Good morning all!
I am about to buy a ref. 3253 either a -01 or -02. From a collector’s perspective, which reference is the more thought after model? In my view I do not care too much about out the bracelet as I want to change the watch on a NATO strap anyway. I am really more about the beautiful dial of the 3253. Just think it is amazing. This said, should I rather go for a Tritium dial or the newer one without “T”?
Thank you so much in advance for your help and suggestions!
Best, Christian
Is there no one who can help with this - any suggestions?
If you are talking about the Mark XV (I assume the 3532 was a typo), then I would opt for the 02 with bracelet as it a beautiful bracelet, and not readily available.
As for the lume, I, personally like the patina the tritium develops over time. But it can also cause service issues, as the tritium material can degrade and disintegrate, with the danger of debris entering the movement. IWC service likes to replace tritium dials and hands that show any signs of degradation, so paying for the replacement may be inevitable at some point.
Thank you, Ben! And yes of course, I mean the Mark XV reference 3253… :)
Also, would you go for the 02 if it comes not as full set incl box and papers, however, the 01 comes complete? I am still wondering about this fact and how much premium a full set brings. Besides, the fact that you have even more reliability if talking about authenticity.
Some collectors would prefer to have the box and papers, but it shouldn't be a deal breaker on a piece like this. The boxes don't hold up well over time, and the warranty card has long since expired. It is nice to have those things to prove authenticity and ownership on a newer watch, but this is not a watch we typically see counterfeited and is not high-value. Great watch, though.