My vote for 2009 is.........
...Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry in White Gold.
The reason is quite simple for me:
To add another BP to my collection of 5 BPs.
To add a new metal to my BP. I have Steel, Titanium and RG already.
Great, 2 sentences accomplished.
Cheers,
SC
IWC Watch of the Year is clearly...
The IWC Galapagos Edition with it's unique rubber case coating in all black is sure to be a classic.
Da Vinci Digital Perpetual
This watch has a beautiful case and unique day date display. I want one!
Jeff
Well, I probably agree with cellar but...
since the white AT 2000 will probably not be issued I'll go with the Inge Chrono in platinum. I like all the new Chrono models but the platinum version just sparkles. The weight and brightness of the dial make it my favorite. I know some don't like a display back on this model but, if necessary, I'll just buy a cheap demagnetizer and leave it at that.
Actual my first choice for 2009 is.........
...DEEP Two if only they are in Titanium......... :-(
Ref. 3767, AT Chrono Ed. Galapagos Islands
It has a unique look , high contrast black and white coated with vulcanized rubber, that sets this model apart from the entire collection. It is and looks like a special watch and it also has a special meaning as a sign of the supporting initiatives to conservancy at the Galapagos Islands.
Simple and special it deserves the nomination.
Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
I have to second Richard on the Ref. IW3769; it truly is a spectacular watch. I was struck last year when shown a Breguet Marine Tourbillon in rose gold on a black rubber strap - the odacity of combining such a complication and rose gold with rubber in a diveable watch really was a thing of beauty. IWC's use of red gold and black rubber in a dive watch is just what I was dreaming of, and to throw in the new chronograph movement just makes it even sweeter - the real winner for me in the 2009 novelties collection.
Has to be the Deep 2 for me(nt)
Vintage Big Portofino
In my opinion it comes the closest to the original watch and represents the flair of this unique watch!
Agree, titanium should be back for tool watches
It may not be as shiny as steel, but because of the size of the watches they will be significantly lighter. They are also less prone to scratching. It seems that titanium only took 15% of the sales numbers in the tool watches segment, not much but also not negligible, so titanium would be an interesting proposition: not only for the Deep 2, but for the other extreme watches too, like the AT 2000 and the Ingenieur Mission Earth.
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing non-titanium VC Portuguese: here titanium would be a mistake
This one looks fantastic
This watch is very much growing on me, it even is a bit smaller than the Mission Earth. A question though: do you know of what material the indexes and hands are made of? I would expect them to be made of platinum, but they are black, in this case looking well. But in a coming Portuguese I would expect them to be platinum (would I dare to buy one then?).
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing VC Portuguese
AT 2000
Because it is aesthetically pleasing, simple and elegant
Because I could actually go and buy it tomorrow morning...
Because the only thing holding me back is the thought that maybe next year a Ti version will come out...
Gold Big Ingenieur Chronograph
My vote goes this particular watch as I believe it looks like a modern Ingenieur should look. I could of course vote for the steel version then, but the gold only adds to the sheer luxury of this particular watch. I am normally not an "over size" fan, but the Big Ingenieur Chronograph deserves to volume, especially the gold version.
I am not sure about the hands or index...
MF may be of more assistance here.
INGENIEUR MISSION EARTH
For every mission there is a watch!! With this "INGENIEURED" piece on your wrist there is definitely no mission too small or too great, just opportunities and moments to savor....
Big Pilot St. Ex
It is very difficult to pick a single novelty from such a diverse set. There is something special about every watch in this year's collection.
The one that stands out a bit more than others for me is the SE Big Pilot and it wins my vote.
First for what it represents. Both the watch and the figure it commemorates deserve each other. Antoine de Saint Exupéry was a legendary pilot whose life and literature are a tribute to aviation. IWC's flagship watch too, the Big Pilot, pays a tribute to aviation. The watch is special in so many ways, from it's commanding size, it's great movement, it's ruggedness. What a better watch choice to celebrate such a figure.
The aesthetics of this watch are also important to note, although taste is very subjective. The tobacco dial looks so gorgeous in pictures, I can't imagine how it'll look in reality. The dial is nicely complemented by the large Arabic numerals as well as the specially shaped hands. Makes me want to drool :)
Thanks for reading.
AFAIK no watch co. uses platinum for hands
It is too heavy, and the machining of platinum can be very difficult. I guess the machining could be overcome with time and expense, but the cost would be very large and the hands wouldn't work as well due to weight (they are, after all, moving parts and take energy to move).
To my knowledge, platinum is not and has not been used for hands by any watch company in any series-produced watch.
Michael
Big Ingenieur Chronograph in rose gold
When you handle one of these beauties you know you have got something special in your hands.
It oozes engineering perfection.