Deciding between two fine and beautiful watches - the Portuguese Yacht Club & Automatic Chronograph

Seasons greetings to all. This is my very first post here in this respectable forum and I must first qualify that I am still not yet an owner of an IWC timepiece but I hope to join you all sometime. I am very fond of IWC timepieces and I have singled out 2 pieces that have captured my keen interest; the first being the portuguese auto chronograph and the second, the yacht club. They are both very beautiful and functional in their own areas. Apart from the looks and functionalities of each timepiece, what other insights would you provide to further help me decide on which magnificent timepiece should I purchase? I hope to glean further insights from any opinions from members here and it would be very much appreciated. Warmest regards.

Either will be a great first, the Yacht Club with its in house movement and the Portuguese Chrono with a modified to IWC spec ETA movement. But you know your lifestyle and your clothes, the YC is more casual and sporty and the auto chrono is more formal or smart casual. What it really comes down to is you and which one is grabbing your heart more. PS Got the Portuguese chrono and more than happy with it. Do not forget there is the Pilot chronos and new ones are just days away from being announced.
The current pilot chrono has the option of a strap or bracelet, and neither the YC or Port Chrono have a bracelet as an option.

Welcome to the forum.
The "old style chrono" is in production since 1997 I think and is a very nice watch. There were only minor changes to the movement, the dial and the anti-reflective coating was added to the crystal since then. It's a classic watch without a date and with only a 30 minutes counter. The movment is a high class ETA/Valjoux. Diameter is 41 mm. Croco strap.

The Yacht Club look is based on the classic chrono but developed further. It has an IWC inhouse chrono movment with 68 hours of power reserve, an hour counter up to 12 hours and the "watch in the watch" feature that the chrono counter is having hours and minutes in one subdial. It has a date and the chrono has the flyback function that lets you reset and restart the chrono with one button push while running. It has a crystal back that lets you see the movement and 45.5 mm in case diameter. Luminous hands and indexes round the picture. The strap is rubber. It's water resistant up to 120 m. So you can dive with it.

You can't do anything wrong with either. Both are great watches. It's also a matter of cost I think. The YC is roundabout 2 times the price of the classic chrono. But the looks are quite similar. Maybe you see the difference best if you compare them at an IWC dealer next to each other.
The steel YC with the black dial and the white dial ring is very impressive in my opinion. But you have to find out what you like better. It's all a matter of personal taste.

Tilo

I am biased - I love the Yacht Club for the movement, and the sheer design and basically everything else about it - so I would choose the YC. If I have to compare it with a Portuguese Chronograph, then I would say the Yacht Club has more character, albeit with considerable artistic licence. But as mentioned - I am biased !

Hi Greg, thank you for your kind reply. It's the YC that has grabbed my attention since I first set my eyes on it. It has character and what I like about it is also its weight that gives it the solid feel. Not to mention that I am more regularly dressed in a more sporty sort of way and I would think the YC would compliment me in more occasions.

Hi Tilo, appreciate your time for your insights. I have seen the YC in both the black face and the white face. The comments by others indicate that the numerals on the black face seems not to stand out as much, whilst the white face seems to present itself more prominently. However, having said that, both pieces are classy and desirable in their own ways.

Hi Shing, I have similar sentiments as you for the YC. Thank you for the pics! And congratulations on your many fine timepieces in your collection :)

The YC is a fairly large dialled watch compared to the more mainstream size of the Portuguese Chrono. That being said why not the Port Auto ?

Well, you do have a point in terms of size comparison. The Auto also possesses the 'bulk' and price wise, it's nearer to the YC... Yet again, both the YC and the Auto has its own charms..

I happened to be at the IWC boutique today and had the 3 models of the YC lined alongside each other; in stainless steel - the black--plated dial, the silver-plated dial and finally the slate-coloured dial in red gold. I can't help but to savour the look of the one in red gold. The longer I stood, the more attachment I had for it as compared to the other 2 in stainless steel. Now it sets me thinking if it's a better investment in the longer term? Is it worth to pay that much more for its aesthetics and maybe exclusivity? I really really wonder......

Hi Zacky71,

I am envious - it's a wonderful, though somewhat agonizing, problem you have. Apologies for complicating things further, but there's actually a fourth choice, lol - the carbon fibre dial titanium Ocean Volvo Yacht Club.

Personally, investment analysis aside, I would go for the one that speaks to you more (or what I like to think 'chooses you'). Perhaps a few visits would help you (or the watch!) decide. Gold is not quite for me - but that's just my own subjective taste. I love titanium, but on reflection, if pushed to choose, would still chose the steel, black dial version - to me its more reminiscent of the steel of yachts. The hour numerals are a bit less prominent but that doesn't bother me.

Happy choosing (or be chosen !)

Hi Zacky,
I was in an IWC shop on Thursday and made exactly the same experience:
I didn't like the red gold too much from the pictures. The steel black dial version was much more interesting to me. But when I saw in real, held and even put on my wrist the red gold version I was completely overwhelmed by its beauty. If you had the same experience and can afford in the long run, then go for it.
I wouldn't consider it as an investment because I don't buy IWC watches for investment's sake. Having said that, I think it's not a financial risk. But an investment in your joy and good taste anyway.
I have also plans in this directions but by now nothing of that is realistic in the short run. But time will tell...

Good luck for your hunt,
Tilo

Zacky71...beware, the Yacht Club looks like a dinner plate on your wrist unless you are built like Arnie, as demonstrated in Shing's pictures, the watch is twice the size of the wrist and can look rather rediculous if you are not careful. The Portuguese Chrono however is simply gorgeous and a perfect size for most normal wrists

FAJones, this constant increase in the size of watches in all directions will result in models being knocked rather more than the smaller models of a few years back. My fathers watch is n the 35mm category and less than 9mm height. It was his one watch for 40 years in gold and has no dents, it was used for everyday wear with the exception of swimming and washing the cars. I have a Portuguese chrono in SS that brushed against a wall in less than a year of new, result case scratched.

Hi FAJones, thank you for highlighting. I will take note of this at the point of trying them out. Like I said, I fell for the YC when I saw it, and if it doesn't fit my wrist now, then maybe I should start working out my arms at the gym lol!! :)

Ouch, Greg, ouch! Yeah, you can't be too careful mate. Did you get it sorted thereafter?

Well said Tilo, especially your statement on the purchase for one's joy and good taste! You are definitely reaffirming my decision!!

Hi Zacky,

If I were you, I would examine my priorities.

Ref. 3714 is more balanced, to me is the perfect chronograph, from an aesthtical point of view.

Ref. 3902 emphasizes the sporty nature of the Portuguese line and hosts an excellent chronograph movement, much better than the 7750, so, technically speaking, this last would be the best choice.

Personally, I dream of a ref. 3714 with calibre 89360 inside.

Culminating yesterday with an encompassing sense of relieve and high, I finally, finally decided upon and made my very first purchase of a very fine IWC timepiece. Well, I started off this thread contemplating between the YC and the Port Chrono, however, I walked away with a Port 7 days automatic 5001-09 (black dial). I have thought of the decision long and hard as the rest were also very beautiful timepieces in their own essence. But I had to make a choice and so the 7 days it was. I would like to thank profusely all of you that have contributed to this thread in allowing me to see different perspectives of my journey towards making my first IWC purchase, and I commenced by saying that I hope to join all of you in owning an IWC timepiece one day, and so the day has arrived. I hope this thread has also helped others in some way in making their purchases with the models discussed here.

Warmest regards.

The Yacht-Club is a beautiful watch. It's big and sporty but can be worn for dressier occasions as well. I own a YC with the silver face, a Portuguese automatic a new Aquatimer 2000, and I used to own a Portuguese Chrono-automatic. The YC was by far my favorite for the first six months after I bought it. However, occasionally I have a hard time deciding between it and the Port. Automatic. I feel less concerned about wearing my Yacht-club for everyday use, maybe because of the rubber band. So, I probably give the edge to the YC. The chrono-automatic is a classic and a little more subtle than the YC. You can't go wrong with either, but if you are more conservative you'll probably want the chrono-automatic.I must say, I definitely get more compliments when I wear the YC.

Zacky,
If that IWC talks to you you made the right decision. The 7 day is a fantastic first piece, wear it in good health.
Kevin

Congratulations Zacky,

sometimes in IWC business - like in real life - you and up with something different than you started with. But that's fine.
Enjoy this wonderful watch that is really outstanding.