IWC Compass Watch (Porsche Design)

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and was trying to find some various info about IWC's compass watch product line started in 1978. Only a very few sentences can be found surfing the web, so I was wondering if any of you guys might me able to help me with the official specs of the watches, how many were made and that kind of stuff? :-)

I contacted IWC, but to my surprise they said they don't know how many compass watches they made - very strange indeed. I hardly believe they made thousands upon thousands since I only found one picture of my IWC watch during an hours googl'ing (see link)

So, if any of you guys know some info about the compass watch product line etc. it would be highly appreciated - I'm very fond of my compass watch, and knowing some more of its history would be nice :-)

IWC Compass Watch (Porsche Design)

If you click on "Search forum and archive" and search using the term "compass" you will find a great deal of information. There were different cases and the watch was also available with a moon phase but I don't think production numbers have ever been published.

I think you will find the search worthwhile and I've provided a link to one article below.

Cheers from the cellar.

PS. You link will probably be removed given it points to a watch for sale.

Tough questions --a few answers

as cellar said...

you will find a lot if you just search the archived posts here. A few key words like "compass" will get you what you want, other than production totals (they need to be manually tabulated and IWC doesn't have the resources to do that for every query).

I'm required to remove a link to a watch at a dealer for sale --we're strictly non-commercial here. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Good luck,
Michael

IWC-Porsche Design model data

Posted by MF (moderator) on 05.06.2004 at 05:37:15

Almost everything about IWC's Porsche Design models

Greetings,
I must confess to one of my secret weapons. In order to appear singularly brilliant about IWC watches, from time to time I turn to real experts. One of those is a friend who happens to be a watchmaker, and who even happens to work for a company called iWC in Schaffhausen.

This hidden asset is a great guy by the name of Christian Niemann. He occaisonally posts here but he also informally --on his own initative -- provides good advice and information to me. This time CN has outdone himself --he provided a list of IWC's Porsche Design models and many of their specifications.

The good news is that this is an invaluable resource. The bad news is that the file is huge --over 400kB-- and will take a while to download, even with high-speed broadband access. But it's worth it.

Thanks, CN! I'm sure people here will use and enjoy this special information.

Regards,
Michael

click here for IWC-Porsche Design model data

IWC-Porsche Design model data

IWC-Porsche Design model data

Hi all,

Sorry about the link - I forgot to link directly to the picture itself instead of the whole link to the item on sale. I simply couldn't find other photos of my watch :-)

Anyway, thanks a lot for all your help, it's greatly appreciated!

Regards,
Nikola

IWC Compass Watch - another thing..

Hi again,

I have another question. Of all the photos that I find of the olive green coloured compass watch, I see that in the bottom of the dial it says "Swiss".. however, my IWC has something extra... it says "T Swiss T" - anyone knows whats up with the two T's surrounding "Swiss"? - Apparently those T's aren't on most other versions of the green olive iwc compass watch...

Tritium (nt)

Some photos of those first PD by IWC (nt)

Tritium, photos and other questions :-)

Ahh, thanks for the photos! - And I'm still full of questions :D...

As I said, I have the olive green one, however it has two T's on each side of "Swiss" in the bottom of the dial - Apparently this means Tritium as Andrew said - but newbie as I am, what does that mean in this instance?

Also, anyone know howcome these T's aren't on other of the olive green watches? (see hebe's photos e.g.)

And I guess that the hands should be visible in the dark, right? - However, I can't seem to see anything when taking the watch to a closed room (even after having a spotlight shine on the dial for a few secs). Could that be because the watch has been in the box and never used since it was bought (some 25 years ago or so)?

Furthermore, does anyone have an idea or a guesstimate as to how many of these olive green compass watches were made? - Are we talking several thousands?

Thank you all for your answers by the way, you have been most helpful :-)

Regards,

Nikola

An example, the left one

has a new SUPER LUMINOVA dial and hands. The right one an old TRITIUM dial.

Regards

Heiko

Hebe, what is the colour of that dial please?..nt

Left => OLIVE, Right => BLACK (nt)

Can anyone answer the final questions?

Hi,

Could anyone answer my last three questions from above? I.e.:

Also, anyone know howcome these T's aren't on other of the olive green watches? (see hebe's photos e.g.)

And I guess that the hands should be visible in the dark, right? - However, I can't seem to see anything when taking the watch to a closed room (even after having a spotlight shine on the dial for a few secs). Could that be because the watch has been in the box and never used since it was bought (some 25 years ago or so)?

Furthermore, does anyone have an idea or a guesstimate as to how many of these olive green compass watches were made? - Are we talking several thousands?

:-)

Regards,

Nikola