How did you get into IWC?

Many years ago there were a few posts on this subject. Now with so many new IWC-lovers on the forum it is time to tell the story again. I will tell you mine when a few posts have been added to this thread. I am almost certain that no one else has come by his/her first IWC in the same way as I did.

Your first IWC - Did you buy it, receive it as a gift or inherit it?

What model was it?

When did you join the forum?

Which is your favourite IWC, in your collection, in the current collection or one of the watches that is no longer produced?

Are there any other watch brands you like (but that you have to write with smaller letters :)

Looking forward to read your stories!

Henrik

I love this topic and Thank You Henrik for starting it.

My first IWC was a gold Cal 89 that I bought at auction. The dial and caseback were damaged and I intended to restore it. When I found out the proposed cost, I sold the 89 and used the unspent restoration fund to buy a Pilot Chronograph 3717.

I joined the Forum in 2013, which lead to a meeting in Melbourne with Anthony, and I attended a fabulous IWC event in New York in 2014. Also, a meeting with Jarrod & Steph when they passed through Toronto. Friendships I cherish to this day

The Forum has created for me a fantastic group of friends and we share fabulous time in both Schaffhausen and Geneva for SIHH and later Watches and Wonders.

My first IWC was a Mark XV that I bought myself back in September 2001 and I joined the Forum at the same time. The rest is history. ;-)

My favorite IWC is the Ingenieur Digital Date Month pictured below.

The Forum rules don't want us to talk other brands here so I won't do this. But anyway I'm only having eyes for IWC.

I purchaed a RG Portugieser as a retirement gift to myself in 2006. I immediatley became a member of the fourn and was invted to SIHH the next year. I have made many incredible friends around the globe as a result. Great topic.

Great memories Mark... we look so young!

Hi all,

Thanks for your contributions, I hope that others will join and tell their story.

I came to IWC by really good fortune: I was 6 years old and found a wristwatch close to where I lived. Someone had enjoyed the sun or dropped it or I don't know what. My parents took me to the local police station and we handed it in to the lost and found department. No one claimed it and 6 months later it was legally mine.

The watch is a ref 500 from 1952 or 1953, a wristwatch without waterproofing and not really suitable for a wild kid, so my father bought it (I spent the money on a beatiful Märklin locomotive) and he had it serviced at a master watchmaker he knew. It was his daily watch for a number of years.

When I left high school my father gave it back to me as a graduation gift (it had again been serviced by the watchmaker). Since then it has been my daily wearer (but I have a much simpler mechanical watch as my water watch/beater) and after 35 years it was really time for a major overhaul. I left it with one of the IWC agents i Stockholm with the wish that it should go to Schaffhausen for a complete overhaul. "Well, they said, we have competent watchmakers, it will be their decision". The watch was quite soon on it's way to Schaffhausen.

The service took almost a year and was quite expensive, but when it finally came back it looked fantastic. The movement had been serviced, the case had been polished and the dial had been restored. Restored, not replaced, I could tell becuase there had been an ugly scratch by the 9 (my fault, I had been clumsy when opening the case for adjustment of the rate). Under magnification you can see that there has been a scratch, but it has been expertly filled and painted over. Or what it is that you do. I like that, since the watch still has the original dial.
That was more than ten years ago and the movement has been serviced since then, but a new total refurbishment will need to be done eventually. But either you use the watch and love it, then it will be scratched and damaged, or you leave it in the safe and how much fun is that?

The movement is a cal 852 from 1952. One of the best there is.

When I started to be internet-savvy I soon found the IWC collector's forum, and I have been a member since 2002, but a not very active poster, only checking for new posts every day.

Forgive me for not attaching a picture today, I am at the summer house in the Stockholm archipelago and the watch is in the safe at home in Stockholm. Too much water around to use it here... I will post a picture next time I am in Stockholm.

My only problem is that I wonder if I qualify as a member of the COLLECTOR's forum, I only own one other IWC, a cal 52 pocket watch. But I do definitly qualify as a member of the IWC LOVER's forum, I hope others do too.

Oh, by the way, my favourite model is hard, but probably the original Aquatimer ref 812. But there are so many others, both former and current models. The Portugeiser, the Ingenieurs the (too many to mention).

And for other brands, there is none that gets close except maybe for the brand that uses the co-axial escapement. That is a great feat of horological engineering.

I hope you enjoyed my longwinded story, please contribute yours!

Henrik

Wonderful story Henrik.
I too have and love Cal 52 pocket watch

Hi Henrik - your question brings back a lot of memories. My first IWC was the SS GST Chrono Automatic that I purchased in 2022. In fact I was looking for a "his & hers" watch and was considering the Cartier Tank in two sizes. The sales associate at the AD suggested that I take a look at another Brand, IWC. He had me wear the GST while we were looking at other possible models for me. By the end, I was hooked!!!!

I had already joined the Forum and everyone here was so welcoming and helpful. Btw, I still own it and recently had it serviced for the first time.

Amongst a few more IWC along the way, I am also very happy to have a Caliber 89 from my birth year!!!!

What makes it a little unique is that most dials were embossed and this one has applied markers :-)

Aloha all - In 2005, I saw my first IWC Big Pilot 5002 in real life at a hotel store on the opening day of the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. I couldn't pull the trigger and later regretted not purchasing it. In 2006, our local AD in Honolulu had a grand re-opening and i purchased a then-new Big Pilot 5004 that former long-time IWC Rep Errol Phippen had hand-carried from Richemont in New York especially for the event. I purchased more IWC watches after that...

Kokoro, it's so nice to see you post again. It's been a long time. Hope to hear more from you and see your marvelous photos.

I was working in Switzerland, and I was fed up of watches that "did not last", so I started looking around.

First I wanted a TAG, but I did not actually buy one - I desired one, then I did not desire one.

Then I wanted an Omega. ... same process, I came and went without buying one.

One day I was wondering around Zurich, and stumbled into Bucherer, where I discovered IWC and the Pilots Watches.

The history of the brand and the engineering of the watches is what tipped the balance, and the rest is history.

My first purchase was an IWC Pilots Watch XV which I still have.

- bought for myself

- Spitfire bronze 39mm

- half a year ago

- can't pick a favorite, depends on the day

- considering buying a glashutte original

I have a collection of IWC watches because they just speak to me when I see them. But they have kept me as a customer with great service and friendly concierge. I wish I had a great story of a family heirloom or some event... but the truth is that I love wearing them and looking at them in a way that I don't feel with other timepieces.

I came across IWC during my college years, surfing the internet. Back then--as today--my primary interest was in dive watches. During that time, IWC fielded the GST line of Aquatimer. Gradually, I started to take notice of IWC's pilot watches, with their Sinn-like instrument asthetic. Over the decades that followed, I acquired many watches from brands like Rolex, Tudor, Omega, Breitling and even Grand Seiko among others, but never IWC. I couldn't get past the price for such relatively basic movements.
However, when I saw IWC add the 32111 movement to the MKXX and the Aquatimer, I thought it might be worth a shot. I tried several of them on at the new boutique in Florence while we were vacationing this summer, and fell in love with the Aquatimer. Last week, I finally bit the bullet and ordered an Aquatimer from the eStore. Now, I'm just waiting for the rubber strap to arrive:

Hi,

Your post brought back memories! My first IWC was the SS GST Chrono Automatic, which I purchased in 2022. I had initially gone looking to buy a Cartier Tank but was turned on to IWC by the sales associate. I put on the GST and was in love. The forum community seemed nice and informative. I still wear the watch today and just had it serviced for the first time.

Wonderful to hear, and thanks for sharing. The GST line will always be classic IWC for me. IWC seems to have struggled a bit with the Aquatimer, as the design has really been all over the map. I wish the current version was a little more compact. And those perpetual calendar versions...eek!

They left the back door unlocked.

My first IWC was a gift from a close friend, a Portofino Chronograph, which I received about 5 years ago. I joined the forum a few months later. My favorite IWC is the Big Pilot's Watch, but I also appreciate the classic elegance of the Portugieser. As for other brands, I enjoy Omega and Tag Heuer.

Hi all, many thanks for your contributions. It is so nice to read your stories and feel your passion.

I tried to upload a picture of my watch, but it did not work today. I'll try again later.

A while after the original post on this subject one member asked "When did you start collecting IWC?" The then moderator Mr Friedberg posted the first reply: "Well, Henrik started when he was six."

There were no more posts on this subject.

Best regards

Henrik

I first got into IWC after hearing about their impeccable craftsmanship and timeless design from a close friend who was a watch enthusiast. My first IWC was an Ingenieur, which I purchased after much research and consideration. The combination of its robust engineering and elegant design really resonated with me. I joined the forum shortly after getting my first IWC, seeking to learn more and connect with fellow enthusiasts. My favorite in the current collection is the Portugieser, but the vintage models also hold a special place in my heart. I also appreciate other brands like Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Looking forward to hearing everyone else's stories!