Introduce Yourself!

Greetings All:

My name is Andy Stevens and I've enjoyed viewing IWC collections for many years. I came down with the fever about 15 months ago when I purchased my first watch (MARK XVI). The fever has taken it's toll on me. About every 5-6 months I been building my collection. In addition to the MARK, I also have a AT 3568-White Dial and just the other day added a Pilot Chrono 3717. As soon as the new SPITFIRE CHRONO SS arrives, it too will be keeping my others company. Of course, now that the "Collectors Forum" watch is being discussed, I will need to add that one also.

I was born and raised in Southern California. Married young @ 19 and am still married to the same fantastic beautiful gal after almost 40 years. No children, 2 nieces to spoil and our very cute "to damn smart" Shetland Sheepdog (aka "Sheltie"). Retired 12 years ago from a U.S. Fortune 10 company as a Director of Product Management. Enjoy Bikeing, Boating, Running (with dog)Landscaping (OK...Gardening) and travel. Travel plans now include a trip to Schaffhausen for a IWC visit and tour.

The Forum has become part of my daily schedule and I have learned so much in such a short time. Looking forward to hopefully meeting other members in the future during travel.

Best always to everyone,

Andy

Hi All, recently acquired a lovely IWC 3228-01 Ingenieur so thought I'd join the forums to learn more about that very watch and hopefully glean more historical data on rare collectable Aquatimers.

Regards David

Thanks for the information Bill, I must have overlooked his submission.

Hello Nad Zakem and the gentlemen from London, I did not catch your name. When you lived in Canada (or grew up perhaps, where was it?)

Thomas

Canadian by birth (and citizenship) but left Montreal/Toronto when I was very young, grew up throughout Asia, university in Boston, worked in New York, but now here in London.

Best Wishes,
Vinhthang

Hi, my name is Blinn, an attorney in Massachusetts. After completing law school with six figures worth of loans, I knew that with my first paycheck I needed to do one thing: start paying it back. Leaving the office at noon, check in hand, I headed straight for the bank to deposit it. Passing by the jewler on the way, I couldn't help noticing an IWC in the window. I drifted in, poked around, and nearly convinced myself that as a new attorney, I needed a timepiece to replace my quartz Seiko. But better judgment prevailed, and I continued on to the bank and started chipping away at my debt.

I continued the ritual for five and a half years, including paying off my wife's loans, too. Finally the day came (the first day of Spring, actually) when the last loan's dollar was paid off. I'd reached my goal ... of zero net worth (hey, it was better than negative net worth). My wife agreed to let me comemmorate the event by making the one purchase I'd been agonizing over for almost half a decade. On my next pay day, I told the jewler that today I would actually buy something. I still wear my silver-faced steel GST chrono automtic every first day of spring (plus a good many other days, too). I'll never sell it.

G'day from down-under fellow members.

I'm Sven, a German now living in Australia most of my life.

I work in the public health system as a technology officer (non-medical).

I've always enjoyed the notion of wearing a watch beyond it being a 'need' and really started enjoying the collection of them a few years ago after, buying an Omega followed by a few others.

IWC came into play in 2010 when I was in Hong Kong and my admiration for them grew whilst watch-window-shopping. Back in sunny Australia, I was about to buy a Rolex Submariner but diverted my watch funds into an IWC Pilot Chronograph from ACE Jewelers in Amsterdam, dealing with fellow forum member Dimer van Santen. Absolutely no regrets with my decision to acquire an IWC over Rolex (although a Rolex find a way onto my wrist in time).

I'm very much enjoying the IWC forum, its website as a whole and will be posting here on a more regular basis.

Hello IWC Lovers!

My name is Desmin from the Netherlands, Bergen NH to be precise. I'm currently a student political science in Amsterdam. My affection for mechanical watches started about 3 or 4 years ago in 2009 when one of my best friends got an IWC Portuguese Chronograph for his graduation.

Before this time (i was 18) the only watches i knew of that were luxurious or expensive were Rolex and Breitling. Some research in the world of high end watches soon led to the conclusion there was much and much more than that.

I almost instantly fell for the grace and beauty most IWC watches had and still have (although i don't like the supersizing trend). Upon my own graduation from highschool i received a (self selected) Spitfire Mark XVI as a gift from my father. By now i reached the age of 19 and mechanical watches had become a passion.

Although IWC will always be my favourite brand i, since then, bought a Breitling Superocean II, a birthyear Rolex Day Date and a Tag Heuer Formula 1 wathc.

The great pride of my collection came late last year when i purchased the all new Portofino Chronograph.

Being 22 now it is my goal to own an IWC Portuguese 7 Days 500113 by june 19 2015, my 25th birthday. Do you think i will make it?

Kind regards,

Desmin Dekker

Hallo to everybody,

What a nice idea Michael had: to let the other members know something more about ourselves.
Well, I'm Italian, 51 years old and working since 25 years in a company producing equipment to produce plastic pipes. I'm in charge of sales and travelling all over the world. I bought my first watch in 2002 when my mother died and I decided to buy with some money she left my first "important" watch.
I bought at that time a Panerai PAM90, followed later one by a PAM217 and a PAM238. Are my watches all from Panerai??!! No, of course; my first IWC was a SS BP, followed by a SS Portuguise automatic, a SS F.A. Jones, a SS Vintage Portofino and the last one, this year, a SS Ratrappante Portuguese. My dream watch? A Portuguese Jubilee edition or a Minute Repeater. Dreams....

That's me...

...my good friends...

...and the last arrival...

Ah...one more thing about me...my second passion...my music room...

Ciao!!
Carlo

Greetings All!

My name is Todd. I'm an American working in Vietnam. I was strolling through the colonial streets of Hanoi recently when I spotted an IWC boutique. Fell instantly in love. Got the Portofino Automatic with the white dial on a leather strap back in July. A month later I bought the mesh bracelet, but still waiting for it to arrive from Schaffausen.

My next acquisition will likely be the Mark XVII or Portuguese Chronograph. I can't decide. Any advice?

I doubt I'll stop at buying after I get another. Thus far, my wife doesn't mind, but that might change if I ever come home with a PPC.

It's great to have learned a bit about all of you and look forward to reading more of your posts.

Regards,

Todd

Opps. Left out a few details.

I'm originally from Chicago, but have been living all around the world since 2004. Currently I'm a teacher in Hanoi and really enjoy the tropical weather. My wife's name is Anh who works for the Intercontinental Hotel chain. We have a lovely cat named Bella too.

Todd

Hello dear IWC forum members

I'm from the northern part of Europe (Sweden) , soon 45 years old ,married with two kids and the last 20 years doing my career within a global automation company ending up since 2007 as MD for he Swedish sales company. Until now neither so many posts nor so many IWC ,"only" one, my precious Big Ingenieur:

Best regards

Tobias

My name is Mike Steven and I have just received my first IWC
Portuguese Automatic IW500109 and to say I'm delighted with it is an understatement.

As you can see plainly from my handle, my name is Adam Craniotes, and I've been a fan of IWC for as long as I've been into watches (that would be a rather long time now). My first IWC was the Ingenieur 3227-01, which I still have -- it ain't goin' anywhere -- but I've also owned an Aquatimer 3538 and a Top Gun Double Chrono, the latter of which fell on its sword to help fund my latest acquisition, the Top Gun Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar (a piece I knew I had to have the moment I first laid eyes on it at SIHH back in January; frankly, I'm still surprised when I look down and see it on my wrist).

By profession I'm a copywriter (I'm currently employed as a director at a major nationwide retail chain), but frankly, I prefer to define myself through my family -- two beautiful children, a cranky, suspicious wife and an overbearing mother -- and this wonderful hobby that we all share. Indeed, I know many of you from this and other forums, and thanks to the numerous GTGs and watch-related events that I'm privy too here in NYC, I've met quite a lot of you in person as well; in fact, I just ran into Kevin at his home-away-from-home -- the Flagship Store on Madison Ave. -- this afternoon. (What are the odds?) IWC collectors, by definition, are an intelligent, passionate and thoughtful bunch, and I'm proud to count myself among you fine fellows

(with my daughter, my TGBPPC and "Larry's" hat)

Regards,
Adam

Hi all,

I am really new to the forum so this is a great opportunity for me to introduce myself. Especially going by the nickname "John Doe" raises some questions

Hi all,

My name is Maxx and I'm from Australia.

I started looking at watches seriously about 10 months ago and made my first purchase in May this year.

I was looking at Submariners, Maxi Marine Divers and Seamaster OPs, but am happy to say eventually decided on an IWC vintage Ingenieur.

Hi everyone,

I've been into watches for about 10 years; my interest has ranged from independents like Vianney Halter and Speake-Marin to UN and Panerai. I've always admired IWC, but never owned one until now. Just got my 3777 Petit Prince yesterday, and I'm loving it so far!

For work, I head up marketing for a startup (software for enterprise recruiting), and aside from watches I'm into photography, cooking, writing, guitars, and travel. I live in the SF Bay Area, and I'm a native Californian.

I've lurked on this forum for a while, and I look forward to being a part of such a thoughtful, intelligent, and passionate discussion group. (Here's a shot of my 3777, if I've managed the link right!)

Best,
Christina

Welcome to the Forum Christina
Love your PP Chronograph.
So glad this thread has been bumped to the top again.