

  Much like my other area of interests - if I have something that 'should' be preserved, I want to make sure I do so properly!

  IE.. The natural inclination is to clean an old tarnished coin .... NNOOOooooo. 

Hello Everyone – New Member Here

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and looking forward to learning more about IWC watches and the stories behind them. I enjoy discovering new things about watch designs, craftsmanship, and the history of different models.

Looking forward to reading your posts and learning from the community. Nice to meet you all!

Hi everyone, I'm new here and interested in learning more about IWC watches, their history, and different models. Looking forward to being part of the community!

Hello everyone,

I’m pleased to join this community. I look forward to learning more about IWC watches, their history, and craftsmanship, while exchanging knowledge and experiences with fellow enthusiasts.

Thank you for having me here.

Hi Tonny and everyone, Daniel here from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm new to the forum and fairly new to mechanical watches, though I've been a lifelong admirer of precision instruments of all kinds.

I work in IT support, so I like figuring out how things tick — literally, in this case. A couple of years ago I started with entry-level automatics: a Seiko 5 for everyday wear and a Hamilton Khaki Field that got me hooked on field watches and their military history. Servicing the Khaki Field myself (with the help of a very patient watchmaker friend) taught me more about movements than any article ever could.

What pulled me toward IWC specifically is the engineering-first approach paired with that long Schaffhausen watchmaking tradition. The Pilot's line is what keeps pulling me back — the Mark XX feels like the ideal first serious piece: a 40mm case, the in-house 32111 movement with five days of power reserve, and a dial that reads like an actual instrument. The Big Pilot 43 is the grail for now. I'd also love to try on a Portofino Chronograph someday; the dressier side of the brand appeals to me too, especially the classic silver dials.

Outside of watches, my hobbies are hiking in the Sandia Mountains, film photography, and tinkering with vintage cameras — another mechanical rabbit hole that keeps my weekends busy. I'd love to join a collectors meeting someday, though from New Mexico I'd probably have to travel for it.

Looking forward to learning from all of you. Thanks for having me.