Pilot Chronograph in house movement?

My wife and I were down at one of our local ADs on Tuesday and the lady behind the counter informed me that the IW377704 is an in house movement not an ETA. Is this correct? I have been for ages thinking it was a modified ETA.

Going by the IWC web page it is a 79320 calibre which means nothing to me. It was also mentioned that because it was in house it would be more accurate. Is this so?

As a post script I was all set to try out the portofinos though both my wife and the sales lady said they were too small for my wrist. This excludes the eight day watch movement. Now I am back at the start trying to make a decision. Fun times again : )

I was advised if I wash my hands a lot a metal bracelet would be more practical as the leather band would require replacing every twelve months. So the plan or should I say dream is for a metal bracelet for Monday through Friday and a leather one for the weekends.

Hope every body is well.

First, the 79320 movement is a great movement. I have one in one of my watches, and it never let me down. I wouldn't make too much of a fuzz about it not being an in-house movement. Instead, I would be glad to have a very beautiful, high quality watch for a reasonable price.

I guess the one to judge whether a watch is too small is you alone. The last few years saw the watches grow quite a bit, but it seems the maximum size has been reached. 20 years ago watches were under 40 mm most of the time, and nobody complained. The Portofino 8 Days Handwound is a wonderful watch if you like them a bit bigger yet very decent.

Leather straps don't like water, that is true. But if you are careful when washing your hands, straps may last many years. Some of my straps are over 10 years old, yet still look great. A bracelet is nice in summer when sweating is usual while you exercise, like when walking the mountains.

Kind regards,
Paul

According to your understanding, the lady in the AD store is not correct. The IW3777 (43mm dia.) has an IWC modified (79320 movement number) ETA Valjoux based movement, and I agree entirely with Paul that it is a great movement, and the IW3777 is a great watch. I have owned an IW3706 Der Fliegerchronograph (39mm dia.) with the ETA Valjoux movement new since 2003, and have had no problems whatsoever, accurate and consistent (+4 seconds/day) and reliable. The finish on the movement is also well done by IWC I understand, although only visible when the back is taken off, but I would not advise trying that at home!
Additionally, the IW3777 comes with (arguably) the best steel bracelet in the watch business and, with lugs of 22mm, accepts several leather strap alternatives including, Big Pilot and Santoni (a Forummer has already posted a photo of his 3777 on a brown Santoni leather strap - beautiful combination) together with either tang (pin) buckle, or deployant which is probably sensible with such a large diameter watch.
Go for it!

Bassmanog, you have me curious with your regular hand washing.. I am in the same situation, alcohol and latex included. I only wear my Spitfire 3878 (on strap) to and from work and during off times, would recommend a bracelet as I did not make such a practical decision, that is to say if you would prefer to get a full day's wear, and like the looks. Just my 2cents

Dear Bassmanog(Paul).Firstly,the movement in the IW377704 is a modified 7750.These movements are quite ubiquitous in many high end watches,so no major concern about the quality. I've seen the internals of this modified by IWC movement and they are nicely decorated.Secondly,if you are going to purchase this particular IWC watch,then I would recommend that you choose the steel bracelet.Reasons being:The bracelet is an individually expensive item should you wish at some stage to want one.Whereas,you can buy very good quality non-original leather straps for this watch at a fraction of an "original" IWC one.
Regards.
Kenneth.

Greetings Paul,

The pilot bracelets are extremely well made as well as comfortable. The link design pairs well with the classic pilots. I agree with Kenneth, ordering the watch on bracelet will save you a wad of cash compared to buying it down the line by itself.

Another option with a strap is to go after-market with a "rubber lined" leather strap which will create a moisture barrier from sweat or water that gets underneath. Another plus is that it makes for a very comfy fit.

Regards,

Andy

Paul (BASSMANOG), to better understand the ETA Valjoux 7750 Chronograph movement used in the IW3777, I suggest you visit the following two sites:
i) www.timezone.com/library/horologium/horologium631672313433425752

ii) IWC Collectors' Forum article: "IWC's Use of the ETA-Valjoux Chronograph Movements by Christian H. Niemann revised by M. Friedberg".

Some distinquished Forummers have posted that the base ETA 7750 movement is so good in it's own right, and so well upgraded by IWC, that it could be considered as the next best thing to an IWC in-house movement. For me the plus is that it has both day and date display, which is not currently available in comparable IWC chronographs with in-house manufactured movements, other than a full perpetual calendar.

Thank you for your comments and links. Very informative and reassuring. Well I am saving (again) and may purchase next year on our next wedding anniversary and trip to our local AD and major capital city.

Unfortunately even the perpetual calendar (unpayable for many of us) does not have a weekday display :( I would love the standard in-hous movement with a "big date" at 3 and a weekday at 9, (possibly packed a. o. in a steel Aquatimer case...)

Bassmanog,

the perfect watch if you want to change straps frequently is the Aquatimer chronograph, also with an ETA7750 and a best-in-the-industry quick strap change system. There are only three thumbs down: 1. no folding clasp for the rubber straps 2. no leather strap option (patent owner Cartier does have one for the matching Roadster!) but you can add an after-market strap to the Velcro end links. 3. no quick micro-adjust feature for the steel bracelet folding clasp, though the same is available for the pilots.
But together with all these thumbs down this system is perfect and very, very usable in the everyday life. I'm happy to have this watch (ref. 376706).
Hope this helps.

Hi Roberto,

Am I reading this correctly, the Cartier Roadseter strap fits the Aquatimer?

I know the release mechanism is by Cartier, never even considered they would fit.

Cheers.

Graham

Unfortunately not, I might have written not too precisely. Cartier does have a leather strap option for her Roadster series, which has a quick strap exchange system, the one that was the basis of the patent that IWC uses for the Aquatimer. So theoretically it is possible to produce such a strap also for IWC. According to my best knowledge IWC did some effort in this direction a few years ago, I think it is not ready yet. Also a folding clasp for the AT rubber straps should follow suit, while I think the greatest chance has the quick micro adjust clasp for the AT steel bracelet has to come to life...
Excuse me for this uncertainty, if it was that!
Robert

Thank you for he clarification and no need to apologise.

Many thanks

Graham

The more pertinent question is this; is it a good value? The movement is a very common movement. I do not buy an IWC for an ETA movement! The movement can be bought from Otto Frei for 440 bucks! Any reputable watchmaker is gonna charge you more than that for just a routine cleaning service.....which should be done at least every 3 years! Now, IWC does spiff up the movement .....maybe they do a little embellishment....but they don't make it run any better than a stock movement! So, ya pay about 4500 bucks for a watch that purports to be Mercedes.....and it has a Chevy power plant! The 7750 is OK ......but it ain't no Zenith, El Primero...which is the kinda quality you should get in a watch with IWC on the dial!

A quick google search, and you'll know that there are different types of the same movement, with some being more accurate than others. I also believe some can get the movements assembled and put into the watch, or have the components and assemble themselves with different levels of finishing. A more apt comparison is Porsche using a VW group engine for their diesel variants. Less expensive, yes, but by no means worse.

It's exactly the same as a lot of the big watch brands until they started producing in house plenty of big names used modified eta. They have different grades of each eta movement. Breitling for example buy the top grade disassembled, they then manufacture some parts which they use to upgrade and then they do the finishing. I Imagine iwc are similar here.

I have a few 7750 based watches and they have never let me down. Fantastic time proven movement.

And I'd also add that just because something is in house doesn't necessarily mean it will be more accurate or technologically better. Someone could make an in house movement that's less reliable for example than a 7750 and many do.

+1
Totally agree!

Nothing wrong with 7750 movement, I personally like the Day feature which is doesn't exist in the CF3. :)

Ignore the troll!

Which troll? The issue at hand is discussed often here, but then, there are new members who may ask a known question unaware of previous discussions. The point made by "us" is that the modified ETA movement is very good, as I know from my own experience. But asking about the price point is valid, it gives us the opportunity to explain that you pay for the total watch of high quality, that both explains why the watch doesn't cost EUR 500, and why the watch doesn't cost EUR 30.000 or more, like some chrono's by Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. Having two chronograph classes at IWC, one with the modified ETA, one with the in-house 8936x, is very nice, certainly because both classes have very attractive watches. So there is something for about everyone, except for those that want to pay EUR 500 for a chronograph.

Kind regards,
Paul

Paul, I understand and welcome the discussion. The troll I was referring to was the person with one single post who did not really ask a question but seems to have joined the forum in order to suggest that IWC is passing off sub-par movements in overpriced watches. What was this person really searching for in reviving this old thread?