At one of the boutiques a few weeks back, I was debating which dial Iost liked on the Portuguese Automatic. One of the staff mentioned that the decision needn't be final as the watch could later be sent to IWC for a dial change. I won't mention the approximate price that was mentioned but it seemed quite reasonable to me.
Does anyone here have experience with doing this? If so, I'm interested in hearing (reading, actually) your thoughts on the process. Thanks.
David
Long, long ago I had the same idea and emailed IWC about it. Then, it was not possible. I suppose it is the same now. You just have to decide which watch with which dial you like best, and order that one. Or, if you are undecided between two versions, buy both.
Kind regards,
Paul
I believe some dials are changeable, and others are not. For example, if a model in regular production has two dials with the same metal case, you can change from one to the other.
For limited production models (like 500 with a silver dial and 500 with black), you can't make a change that will produce the 501st black dial). You likewise can't "upgrade", like using a dial available only on a gold watch on your steel version.
Paul is right! LOL
"If you are undecided between two versions, buy both."
Cheers
bas dekkers
So in this case, with both being limited editions the only solution would be to buy both...
This is starting to get an expensive virus infection this way :-)
Kind regards,
Clemens
Clemens, this one is easy!
You buy the black dialed version and we arrange to meet up every 6 weeks or so at bus stop #51 where we swop watches.
...wonder if my Misses will notice?
A great idea Mark.
Genius! Though I may have to take a train or a plane to get to bus stop #51.
Thanks Michael. Since I'm talking about the 5001-07 and 5001-09, it seems that it should be possible.
David, why don't you just decide on either one of the pieces and go for it instead of buying a say 500107 and change it to a black dial? It sounds strange to me that you are trying to change the dial of a new watch. Or have I misunderstood you somewhere?
If your Missus is anything like mine, it is highly unlikely - I have been wearing my 666 AD Ingenieur quite regularly for coming up on 6 months now and only the other day she said "Is that a new watch?" . . .
Hi KS - Though it wasn't the context of the original conversation at the boutique, I'm thinking about a possible dial change if I buy a pre-owned watch. If I find a good example at the right price and only the dial color is "wrong"...
David,
I like your creativeness. Now that's thinking outside the (IWC) box and hopefully the papers to go with it !
Happy Hunting,
Andy
I am an IWC owner and I am going to buy a pre-owned beautiful 5001 7-days steel model.
I read on IWC forum a discussion regarding dial change: the model I mentioned came with black dial (as written also on the official card), but the current owner changed it to a white-gold hands dial (other typical configuration for the steel version).
Do you have concerns regarding buying such a watch? (I like the white dial much more and the price is convenient)
I am just concerned about its value and the impacts of such a dial change on that (also in case of official IWC service request I will immediately request)...
I would buy the watch only if the owner provides documentation showing that the change was performed by IWC. Also, verify that the case number matches that printed on the warranty card.
Thank you for your answer: the owner says that the change has been performed by the official re-seller after his request (no official IWC documentation regarding that is available).
The case number should match, I suppose... otherwise I would not even consider the purchase.
Is this a "not to do" business?
It is, in my opinion, enough of a marriage to limit resell-ability. IWC Schaffhausen would not "normally" performed this switch, if ever.