Best-of-Both custom Aquatimer 3536 titanium

Hi forum friends,

I finally got myself the watch I wanted to acquire for many many years: the 3536 Aquatimer 2000. To me an iconic IWC for many reasons:
* the pure, understated, IWC design from the 90's
* titanium as only IWC can craft it
* the best bracelet in the world

However, I was in doubt for so many years because I couldn't decide between the 2 versions:
* steel: a bit heavy for me, but that dial with applied numerals always took my breath away.
* titanium: needless to say, incredibly light and comfortable, but the printed white indices on the dial always made the watch appear a bit more 'dull' to me.

So recently I had to opportunity to create a 'custom' version, using the best of both: a factory serviced titanium 3536 in perfect condition and seperately a set of brand new dial/hands for the steel version....
I decided to go for it and Schaffhausen put the pieces together for me.

So here is my perfect Aquatimer 3536 (a question for you all will follow after the pictures):

So and now the question: do you think I've gone 'too far' and created a marriage, or do you follow my logic? What if IWC would give you custom dial/hand options on most models, what would you do?

To comfort the purists, I do have the original dial & hands that belong to the titanium version.

Looking forward to your opinions!

Best regards,

Bob

Congratulations on this watch, Bob. The titanium version is great indeed, and a dressy divers look is to me the best.

As to the dial: as long as IWC assembled the watch for you, it can hardly be a marriage. I agree on its beautiful looks, and wonder about the lume: is it Superluminova? That would make if perfect to me. I know the bracelet, it is very comfortable indeed, though it lacks a micro adjustment feature: with some luck this isn't a problem.

Enjoy your beauty!

Kind regards,
Paul

Bob, like you I waited far too long to add one of these jewels to my Collection.

Unlike you, I wanted the steel version and having the Deep II, I was used to the weight aspect so no issue there for me.

Now, looking at your watch indeed the best of both worlds, and like you I am not a purist - it's 100% IWC components designed and manufactured for THAT PARTICULAR WATCH, so to me no marriage, just a good dress up.

Enjoy, and wear in good health.

Hi Paul,

Yes, since it's a new dial it's SL.

Groet,

Bob

Hey, Bob! What a fantastic combination, what a great idea!
And how could this be a marriage when all parts come from IWC and even Schaffhausen is putting all of them together. Now it´s an unique IWC 001 of 001 :-)
Congrats on that - and it looks fantastic! So purists can say what they want.
Best regards,
-Christian

I would say 'what ever makes you happy'! You are happy with this result, and that is what matters.
Personally, it looks great to me.

Nelson

Agree with comments so far. It looks perfect and if you are happy with it then that's great. It's a nice solution to what you wanted.

Cheers,

Jarrod

LOL, thanks Tonny ;-)

I did not know about the dial variants between steel and Ti versions. Yes there is a white dial and black dial both originally Tritium and then SL but not this variation that you mention. As for a change too far, not so it's been done you say in spa town, ergo it's legit. Purists can argue it's not original but then a used watch may have worn parts replaced with improved parts over time. All done by IWC service departments. Does it make the watch less authentic? Not in my opinion. The best looking AT by far, WIGH.

Bob,

Congratulations! And I think you made a great decision. If IWC would give me custom options I would absolutely take advantage of that. In fact, I wish they would sell watches like cars where you can configure them to your exact preferences.

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

Interesting analogy, 'mass customization' was invented more than a decade ago, although ultimate choice is not what I'm after.

Regards,

Bob

I must agree - it´s not a collector´s wish to have only unique and exclusive pieces on the market ...
but there is a german watchmaker who let you configure your timepiece to your preferences ...

Any debate aside, I think you created the perfect AT with this customization. Congratulations on this excellent addition to your collection, Bob!

Here's how I could see it work. First you choose the collection, e.g. Portuguese or Pilot. Then you select a case size from a standardized set of 3-5 sizes. Next is case material, from a standardized set of 2-5 materials depending on the selected size. Next is the movement, with 2-5 options depending on selected case size. Then you choose dial and hands, from 2-5 options depending on the configuration to this point. Finally you select bracelet/strap from another 2-5 options depending on case size etc.

Of course the watch company could still do special editions/models such as Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon etc. in addition to the standardized range.

Having spent many years in the automotive industry I do believe this model benefits the producer (less inventory and higher revenue) as well as the customer (less compromise on preferences). But then maybe not the collectors. :)

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

Your model is quite interesting, but I am not so sure this works in the watch industry. A lot of people look at watches at an AD, walk away, look again, and buy at a certain time. They want to see the watch before deciding. Having 100+ iterations of a certain model doesn't help then. With cars it is a bit different: you look at a car, read about it, try and sit in one, and then decide on your specifications, after which you order and wait some time. Maybe the real difference is that watches are luxury goods with a lot of emotions attached to small details that you see, where cars are more of a commodity, or emotions attached to specifications, like a super stereo or a special V8 engine. But the model is interesting, there were times I wished it worked that way, like selecting a certain dial colour to a certain case material. With Rolex you have a model that in a modest way works like this.

Kind regards,
Paul

Hi Paul,

I actually find that I purchase a luxury watch much in the same way that I purchase a car, except for the configuration part. Looking, trying, researching differences between models, in iterations, and then finally deciding. But I have no idea how close I am to the average customer.

I do agree there is a key difference in the part that with a watch it's even more important to see the final product in real life, on your wrist, in daylight, and so on. But then again if you're adding 2000 euros for an automatic transmission on a car, you kind of want to drive one with it first to see how it feels.

In any case, I think for a configuration model to work for watches, the ADs would have to carry an exhibition assortment with the most typical configurations. This would also have to be complemented by very good catalogs and, ideally, advanced configuration software capable of illustrating the final product in great detail and different settings. ADs would also do sales from the exhibition assortment to customers who like the watch just as it is or simply don't have the patience or interest to configure their own version.

Would this work? Who can tell for certain? But it's the sort of thing that amuses me to think about and Bob's story got me going. :)

Best regards,
Thomas

The titanium 3536 is an iconic watch and so much more comfortable than the steel version. How about titanium with the white dial and gold hands?

IWC has replaced my 3536 dial and hands with SL following a service. I was not happy about it but replacing tritium dials and hands with SL components is the trend. The watch, post service looks great.

no debate from me. perfect for you is perfect.

congrats,
thang

I can easily understand, why you love this watch, it's such a beauty. To me especially as well, as I'm a big fan of titanium, too.

Would like to try the best bracelet in the world someday.

Hi

i'm looking to make my 3536 little bit bigger....anyone that can sell me a piece of bracelet in titanium?

Thanks

Nice if that's your preference. I'd love my steel 3719 to have a "Blackeye-Blue" dial from the 378203 - with all the rest left unchanged.
Personalization can bring good money to the wristwatch factories too.