Sciencefiction: CF III, the Challengers!

Light saturday post, to continue the dialogue about our common dream watch.

I guess the first step we need to focus on, to reach the target, is to identify the model.

It's fun and it's easy, just make your choice.

It's about the model, not the (eventual) customization.

Please, if you want, first, pick your best choice (mandatory task for any good forumer) and then explain it and/or describe the personalization you'd like to see implemented (optional).

Aware of the output the former thread gifted us, I've chosen 8 models, 4 from the novelties, 3 from the vintage collection, 1 from the current line up of the AT family, just because I've noticed some interest about it as the new CF III.

Please consider it's just a game, just some gentlemen talks about the watch of their desires, nothing but this.

Maybe though, the outputs of the thread could turn out useful to IWC and Michael, thanks to the info contained in it.

Needless to say, I have the best respect for IWC and its right to decide if and eventually whatmodel to propose as CF III.

Michael is also completely not responsible for this thread and, as usual, we owe him our gratitude for guiding and helping us the best possible way.

I took myself permission to add some pro and con, simply trying to describe a little more the watches but it's naturally just my opinion, so means nothing, just some elements to start the discussion from.

Now, let's talk watches!

The Challengers

Challenger 1: Mark XVII. Pro: 1) It's new; 2) affordable price. Con: 1) Not in-house movement.

Challenger 2: Worldtimer ref. 3262. Pro: 1) It's new; 2) original complication. Con: 1) Not in-house movement; 2) Case size to the limits (for many).

Challenger 3: Miramar ref. 3880. Pro: 1) It's new; 2) in-house movement; 3) special case. Con: 1) The price could discourage some fans; 2) big size watch (not a flaw but population here is starting to split in two about this).

Challenger 4: Spitfire chronograph ref. 3878. Pro: 1) It's new; 2) in-house movement. Con: 1) The price could discourage some fans; 2) no soft iron cage; 3) "glamour" version of a pilot's watch (put in the "con" but could stay in the "pro").

Challenger 5: Ingenieur vintage collection ref. 3233. Pro: 1) in-house movement; 2) good value for money; 3) case size "acceptable" to many. Con: 1) no soft iron cage; 2) some collectors already have an ingenieur.

Challenger 6: Portuguese vintage collection ref. 5445. Pro: 1) in-house movement; 2) the best watch of the lot to closely recalling the original (iconic) model; 3) case size "acceptable" to many. Con: 1) manual winding (not a con at all, it's just it's less complicated); 2) some collectors already have it.

Challenger 7: Aquatimer vintage collection ref. 3231. Pro: 1) in-house movement; 2) versatile; 3) good value for money; 4) case size "acceptable" to many. Con. 1) some collectors already have it.

Challenger 8: Aquatimer 2000, ref. 3568. Pro: 1) affordable price; 2) case size "acceptable" to many. Con: 1) not in-house movement; 2) some collectors already have it.

Some brief notes I've put the in-house calibres as a pro, I've nothing against 3Ps movements, it's just a in-house movement speaks more of the brand; some watches have in-house movement they're not worth some others with a 3Ps movement. I usually like to look at the movement and (try) to understand if I like it or not. The comparison between the movements in the post makes me think in-house calibre is often (if not always) better. I admit, I've never seen the calibres of the Mark and the UTC but I know Sellita is a company producing Eta calibres whose patents (on the movements) and exclusive rights are expired.

Have fun with the post and thank you for reading and eventually contributing!

My only concern is the price Roberto.
Much more than the in-house caliber.
I would love to have 200 PPCs in SS but I doubt this will be the case for the time being at least.
If I had to choose one model, it would be the AT ref 3568 with a rubber strap and not the bracelet with just a small dial variation and case back engraving of the owners name and number e.g 124/200.
But I am very curious to see what Schaffhausen will come up with, then we are talking my friend.

Roberto,
A fine analysis. I appreciate the detail and care you took to be fair. And this does put things in perspective.

As for me, MF has called upon us to be patient while he gets feedback from the powers that be. So I think the previous post allowed everyone to voice their initial opinions, mine included.

So I am reserving judgement until we have a framework within to work. Like Argiris said, I too am curious to see what Schaffhausen comes up with.

My choice: Mk XVII with ardoise dial. New, affordable & distinctive with different color dial.

Zyxtimer

Argi,

that one would be my first choice too!

I agree we have to wait for IWC but I also think the more participation will be, the more this (eventual) CF will be felt by the community as its own.

I remember the process brought to the CFDV and harshly experienced the result. Don't get me wrong, the watch is great but it failed to be - exaclty - "felt" as a representative watch by the community.

To be short, best faith in IWC but let's give them some hints to understand our wishes.

I don't believe we're just people attending a forum, we're a community sponsoring IWC and you know how much any of us does about it. We were here prior the opening of new market's fronteers and will be here after this "golden age" will come to an end, with the permission of IWC, that's obvious.

I'm just saying, give our friends at IWC something to think about :)

Thank you Alan my friend. It's probably a professional deformation of mine but I experienced anything gets better if it's done through the wider contribution possible. It's a matter of contributing, this makes a good community. We have to behave and act as a community, to benefit the best result - imho.

The best we can do, having archived the CFDV experience, is to provide feedbacks via the forum to IWC, and you proved it with your recent post.

Thank you for the effort, it shows a lot of heart. Here is my ranking of alternatives mentioned:

1 (c1): Mark XVII. Pro: 1) it's new; 2) affordable price; 3) I wouldn't buy it for myself, although I like it very much.

2 (c5): Ingenieur vintage collection ref. 3233. Pro: 1) pretty watch; 2) affordable price; 3) I still don't have one.

3 (c4): Spitfire chronograph ref. 3878. Pro: 1) very pretty watch. Con: 1) too expensive for a symbol watch; 2) depending on the alterations I might want to buy the original.

4 (c6): Portuguese vintage collection ref. 5445. Pro: 1) pretty watch. Con: 1) I already have two of them.

5 (c2): Worldtimer ref. 3262. Con: 1) too massive; 2) to my eye not really pretty.

6 (c7): Aquatimer vintage collection ref. 3231. Con. 1) I don't really like it, and I don't like the strap on it.

7 (c8): Aquatimer 2000, ref. 3568. Con: 1) I don't really like it, and I don't like the rubber strap on it.

8 (c3): Miramar ref. 3880. Con: 1) too massive; 2) I don't want to wear an American style military watch, to me a bad symbol for the forum.

I am not quite sure where to draw the line, that is: will I buy one or not if it is offered. It depends on the offering, I guess. Possibly between my ranking 2 and 3, or 3 and 4.

Kind regards,
Paul

Nice overview of candidates. Thanks for giving it some perspective. The VC Ingenieur is still an interesting option. Here a picture of the LE Italy as an example...

Hard to choose, but for me it's first of all the thought behind a forum watch that counts, then the IWC DNA and in the end the price and affordability. So curious where this all will lead too....

Roberto,

LOW PRICE as I can see from most previous posts is the common factor to our choice.

As a result we have 3 choices with relatively low price

1.Mark XVII ----->not in-house movement.

2.Aquatimer vintage collection ref. 3231------>some collectors already have it but in-house movement!!

3.Aquatimer 2000, ref. 3568------->not in house movement.

IMHO AT-vintage will be the perfect CFWIII, ...but let's wait the news from IWC my friend.

Rethinking......
Wouldn't this look good with nice engraving on the back and a CFF emblazoned on front, right below Schaffhaussen? LOL

Indeed it would look very nice.

Thanks for starting this threat Roberto. I fully agree with your analysis and pros/cons for each watch You mention.

Taking into account that we can only expect minor dial variations and engraving on the back as modifications to standard models and that the preferences are:
- Reasonable price (Let's say not much beyond 10000 CHF ?)
- Reasonable size (Lets say not beyond 44mm ?)
- Something not yet owned by forum members
- In-house movement
my own preferences are:
1. MK XVII, especially if we can get it without the controversial date window. Regrettably, it does not have an in-house movement, but otherwise I think that it would find a wide acceptance.

1. VC Inge, I would prefer to have a white dial from the Pt version installed on SS case, or maybe a pilot/military style dial + VC AT hands to create a version that nobody has yet. It could look something like this:
   

2. VC AT, This one with the ardoise dial and hands from the WG model on a SS case would make a very fine watch, and I don't think there are many ardoise dial VC AT owners around.

3. VC Portuguese, like the VC Inge, this one would require the white dial from the Pt version to make it different enough from the versions quite a few already have.

4. The new Spitfire Chrono. Quite thick watch, but looks nice. I would prefer to remove the small red triangle and have a white seconds hand. I like this watch, but I'm afraid the price might limit the number of interested purchasers.

5. The Miramar, I like the looks of this watch, and if we could replace the controversial Top Gun emblem with a CF one, it would make the watch much more desirable to me. The size and price may limit the number of interested purchasers.

6. The Worldtimer, this one could look nice with an ardoise dial:
   
   The size probably limits the interest, and it does not have an in-house movement.

7. AT 2000, No in-house movement, big size, and already owned by quite a few members, so I think we should skip this one.

Personally, I would also be willing to buy a SS Big Pilot's watch. Preferably with an ardoise dial and hands grom the WG version (this one would actually be on top of my list, but I know that the price and size may restrict the general popularity). Also a VC Pilot's Watch would be a very nice alternative.

WOW - that sure looks good! In-House movement too. This one would carry my vote - no doubt about it.

And like you Alan, I like that triple date window - although others would say it does not belong on an iron cage and/or Pilots watch. As for me, I believe it looks absolutely great.

Best regards
Mark

I know, you could expect a reaction of mine: did you save your best pictures of the Spitfire Chrono till the end? This one is all the way smashing. I cannot think of a way to improve on this watch, that is, any change makes it less. So, maybe another watch as forum watch?

Kind regards,
Paul

From Rob's list, I like the Mark XVII (ardoise, blue, or gray Patrouille Suisse dial), Spitfire Chrono, or VC Portuguese (ardoise dial).

I could also go for a VC Ingenieur with a cream (ala Tribute to Italy) dial.

Roberto - I appreciate this thread, now with a few more specifc options to steer the discussion!!

Here is my ranking and why - and as long as the price is below CHF 10,000 I'm OK:

1 (C6): Portuguese - this one with a white/silver dial would simply be awesome. It would be a true link back further than any other current line, and affordable.
2 (C2): Worldtimer - it is new, and it is a pilotwatch in the year of the pilot, right size, and suitable for all of us as we are all around the globe.
3 (C4): Spitfire Chrono - my favourite of the new line, a gorgeous watch with all the right attributes for our forum - the only con may be as Paul says - it may be too good as it is already.
4 (C3): Miramar - in the year of the Pilots this is the newest and the focus of the line - I could even go for this one but I am not sure. It may be too big and too military.

The reamining 3 I don't think I would go for.

Anyway, my two cents - it will for sure be interesting to see what IWC will be willing to do :-)

1) The MkXVII with hopefully ardoise dial, would like to keep the date as its an evolving model, not a reincarnation of earlier marks.

2) The Spitfire Chrono with a tasty croc strap and bracelet in a more personally financially secure world, ie when I am able to drive again and not wear a leg plaster.

3) The VC Ingie with a blue dial similar to Laureus, maybe a shade lighter rather than darker, thats if the Laureus blue is off limits.

The world timer does not excite me

Which ever watch with CF3 on the dial which is not limiting unlike CFP or any other letter can not be reused decades later without causing potential ambiguity or duplication.

For me an in-house movement matters. Classic, Vintage, Pilot whatever the model as long as it has an in-house movement. Pilot watch is OK although a bit predictable/ of the moment - which might well be the simplest solution for IWC's manufacturing departments. However I wouldn't mind something with more heritage and maybe with less fashion like a manual wind Regulateur.
Anyway whatever IWC suggests I'm sure it will be a lovely watch to own.