Shock Resistance for different product lines - Applause question.

Alan reminded me in the other thread about a question I wanted to ask.

This is very interesting question, Alan. I am glad that you reminded me about that. Since I have my Portofino Automatic I went to a few concerts and was very nervous and not sure if I should wear them. Yet not from the winding point of view but from the "stressy side". I am not sure about the models beside the Ingenieur line if they are that much shock-resistant? Last time when I was wearing mechanical watch, they have to be shock-proof with some inscription about Incabloc or any other achievement. I really have no knowledge about nowadays. Especially, when people discussed the "old topic" about the noises from the watch. Many people are tapping the watch with finger, although that does not have to be strong or with some brutal force. They, or beter said we, were advised not to do that. One should not tap the watch. Well, how am I supposed to applaud at the concert then? I mean, when I clap hand, the force effects on the watch "vertically", which should be non-desirable. Moreover if this force is a stroke. (When you move your hand e.g. by walking, this could be a desirable movement, as it helps to wind the watch and is not stroke-like effect.)

So please, tell me or advise us, appart from your Ingeniuers and not to differ between automatic/manual, do you applaud with your IWC watch? And why do you think you could do that ?

Well, this is a problem of energy and pulse. Should say, which energy reaches the critical parts of a watch. I think balance and hands are critical parts.

The modern Ingenieur models have no additional shock absorbers anymore, so they are similar to ordinary watches.

From my point of view, there is no risk clapping the hands, because a watch can swing a little bit on the wrist (mass moment of inertia) and that absorbes most of the energy of the clapping pulse.

Regards

HEBE

This topic has come up before. There was a very long post some years back about whether or not you should wear an IWC ( or any fine watch) while playing golf.I think the majority of posts indicated that caution was probably the best advice. For example, I wear my Casio when I play tennis.
But if I am not mistaken, MF and others indicated that IWC tests its watches to survive conditions such as these.
To me, hand clapping has to be considered as everyday use.

Besides not wearing the watch to play tennis and golf, any other things that must never be done while wearing such a precious timepiece?

I just bought my first IWC (Portugieser Automatic) and love it so much that I would love to wear it anytime at any occasion. But then again the idea of damaging it drives me nuts!

Thanks for your thoughts!

Hard to say. Mountain biking or chopping wood might not be desirable activities, although I know people who have done both with mechanical watches, and also who have successfully done tennis and golf. My best suggestion is to err on the side of commonsense caution, but not worry too much.

I think it is good to be careful and respectful of such a quality instrument, but I trust that the normal activities such as going to a concert should not affect its accuracy or cause any damage. IMO, it's a shame to keep that beautiful Portofino just for special occasions, or to be too careful about them. If applauding in a concert could damage the timepiece, then IWC is not doing its job in giving us quality timepiece, (unless its a rave party, in which one may need to consider a different sort of fashion).

I wear mine everyday, subject it to vigorous office chores and occasional grocery activities and every once in a while, slap my buddies on back for not laughing hard enough at a good joke in a bar. I still religiously wipe, clean and inspect it in detail, keep track of its accuracy before ceremoniously storing it in its case, everyday at the end of the day, reminding myself how fortunate to own one of IWC finest piece.