I am torn between a 5001-07 or an iw5454, need advice urgently!

I will get either a 5001-07 or an iw5454 for my 40th, please see if you have any comment about them based on their values, movements and historical reference of potuguese, etc.

They're both great but different. The 5454 is manual wind, thinner and perhaps a shade dressier. To me, it is more classic; manual wind watches appeal to a somewhat smaller market but they especially appeal to collectors. I really like it personally, and other than the subdial treatment (which I also like) it is very classic.

The 5001 is the "basic" all-around Portuguese, automatic and with a date. It is thicker. If this will be your one "major" watch, I'd vote for it.

Both of them is a nice watch. But what do you prefer ? Automatic or manual ?

Besides, all the differences as described by MF. 5001 and the BP are the IWC ironic watches. If this is your first IWC, I would vote for the 5001. 5001-07 is the most popular version among all the versions.

5001-07 is also my first IWC. I love it very much

Felix

Totally different watches, sharing the same, magic, name, both worthy to bear that name, Portuguese!

MF said it all.

My preference? Really don't know, maybe I'd go for 5001, due to its technical major complexity, once a very (very[sup]3[/sup]) competent Person told me cal 5000 is the quintessence of IWC's calibers production/projection.

Good luck, they are both winners anyway.

I own a 5001-07 and a 5001-09 and I have to admit that I love them both. I wear both equally and they are just beautiful watches all around. As you can see, I am biased towards the 5001. besides, Gene Stone's book THE WATCH has the 5001-07 as one of the 12 great dress watches to wear/own.

For whatever it's worth, my vote is the 5001 as truly classic IWC, but you should go with the one that really speaks to you both aesthetically and technically. Either will be a great choice as others have noted. Good luck with your decision.

I vote the 5001, my first IWC is the 5001-14, that was my favorit.

But then again,who am I! Choose what you like!

There is a nice article about handwound watches in the latest Watch International magazine. Personally, I am very happy with my 5001 and a date feature is very helpful too.

Kind regards,

Clemens

During my last visit at the AD, I also tried on the 5001-07 and the 5454.

I have a 15 cm/ 6 inch wrist, and to my surprise, the 5001-07 wasn't way too big for me (maybe slightly too big though), but the 5454 was huge.
It was a 5454 with black dial, it felt really flat compared to 5001-07 and even compared to a Mark XVI, but with 44 mm it certainly was much too large for me. Being both larger and flatter than de 5001-07, it was a totally different wrist feeling.
I guess you need at least a 7 inch wrist to be able to wear a 5454. It is a gorgeous dressy watch though, and I especially like the silver-dialed 5454, and the beatiful movement that is visible through the sapphire glass.
Both have an in-house movement, the 5454 has no 7 day power reserve, but then again, there is quite a price gap between the two watches.