• Apprentice
    9 Feb 2012, 9:16 p.m.

    Hello,

    I just purchased my first ever IWC, a beautiful brand new model 3717-01. I have two questions, not covered in the operating manual:

    1) To wind the watch manually the instructions say to rotate the crown when in position 0, about 30 times. What is not stated is whether to rotate the crown clockwise or counter-clockwise! Does anybody know which way?

    2) The black alligator strap is too short! :-( Does IWC offer longer straps for this watch? If so, can somebody tell me the correct part number to order?

    Thanks!

  • Graduate
    9 Feb 2012, 9:20 p.m.

    Hi

    I have the same question too. should we wind it clockwise or counter clockwise?
    Clockwise is stiffer than counter clockwise. Mine is a 3714.

    To answer your question for #2 yes you can contact your ad to order a longer strap. they have short, regular and long length straps. Just tell them your model number and they will know. I think it is a 21mm lug and 18mm buckle if I am not mistaken.

    Thanks

  • Master
    9 Feb 2012, 9:23 p.m.

    First, welcome to the IWC Forum. You will learn much about the IWC virus you have contracted. ;).

    When winding the watch, it winds by turning the crown clockwise, toward the 12 o'clock position. You can turn the crown in either direction, but you are only winding it one way. You cannot over wind an automatic watch, btw. A special clutch mechanism prevents over winding. A watch will run more accurately, if you keep the movement's mainspring half wound or more.

    As to the strap, the best place to start is at an IWC ad, if you can.

  • Apprentice
    9 Feb 2012, 9:34 p.m.

    Bill B,

    Thanks! I appreciate your confirmation. I suspected as much but wanted to be sure. I will contact my IWC store for the longer straps.

  • Apprentice
    9 Feb 2012, 10:03 p.m.

    Hi HHH818,

    Yes, the lug width is 21 mm and the buckle width I just measured at 18.4 mm.

  • Apprentice
    14 Feb 2012, 6:12 p.m.

    Strap IWA19247 for IWC 3717-01: Standard or Small?

    Can somebody please confirm whether the IWA19247 strap is the 'standard' size or the 'small' size? It fits me tight and my arm is not that big. Can somebody tell me the correct part number for the black crocodile strap in a LONG size? Thanks!

  • Apprentice
    27 Mar 2012, 3:51 a.m.

    Hello, and greetings to everybody!

    This is my first day in the IWC Forum, and I am not at all an expert, just a mathematician who loves (and respect) good engineering...

    ...so, IWC is my favorite watchmaker.

    I was very happy to hear Bill, for very few people knows the IWC Pilot's chronos only wind clockwise (CW).

    I am the proud owner of a IWC "Der Fliegerchronograph" SPITFIRE, with the wonderful SS bracelet (ref. 3705) and a «Classic» "Der Fliegeruhr" Mark VI (ref. 3255).

    It may be useful to say that the Mark VI winds BOTH ways (CW and CCW), unlike the Pilot's chrono.

    With the Mark VI, it is easy to tell when fully wound manually:
    The winding mechanism is VERY smooth, and when fully winded you can hear a very, very slight «ping» sound when turning the crown after beeing fully wound.

    I would recommend to stop winding the crown at that moment.

    On the other side, the heavily modified Valjoux 7750 of the Pilot's chrono is much less smooth, and noisy, and I personally could never heard that «ping» sound with this caliber.

    So, I still do not know hoy many turns (clockwise and counter-clockwise) would fully wound the Pilot's cronographer...

    Bill, would you be so kind to enlighten me about this matter?

    Many thanks to all in IWC Forum!
    Armando Fernandes

    Post sript:
    My Mark VI looses ONE second per day, and my Spitfire chrono gains ONE second per day.
    Amazing, isn't it?...

  • Apprentice
    17 Dec 2012, 5:09 a.m.

    i recently bought an ingenieur 3227 pre-owned, which i have sought for a long time and love the watch. after it ran down, however, shortly after taking it home, i had a difficult time getting it started again, although the jeweler was able to get it started when i took it in with a few magic waves of the watch. i let it run down again, and same difficulty getting it started. i gave it 20 gentle winds, then a few more, waved it around--still no starting. i took it in and left it with him, and he was able to get it going once it ran down. my jeweler says perhaps i overwound it and it bound up the mainspring, but i didn't think overwinding was possible. i'm wondering if there is something more serious the matter with the watch. thanks for any advice.