My two cents on the new Aquatimer

Maybe it is because plain looking watches are more appealing to me but the new Aquatimer does not make my heart race. When I bought my Ingénieur Automatic I also considered the Aquatimer. By the way I don't dive. Some comments:

I could do without the dual color on the crown although the 354805 is fine by me.

I really like the (fairly) old style like the one in the top left of the second picture of mb75's "Congrats from its sisters" post below. Other dive watches I like are the Vacheron Constantin Overseas and the Omega Planet Ocean Big 2200.50.00

OK, I'll go back to looking at my plain jane Ingénieur. I'll also hope that MF does not bar me for bringing up the "other brands" (I know he won't) and that other members will not kick me around to badly (I hope you won't...) :-)

My two cents on the new Aquatimer

I felt that the layout, color scheme and bracelet are reminiscent of a TAG, however the image was not detailed enough for any real analysis.
I have a pilot chrono and Ingenieur Vintage so I take my own opinions with a grain of salt.

Regards,
Jan

i think they'll grow on you (nt)

Thanks

Not every watch is for everyone. That's why they make different models.

These watches are tool watches (most of them at least) and are intended for real divers, although I suspect a lot of non-divers will buy them. I also believe that they can best be evaluated in person and on the wrist, not in a press release or an amateur candid shot. And in my opinion that applies to competitors' products too.

But I can well see people buiying other models by IWC or other brands. I have. There's nothing wrong with that. :)

Thanks for you opinion,
Michael
P.S. On discussing other brands, I think for comparison purposes that's just fine. I would prefer that we not become a non-IWC discussion forum (given that we're sponsored by IWC and part of their website). I also wouldn't want people using IWC's paltform to "promote" or sell other brands but there's nothing wrong with liking something else more.

My two cents on the new Aquatimer

I have to say this collection looks poor in comparison to previous Aquatimers.

The first thing of note is the cheap looking rubber strap but what hits me most of all is their similarity to the Tag Heuer Formula One collection (granted only from their thumbnail view).

I appreciate that these are tool watches but they do not have any appeal to me whatsoever and I thought I would ever say that.

Oh well you can`t please all the people all of the time.

I miss the internal roating bezel

I did like the internal rotating bezel better.
It was more special. Why would iWC have abandoned this feature.

Lucas

because it was ahrd to use with 3mm..

or above neoprene diving gloves

Welcome and not all is lost...

I might well go for a Portugese Régulateur as a gift to myself when I turn 50 (late 2010).

Your comments about real divers liking the Aquatimers is quite true; after all real engineers like the Ingénieur.

Now can someone tell me what it is with me and swiss watches with a French name (Ingénieur, Régulateur)...

You are right

I kinda like the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands and I usually don't like chronographs.

Initial comments (not knee-jerk)

I will reserve final judgement until I have seen/handled the watches in the flesh, but I do have some initial observations:

I appreciate these are being called tool watches, for real divers, but, realistically, how many have been used in the past for that purpose, and how many will be in future - my suspicion is that most were bought and worn by non-divers, like me (I certainly don't imagine many gold examples will be used for diving, except possibly in the pool).
Personally, I am disappointed that they are all 44mm. While I can happily wear the current and older models at up to 42mm, 44mm is just too big for me (like much of the Vintage range).

I just hope that there will be something for me in the rest of the new range.

I should add that I have a couple of ATs, a couple of Ocean/bund, and a couple of pilots, all of which that I love, so I am not knocking IWC.

My two cents on the new Aquatimer

As an owner of 3 AT pieces, I like the new versions from the pictures but am wondering if there will be a 2009 Cousteau Divers version or any models in titanium. The 2006, 2008 Coutseaus are sharp pieces but the titanium chronograph is light as a feather.

I don't think you'll see Cousteau any more...

as that collaboration has ended. On to the Galapagos models.

and IWC just figured this out?

I don't think you'll see Cousteau any more...

Well, at least the 44mm size will carry over. I have deceided I like larger watches as they are (shockingly) easier to read but I won't be in a hurry to rush out an buy a Galapagos. Do proceeds go to the islands?