IWC 3705 Ceramic Flieger

Hello,

I hope you can help me.

I have just purchased a ceramic IWC 3705 and I am very happy with the watch. One thing bothers me though and that is that the previous owner replaced the original Tritium dial and hands with Luminova parts.

Is it possible to buy Tritium dial and hands so I can return the watch to the original condition?

Also, the strap is quite worn. Can anyone recommend a "kevlar" like strap as the one that comes with the ceramic Top Gun?

Thanks,

Regards,
Frederik from Copenhagen

I believe that a good kevlar strap is issued with the IWC "Jan Ullrich".
Love that strap!
cheers
BAs DEkkers

I've seen quite a few 3705s that have the Luminova hands. I believe the factory and authorized service centers replaced the tritium hands per specifications. I'd say don't worry about it and enjoy a very special watch.

Collector's value is higher w/Tritium dial & hands but you can enjoy your beautiful watch w/Luminova as well. I've changed the calender discs to black ones too and now the watch is on a black NATO - scan shows it on a Hirsch strap like your wish. I think this strap is out of production now - do not remember reference code unfortunately but a Hirsch dealer can shed light on this one.
Enjoy! Robert

Thanks for all the good responses.

Why would IWC change the dial and hands during service?

Roberto, your 3705 looks great with the black calendar discs. Where/how did you source these discs?

Did any of you guys fit a black calfskin strap to the watch?

Thanks,
Frederik

Very, Very Nice!

Dear Frederik,

today IWC delivers most of their dark dial 7750-s w/black discs so maybe you can have it replaced in SH. There are a handful of manufacturers using the same black disc set but best place is IWC to do the job.

Best, Robert

Hello fellow Dane Frederik,

I think the reason why they would change the dial with tritium markings to a dial with Luminova markings, is that in time tritium fades. It has a half-life of only 12 years, so it gradually stops being luminescent.
Luminova, or Super Luminova, won't lose its luminescense and it isn't radioactive as tritium is. The tritium's radioactivity is not dangerous as it "only" radiates alpha particles. Maybe it was different during production, but I don't know.
I own a Doppelchronograph 3711 from 1994 with tritium markings, and the tritium does not light anymore :-) So IWC just thought forward back then and canged the dial...
Hope this halps a bit?

BTW I love your 3705! I am currently looking for an example as well.

Regards, Rune from Copenhagen.

A little late to the party..
But I must say that watch looks beautiful.

one of my 'accidental' finds in a Hong Kong dealer, and what was intended to be a 'collector's rescue' has turned out to be a permanent fixture in my collection...

Hi Shing,

Wow... I love patina. Combo with strap is a great look.
Definitely an amazing find. Original dial and hands I see (I love tritium!). Gives a watch character and warmth. Does it have the original fish crown too?

Have you seen many other examples with original tritium vs luminova? (my experience, with vintage/contemporary watches is many of these were replaced with luminova when serviced.)

Thank you for sharing the picture - it's a beautiful piece :-)

Hi PDK,

Welcome to the forum btw. I just realized you are the same poster in the other pilot thread asking for web resources - I will also respond to that later, but this is also useful for now...

www.gregsteer.net/IWC/IWC_Lynx.html

On the ref 3705, the 're-dial' without Tritium, with luminova can be found a few times a year on well known 'watch markets' of well known forums, or good dealers - there is currently one right now. We are not able to post commercial links here so if u are interested you cand rop me an email. Original ones with Tritium I have only seen one sold years ago in the usual 'watch markets'. The ceramic of the early 90s wears and feels and looks very different from modern IWC ceramic cases - neither good nor bad here in my opinion, just a nice difference.

A little bit uncommon, but I like the 3705 on bracelet.

Regards

HEBE

I know I said it before but, I really like this "resurrected" posts... They tend to uncover lots of interesting bits of information and show that people use the archives, it makes this Forum what it is, a place where information is in motion other than static.

By the way, great examples of the 3705!

Cheers, everyone!

Thank you for your warm welcome and sage advice.
And yes, guilty as charged! I am the OP on "Enjoying the chase..." :-)

The links are really useful, will have to spend some time studying those.

Part of the fun is as you learn more, your wishlist grows. It's difficult to kept it trim, currently have 5 on that list, including an IWC.

Great photograph Hebe.

I really liked the IWC metal bracelets when I tried them on - a good fit even for my wrists.

We have a long weekend coming up in the UK, so before signing off I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all their advice (on and offline).

Have shortlisted on a couple of discontinued IWC models, so will post and share photograghs once I find them...

Thanks

Dear All, i am new in this and wish to find an original IWC 3705 ceramic. Would any of you have any idea as to whom is selling one that I may look at?

Yes me...however my last comment was deleted (?) so it's a bit difficult to help you as I can't PM you here.
Admin before you delete please suggest alternative to communication between 2 members?

Elkjaer, the forum rules (when when you sign up) prohibit the commercial use of this forum,including of course buying or selling. Sorry about that.

Thanks, I am aware of that. However it is a bit difficult to help the man (and in this case perhaps also me) when i can't answer his question. I will not mention price or any other thing about the watch, I hope however I will be allowed to pass my details to him if he should ask for them.