Results of the 2nd Collectors Forum Watch (CF3) Survey

Hi Ties,
Sorry to hear about your loss and hope that property is all that you lost.
This may be the first CFI stolen/lost. Its uniqueness, however, increases the possibility/probability it will be be returned to you, hopefully unharmed.
I'll keep an eye on the secondary market.
Good luck.

very sorry Ties to hear about your misfortune.

this issue has turned up before: www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/30471. i think generally the (very good) advice is to:

[b] "Immediately get your police report number and inform IWC in Schaffhausen ASAP. Without the police report they can't help. They will send you (electronicallly) a form to complete so that they are able to help you to their maximum ability. I can assure you they do all they can. IWC does internally register approved (via official police report) stolen and lost watches."

"My suggestion is that our forum friend should make a list and then send to IWC, the local police, all dealers within a radius of where this occurred and major second-hand sellers in the area. I also would suggest visiting the local vintage watch fairs for a few months (there are a few near I believe). These watches will appear again"

"write IWC at info@iwc.com. They will keep a record and contact you if the watch comes in for service. You will need then to have the police verify your report." [/b]

all the best in recovering your 3745.

I love the openness of this entire process.

I think distribution and payment through the boutiques is the only way to ensure control over the entire process, but boutiques should not be able to sell the watch independently of this forum. Boutiques have their special editions, and this is a CF watch. I don't think a deposit is necessarily a bad idea, and I'm open to putting one down. Schaffhausen may be able to collect funds and distribute the watch directly, but that may prove more tedious, but not impossible. There is also the concern of random import duties. Distribution through boutiques may be best.

I can't wait to see what it might end up being.

Michael thanks for the update.
I voted for 200 pieces.
I think is the right number(more or less), keeping in mind the active forum members plus some inactive-silent IWC members.
In case of distribution...How about the people who don't have boutiques near to them?
Courier service is not the solution in case that the boutique is situated in another country.(keep in mind security-insurance issues and extra taxes).
IMHO CFIII watch could be sold either AD's and boutiques channels as well.

What is wrong with ordering the CF3 at the AD of your choice? That worked well with CFDV and CFI, or to put it more precisely, I didn't hear of any complaints about it. The whole CFDV procedure worked quite well, so why reinvent it?

Kind regards,
Paul

Quote : [i]The great discussions about CF3 started two months ago after SIHH, where at the gathering a question about it was answered by Mr. Kern with something like "Why not?". This lead to far more than one hundred posts of enthousiastic forum members, and some steering initiatives by Michael, to make sure some common ground result could be achieved. I think we all did about what is possible and could be expected from a forum like ours.

I wonder, isn't it about time that IWC could give us a signal, based on all what has happened here about CF3? "Why not" gave some glimpse of hope, statements by Michael about all kinds of underlying reasonings by IWC don't really give any direction: is IWC enthousiastic enough to go forward on a CF3? What can we expect, in some time line? What I really don't like to see is that we put all kinds of an effort here, while interesting enough, that in the end may lead to nothing: that would really be a pity.

Kind regards,
Paul [/i]

Paul, whilst I fully agree with you that "that would really be a pity" - I too must point out that all of us here, as members of this forum are already privlegaged even to have such a forum sponsored by IWC on which we can express our desires and wishes around a particular watch. To me, the very to and fro banter over the weeks, and seeing individuals preferences on such things as type of watch, in-house movement or not, dial color etc. etc. has been part of the fun of my almost daily visits to this forum - certainly not "effort".

MF's initiative to setup the polls etc. have been great and the findings for me real interesting. I am sure, that those findings too are interesting to IWC management :-)

...can you imagine the logistic nightmare of trying to "squeeze in" a short LE run of say 200 watches into a hard coded and planned months in advance production schedule - where 10,000's of watches are planned and scheduled for shipment out of a well oiled manufactury. I can imagine, that such a desicion is not an easy one and that there are many aspects of all kinds to be considered.

So we need to be paitient - 60 days from SIHH is in reality a very short time. like a good red wine - all other good things in life need the time to mature.

But lets acknowledge the fact that IF CF3 materialises, that indeed we are a privelaged bunch of collectors - and if it dont, that at least we had fun here together around this subject :-)

BTW - your thoughts as to what form an eventual CF3 should take are very much aligned with mine!

Cheers
Mark

To add to this:

1. I would not waste MY time, let alone anyone else's, if I did not think the proposal had merit and might proceed

2. I hope I was not wasting anyone's time by raising further questions

3. Could it be that some "powers that be" go on holiday after SIHH but asked for a detailed written proposal, and that prompted my questions?

Honestly, guys, some of you should give me more credit ;)

I agree with Mark's comments:

Patience - I think the process is not a simple one, and things may have changed since the previous CF editions. I personally would find acceptable to have behind the scenes dialogues that stretch to a year - we are talking about manufacturing production cycles here, and I think one year is already very quick.

Determined Optimism - I chose to remain hopeful about the CF edition. WE have not heard anything negative so far since that dialogue @ SIHH, so why be pessimistic ? And, it has been great fun - so what do we have to lose ? I believe the greatest reward can be in the acts themselves, without asking for something material & definite in return - and strangely enough, the latter does often find its way to those who did not expect them.

Well, I agree that all the banter has been fun and I have learned a lot about fellow Forum members but.....

I really want a nice limited edition, numbered Forum watch with a my name on the back and I want the same for all of you and I'll be very disappointed if it does not come to fruition.

Based on MF's comments and actions, and surveys and vigilance, it looks like we just might get our wish.

Hello Michael:

As you know, one of the great things about this Forum is the opportunity to agree, disagree. and/or state one's opinion with a group of passionite people who have a common interest. In this case it's IWC and the enjoyment their products have brought to each and every one of us. All who have made this Forum a daily ritual would not be participating if this was not true.

With that, please allow me to "piggyback" on some of Clepsydra's last comments. His response to "Underlying Motivation" could have been misinterpited by anyone who read my reference to the possibility of IWC allowing for a slight margin to the AD if they ended up being part of the process. I do see that a number of responses have indicated they would like to see AD's involved in a distribution plan. Relationships, ,trust, loyalty and convienence are mentioned. IMHO, it is that and so much more. I can only imagine Richemont endorses a "Luxury Watch Buying Experience" that customers should enjoy when considering IWC or any other brand under it's roof. That's where "Brick & Morter" AD/Boutique locations come in to play. Can't tell everyone enough how much that face to face - product on wrist contact contributes to the overall "WOW" buying experience.

For clarification, my reference of "slight margin" to the AD hopefully was not viewed, nor intended as a way to receive a discount. As commented by Clepsydra, his AD relationship goes back a number of years. Mine is building. Unlike Boutiques, AD's are not IWC owned and a "slight margin" would help compansate the business owner for their valuable time in creating that "Luxury" experience. It just wouldn't feel the same having a courier ring my bell and hand me a box. I like having a watch polished and handed to me for try on. I like having someone with experience "eyeball" my purchase to make sure there is no scratches/damage from delivery, set it for me....adjust a bracelet, ensure it's running correctly, explain anything special I should be aware of, not to mention, I also like sticking my hand in the candybowl for a piece of chocolate while we talk IWC. And if that is not enough, should I need help in any way after the purchase, my AD will be there to handle it properly and in a timely fashion.

This is what I consider that total "Buying Experience" that keeps me coming back for more. My feeling is a "slight margin" for an AD is well earned. They are major contributors to the Richemont success that we have been reading about for some time.

Finally, thank you Michael for your "Moderating Skills" keeping this forum on (IWC) track and outreaching to us for comment and suggestions on many of the activities this site offers. It's a whole lot of fun !!

Regards,

Andy

Great comment on the buying experience, exactly as I feel it. It is a highlight of the year, it is emotional, I wouldn't like to miss it. If it costs something, that's OK by me, and it always gives me a great, undamaged watch.

Kind regards,
Paul

May I suggest that for say a 'four week' period IWC accept orders with a deposit for this watch. This way IWC are guaranteed to sell the watches and all forum members are guaranteed the chance to purchase this timepiece :)

Detailed written proposal... My blood pressure surged a bit when reading this. Thanks a lot for doing all these for the boys and girls here, so we can have another great watch on our wrists.

I can't agree with you more, Erwin. Thanks a lot, MF.

Dear MF, hello All,

with great interest reading about a (possible) CF3 watch, there is already a lot being said about purchasing the watch via AD´s, Boutiques etc. I even taste some sort of: " I want to have one, because I post often here".

My question(s) are the following - without passing all the effort of mr. Friedberg. Is it possible that:
- the forum-members themselves ´choose´ a watch instead CEO mr. Kern?
- the forum-members visit Schaffhausen, build there their watch, which then is ´certified´ by IWC?
- the revenues of all that are donated to Laureus (or other) by IWC appointed goals/targets? (or a ´little´ surplus on top which is then donated, is upto IWC to decide/choose).

The benefit - imo - is that it connects (the) forum-members via the CF3 with (the goals of) IWC (not in that specific order) instead of a slight deviation of the discussion into profit for AD´s Boutiques etc., I feel now that there is.

On top of that all, it adds more overall feeling then a diferent coloured dial.

Best regards
Peter
(not often posting, very often reading)

I think we would all love to be involved in designing the next CF Watch.
But the logistics and economics of this are untenable.

We have all stated our desires. IWC will come through.

I hope yes, the watch is still something special, and not many people only a passive interest in the International Whaling Commission, or posted on here once or twice a few years ago bought a huge HP 97 version.

I think that once the design and price are set, any forum member who deposits 1000.00 should get a watch. This should be about the community, not an arbitrary pre-determined limit. What does it really matter if its a run of 100 or 283...?

Sorry Michael,
Missed out on the survey. Have been tied up lately.

Yup, I agree that the watch should be sold through the Forum.

Having a dealer for collection/ payment seems great.
Manish.

Agree with you Alan, regarding taking advance. But 500 posts...
I might just miss that. I think anyone on the forum, who is passionate about IWC, should join in. Agreed that the quantity should be announced later.
It will add to the excitement.
MK