Dear Alan, An excellent suggestion. Can we have a day-date in 40-42 mm size. Count me in for sure. This is the year of the pilots, so we could go in for that. Else if this will take time, maybe something to celebrate the new year 2013 & showcase at the SIHH 2013. By the way, 2013 will be the year of ..... MK
Rob, You are correct, but I love seeing the ideas and passion of our group. Sure, I would love to design a watch for the Collectors from scratch. But this is not going to happen.
If we stick to the basics and make it easy for IWC to vary a production model, then we will also make it easy for them to fulfill our desires for a CF III Watch.
So, to repeat myself.....my vote is for either the Worldtimer or Mark XVII with a dial color variation, engraving of the Collectors Forum and specific name with the buyer's choice of a strap or bracelet, or both.
I am voting for a MkXVII with Ardoise dial, engraved Collectors Forum and name. If a WT is within +10% then I would consider that, again with the ardoise dial. As a suggestion can a print of "CF" or "CF3" be on the dial towards 6 like the circled T ? Folding buckle and brown croc strap, we can arrange our own bracelets via AD if XVII or as a plus option to the croc strap.
My wife is going to kill me! Time to sell a R****.
No worldtimer: It is a great watch - I love it, but for a CFwatch it is much to specialized. A CFwatch should be (my opinion :-) an absolute pure/plain representative(or exponent) of e.g. a pilot watch.
A Mark VVII would be excellent - but I want an original IWC watch - an original Mark XVII and no "blend" at all (no special dial nor hands). Sorry if that sounds too lout. Nobody who looks at my CFwatch should ask himself - "eee whats that - looks a little like a Mark but is not really one - nice - is it a fake?" That means I dont pay may be CHF 6000.- for a watch that looks a little like a IWC Mark XVII but not really like the original does! Can you feel what I mean? - it should be exatly the Mark XVII and nothing else (if we should choose a pilot) and then would it be great if you could see on its steelback engraved that it is a CFwatch may be numbered and (or) the owners name. And a fine bracelet would top it all. Looks so precious!
That would be a watch I would take - but not 2015 but 2012. Because I don`t make up my mind now what will be in 2015 concerning the purchase of a watch.
Wow this is very exciting! My vote goes for something like the mkXVII with that gorgeous ardoise dial (with or without the date). Heck, take pre-orders so they are not left sitting on some shelf somewhere. Maybe a picture of Michael's winning smile on the back : )
Something very special along the lines of a Portuguese Jubilee....Ardoise dial maybe. Open back with Owners name on the rotor?? Whatever the final design i'm sure the concensus will be very well received. I'm looking forward to hearing more news.
Really like this idea. In my opinion no ardoise dial but a really nice matte dial like the mark XI and maybe slightly kaki hands so it looks like tritium. And yes no automatic but just 'cf'. would greatly pair my pilot GL
I also would support a CF3 MARK XVII with the following design changes:
Single date window located at the 6:00 position (like BP)
Add back the 3 and 9 hour markers
Make the Seconds hand all "Red"
Grey dial (like Special Edition "Swiss Patrollue")
Top Gun Nylon/Kevlar look Strap
"CF3" replaces Mark XVII printed above Automatic
I feel these changes would be cost effective,a subtle but distinct change from the current Mark,a well balanced dial and return the overall look to more of the original with a modern color approach.
If any Photoshop experts out there could create this idea, I think it would be a winner !!