automatic or chronograph?

Hello all,

I've long admired IWC. I went to Schaffhausen in 2011 purely to visit the IWC museum. Recently, I have set aside enough money for an IWC that I have a few options.

1) used IWC portuguese chronograph black face - near mint condition.
2) new portofino, chronograph.
3) new IWC portuguese chronograph white face.

I have had - and still do have - the option to buy the used chronograph at a decent price. But over the past couple of weeks I have given it a lot of thought and I am starting to really like the automatic. Now it annoys me that in the time since I caught the IWC bug in 2010, prices went up by a large margin in 2011 (A response to the flood of european money that entered Switzerland and drastically increased the value of the Swiss Franc), but prices never went down when the Swiss Franc stabilized to its pre-2011 value. This - completely understandable - annoyance aside, I'm not sure if it is worth waiting until I have the change for the automatic, or get one of the options above.

I'm also starting to question whether I want a black faced portuguese. I think the watch looks brilliant with a suit, but the black face makes an already dressy chronograph even more dressy, such that I (my subjective opinion) couldn't wear it with jeans and a sweater.

The whole price thing does annoy me as well, in large part because Jaeger's master calendar costs less and has more functionality (and is equally impressive). I just happen to like IWC a smidgen more than JLC - though any more price increases by IWC may see that gap narrow.

Although I know ultimately the result of a cost benefit analysis balanced against my patience will decide the answer to the above question - I would still like some other IWC fans' thoughts on the matter.

Personally I would go for the 5001, automatic 7-day.

It looks absolutely great from any angle.

The 7-day power reserve makes it easy to shift between several watches.

Go for it!

I have both the Portuguese Chrono and Auto. The Auto is the one that gets wrist time and the Chrono languishes tucked away.

So you're saying to get the 5001 so you can feel less guilty about giving other watches more wrist time....

Well, I suppose most of us at this forum use more than one... however mostly not simultanously.

I'm mainly used to (real) vintage watches with power reserves of 40-45h.

I can admitt that sometimes makes me hesitate to swap - could of course use winder(s) but one can be sure that one would like to use one not winded...

/Anders

I would definitely go for the Portuguese chronograph white face for it classic look to match all occasion.

As the white face, it give a larger feel for the dial size and not forgetting a clean look.

Follow your heart as it will bring you to where it belongs....

My vote would lean towards the Automatic. I think both are beautiful watches, but the Auto has an in-house movement and the 7-day power reserve. And that is just cool.

I personally don't mind watches that only have a 40-hour reserve, but then i've never owned one with more...

As for the expense, check out some of the ADs in Thailand if you're ever in that neighborhood. I can suggest some but perhaps this is better done by email, as this isn't a commercial site.

Todd
tlando80@yahoo.com

If you want both day & date display, then I would suggest you go for the Portofino Chronograph.

personally, I love IWC for its great design - whether old traditional classic look, or a modern re-interpretation, or a new re-invention...and I acknowledge that I often pay a premium for that design.

I think the options u have listed are great choices, and if unlimited by any specific function (like date) that you require, I think the choices boil down to...

what is for me a timeless classic, and a 'very IWC' inhouse movement, and brilliant dial design - the 5001 series....

or what is for me a modern re-interpretation of a pocket movement/watch look in the current Portofino Chronograph, i.e. the very round dial, and the lug placement of the straight and shorter 'wire-lugs'...

or the modern re-interpretation of the 60s and 70s chronographs (hence the lack of a date), in the ref 3714s ...

I believe each of the above wrist-watch or lines have its defining quality and a place in my personal watch-collecting taste and aesthetic - but if forced to choose I would no doubt go with the ref 5001, which was the starting point for me for IWC.

these below may prove worthy alternatives too perhaps ? in terms of limited edition and price points.

Portuguese Chrono White face would be my choice.

+1
I fully agree w Tilo.

If you are ready to go on one of the 3 options, I would choose the 3714 white dial ( which is really a light silver....beautiful ) with RG markers.

This option really looks terrific as a semi-dress watch as well as a sporty look, perfect with jeans and casual wear. My personal opinion on this particular variation is that being a Chrono design ( pushers ) the flaired dial and the combination RG markers with blued counter hands really "sports it up" and pairs well with black, deep blue and dark brown straps for changing looks.

I agree with you on the black dial in this model. Leans to the dressier side. Should you decide to wait for building up more funds for the Automatic, then the black dial would be a great choice as it can be paired with a Dark brown Santoni for a fantastic rich combination for any occasion.

One thing to keep in mind, the 3714 wears bigger than it's 40.9mm diameter, yet lays down very comfortably on the wrist due to the 12.3mm thickness. The Automatic/5001 is a much taller watch.

Both excellent choices and whichever way you go, that IWC quality and the enjoyment it delivers will be with you "round the clock".

Have fun deciding,

Andy

Toss up but I think the black dial watch tips the balance a little.

Are these older portuguese lines? I can't find them on the website, nor have I seen them before. I like them very much - very simple and elegant. What is their price range?

Hi

This is the Portuguese Pure Classic, announced during the 2010 SIHH but recently released.

www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/56384
www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/39089/
www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/58014/

We can't talk about pricing, but u are welcome to email me for more information. There are a few remaining in boutiques I have visited in the last few months: Hong Kong Flagship boutique, Singapore Ion Orchard boutique, the dealers Bucherer and Wempe in Munich etc.

Shing, you are a wealth of knowledge.

It's okay about the pure classics, I think I'm waffling from Portuguese chronograph white face to automatic on a daily basis, and won't settle for less.

And, I'm:
12,605 Kilometres from Hong Kong
15,075 Kilometres from Singapore, and only a measly;
6,810 Kilometers from München

So I can't exactly walk into a boutique and haggle.

Thanks for the information though!

Cheers,

J

For me Go for the Portuguesse 7 Day Black.But Yes always there is a But if you find the Preview 2000 Limited Edition,this is the watch to get

It was presented in year 2000 with 2000 limited Edition pieces.Correct me the moderator if i´m wrong.For me the best to use Elegant or Sportive

What I forgot to mention in my earlier comment - also in favour of the ref 5001 - is the inhouse movement.

An inhouse engine would be very important to me when buying a new IWC.

/Anders