I second that. The times where even Valjoux calibres were finished like high quality watches should be, with love and passion, are long gone at IWC. That's another reason why I wrote that you get more value in the 2nd hand market for watches of an earlier era.
I think I posted pictures of the regular Spitfire calibre here when it was released - so it should be no surprise to the audience that the CF3 is not different.
Nice pics. Very cool to see the anti magnetic and the movement. Finishing? Honestly I don't care if it has a closed back. It's not like it is poorly finished? Still looks very cool to me.
Cheers,
Jarrod
I agree 100%.
I must say, that I'm a little disappointed too seeing the non existent finishing.
I'm afraid my new reserved Ingenieur Silberpfeil looks the same inside.
Of course you don't see it when the back is closed.
But I see it the other way:
It is (or in this case isn't) there if you see it or not.
Even the Valjoux 7750 in my long sold Portuguese Chronograph Automatic had a more sophisticated finishing. That's why I always prefer crystal backs.
An excellent movement finishing belongs to a watch in that price range with an inhouse movement.
Insider pictures are always welcome. Sorry to hear about the incident, Tonny. Hopefully you'll get it fixed soon.
I have to admit that I´d expected more, nevertheless I love my CF3. Maybe you guys send me your watches and I´ll fix that for you - in the meanwhile perlage is my second name ;-)
Best,
-Christian
The movement is inside a solid case back covered by the anti magnetic cage and will be seen approximately once every time there is a blue moon. I don't have an issue.
Cheers,
Jarrod
I'm not sure the movement can be called "not finished". If I remember well this issue was discussed at the introduction of the regular Spitfire, the parts are sand-blasted in a way, and of course the sides have some kind of anglage: sorry, I don't know the terms and processes precisely. The objective is that no sharp edges and surfaces are left, and no particles that could interfere with a smooth functioning of the movement in the long run. To me, these smooth surfaces look quite attractive and matter-of-fact. I am not sure the cost of perlage and stripes is that high that it would influence the decision to do it that way or to do it the way it is done. In no way this smooth finishing would indicate the movement to be inferior, at least to me. Of course, those more knowledgeable than me are invited to fill in the blanks.
Kind regards,
Paul
I see no reason to over-decorate a movement that is hidden.
From my experience of collecting watches from another brand, the movements of antimagnetic watches with a cage and closed back are simply finished and practical. Those with display backs are decorated beautifully and get a different reference number, but to me, these almost become "fashion" watches!
The CF3 is far from a Fashion watch and I think the finishing matches it's spirit perfectly.
I am in agreement with you, Tilo. The finishing should have been better. It isn't, and that is disappointing. And I am sure you are correct that your Silberpfeil is no different. IWC could have, and should have, done something a little more; even if 99% of the purchasers of the CF3 will never see the movement-or care what it looks like. And I am not swayed by the "industrial look" for a tool watch movement argument. This is truly mediocre, thinking about some Tutimas and Hanharts I have seen in recent years.
But...the watch IS a great-looking watch. To me, a lot of attention was paid to the dial and case. That seems to be where the effort went to, so Amen. The price is not outrageous and the watch will look good on the wrist. It IS an IWC (let's hope it lives up to that reputation)and it is a LE. Ultimately, it will all come down to whether or not the CF3 keeps good time; is durable; and is not back in Schaffhausen too soon.
The watch is great anyway. I'd never doubt this fact. It grew on me very much when I fortunately was able to see it in the flesh in Schaffhausen.
And I don't regret I'll buy the Silberpfeil because of this.
Nevertheless the finishing of the movement is not as good as I'd expected it.
Tony thanks for sharing this insight information. I think it's a legitimate thing to discuss issues like this on this great forum. Maybe I'll bring my Silberpfeil to Christian to Vienna to complete the finishing work on the movement for me as soon as I get it.
;-)
Tonny I hope you get yours fixed very quickly.
Thanks for posting Tonny - I love to see the movements and it really is fascinating to see those that are usually hidden. I think the finishing is appropriate; it looks very clean yet doesn't come off as cheap or unsophisticated. I would love to see more pictures of the movements usually hidden behind closed backs - anyone have the innards of a 5004?
Let's say it cost about $2,000 more to finish and decorate the movement. And suppose IWC gave you an option to buy the watch either way but the better finished watch was $2000 more. How many of you would opt to pay the extra amount?
Methinks some of you ladies doth protest too much. IWC has never been known for movement finishing, and even when they do go the extra mile, the results, while attractive enough, won't threaten the standard bearers in this class. As far as I'm concerned, this is by design; filigree and frou-frou have never been part of IWC's design brief. Their old tag line, "Engineered For Men" springs readily to mind here, and while they may have strayed a bit from that path, it still rings true to my ears.
In any case, this particular movement is far from unfinished (take a gander at a naked Unitas if you want to see what "unfinished" really looks like), and, in fact, looks exactly how I imagined it would. It's clean and precise, if a bit impersonal, which I find fitting given its semi-Teutonic roots and tool watch pretentions. If I want to stare at a movement all day and marvel at the anglage, perlage, Cotes de Geneve, engraving et al, I'll flip over my AP Royal Oak Jumbo, or better yet, I'll buy a Lange. What I won't do is pop the top on, say, one of my Rolexes (another brand that gets stick for not unnecessarily dolling up their movements) and then complain when the the workhorse I uncovered proves to be as strong as a Clydesdale, whilecnor looking like an Arabian.
Regards,
Adam
The finishing of a movement doesn't cost $2,000, not even half of that. We're non-commercial here but ok. If you look at the ETAs (Valjouxs) that still drive some of IWC's great watches which come readily mounted as they are, their degree of finishing is higher and the whole movement will not cost that much. I think the price for the finishing is already included if it's done or not. A watch with a crystal back usually has no higher price than one with a metal one. It just depends on the character of the watch and its postitioning by marketing.
Of course the movement is not "unfinished" as I have stated before. That was not completely fair but it looks very minimalistic for a watch in that price range.
It still is nice and a looks "technical", but hey, this is an IWC with IWC's top inhouse built and constructed chronograph movement!
Please do, we'll have a nice creative workshop GTG ! :o)
Tilo,
It's a hypothetical question. Would you pay more for a more decorated movement on a closed back watch? I would not.