My pilgrimage to Schaffhausen...

Hello all,
Well I started off my trip with a bang. I met two fellow IWC forum members at the hotel Okura in Amsterdam (where I was staying) -Cinq and another gentleman.
We met up for lunch and quickly started to compare watches and soon had a table full of IWCs. Two ss Ing., ss Port auto, platinum Port auto and ss Port auto and St Exup chrono.
I departed a couple days later to Geneva-where the Euro cup was taking place. What a wonderful and beautiful city - very friendly locals and watches galore.

Part two...

Wandering the streets of Geneva, I was wondering what time it was...
Looking at the beautiful mountains and lake, I could see futbol was on the mind of the Swiss.

Part three...

As I kept walking along the park-along lake Geneva, I saw lots of nice watch stores and I mean lots. In addition, I saw lots of nice cars. This car was parked outside the Four Seasons.
Hmmmmm....I wonder how many IWCs I could buy with that car 8-D

Part four....

Well I finally decided it was time to go and visit the birthplace of my IWCs.
When I walked over - a short trip from the station. I stood in awe. It was right on the Rhine and it was quite the majestic place.

Part five...

The tour was magical.
Props to the lady who gave us the guide-sadly I do not remember her name. But we got to see the casing department and saw and handle the platinum case for the daVinci chrono. She should us how the case was assembled. In addition we saw the five axis machine mill out some parts.
Then she took us to the movement department and they were assembling the 8000 calibre movement-which was very special as I was wearing my Ing.
Last she took us to the room where she showed us a short film on the history of IWC to try on all the new novelties - my favourite part.
So many watches, so little time 8-D After that she gave us a gift bag-sorry no gift watches ;-p But it did include a very nice baseball cap, 2008 catalouge and the current issue of Watch International
Our tour guide did a wonderful job and kudos to her.

Part six...

Aimlessly wandering the streets of Zurich, I happened upon the IWC boutique.
I thought, well I'm here. I might as wander on over. Wow was I glad I walked over, in the display case, they had lots of heavy metal in the windows.
ps the picture of the storefront was taken when it was closed.

Part seven and the warhorse of Schaffhausen...

They had a platinum Portofino, when I was there. When I passed by a few hours later, it was gone. Did someone buy it?
As I had a little time to kill before I had to head over to Milan, I walked about and looked at the display cases of the watch stores.
I have to admit, I came to a sudden stop and this person almost crashed into the back of me...I stared into the window and there it was...a watch I thought I would never see...the warhorse of Schaffhausen.
What a way to end my trip to Zurich 8-)
Thanks for reading all and have a great day/evening/

Looks like you had a grand time,

Thanks for the post and all the photos. I believe I had dinner with one of your Amsterdam mates last Friday in NYC. The Forum is a great place to develop friends and learn about our beloved IWC watches.

Bill

A big thank you

Hi Gerald
Thank you for your excellent report and photos.
I would hope, at some stage to also visit IWC and enjoy the same tour as you did.
I have to say, that I did something similar to you, except I was sitting down looking at your last photo.
I would love to see the all "Great IWC complication watch"
What a find!!!!
Was the shop closed??
I see in your photo, that they have a 3758 (older shape Da Vinci)
That is the model that I hope to purchase soon, abeit with a white dial.
I don't suppose that you know how much it was?
Thank you once again.
PS I noticed that a Rolex Y/G Day Date slipped in

Thank You Gerald for a Truly Great Report....

I especially enjoyed your photographs.
Could you please explain about The Warhorse of Schaffhausen ?
Thanks
Joe

Thanks Gerald! nt.

Wonderful Gerald >>

I am really sorry I could not attend the lunch as I was ill that day. Hopefully some other time the pleasure will be mine.
Looks like you had a really nice trip!

The Warhorse of Schaffhausen-Il Destriero Scafusia

The "mythical" best of the grands complication-what an amazing chance find!

Great report Gerald, thanks.

Ross

Thanks for the great report Gerald

It was a pleasure having lunch with me and I am glad to see you had a great time in Europe.

Kind regards,

Clemens

Thanks Gerald>

Glad you had such a great trip. Hopefully it wasn't too cold for you.
It was very nice meeting you. Hopefully we meet again.
Peter

Hi Gerald, awesome report!!!!! It's too bad >>>

....that we missed each other. It seems like we almost followed each other's footsteps, LOL!!!!!

Cheers mate :-)

Thanks a lot Gerald!!

Great post- looks like a lot of fun nt