[color=#555555] [/color][color=#555555]“The CFA : Maybe a wild idea, but with some good arguments” that was the last sentence of my proposal to IWC for a new collectors watch early 2016[/color][color=#555555] [/color][color=#555555]But it started in fact even years before, in 2005 IWC surprised us with a watch, especially made for the collectors.[/color][color=#555555]I still have great memories of the event some of us had in Antwerp, with Kurt Klaus, when we received our CFI.[/color]
[color=#555555]So, back to 2016, the idea grew to start thinking of the next collectors forum watch. [/color][color=#555555]A bit early, but with the 150th anniversary of IWC in 2018 with lots of projects and the move to the new factory, 2018 would be too busy, so I started my plan in 2016.[/color][color=#555555]I wrote down my ideas for a new CF watch, made my email to Schaffhausen and…fingers crossed.[/color][color=#555555]With the support of Walter Volpers, [/color][color=#545454]Associate Director Product Management Techniques of IWC, the project started.[/color][color=#545454]I saw an interview with Walter where he explained what this title means ; “[/color][color=#242828]What is the role of the Product Manager Technics at IWC?[/color]
[color=#242828]To put it simply, I bring the dream to the wrist. More specifically, this means that when we have an idea we put it down on paper and from that moment on I am responsible for all the steps required to bring the watch into production.”[/color]
[color=#242828]Well, together with his team, the design team, they came with the first computer renderings that I was happy to show the collectors as a surprise during SIHH2017.[/color][color=#242828]The dream was one step closer to reality.[/color]
[color=#242828]During the Bill Barker GTG in Amsterdam, Walter again had a surprise ; the first 3D printed prototypes were there to see.[/color]
[color=#242828]I got pictures from the first real, in the metal, prototype some months later.[/color][color=#242828]And was happy to inspect these during the collectors meeting in Schaffhausen in 2017.[/color][color=#242828]The watch was ready to launch, almost…[/color]
[color=#242828]As some of you know, from the beginning, I had the idea to support charity with this watch, there is a cause, an organisation, well known to the IWC community that I wanted to donate 3% of the price of the CFA as a gift from the collectors.[/color][color=#242828]And to remember us of that gesture, I asked if it would be possible to put one blue screw in the calibre of the CFA as a symbol of that gift.[/color][color=#242828]You see that the screw was not there in the prototype, but in the final edition, there it is.[/color]
[color=#242828]I would like to thank everyone at IWC that helped to make this dream come true, to make another watch for the collectors, to make it special in many ways ( first bronze with see true back, first watch with the new cal 82, the first 250 of the cal 82 ever made reserved for this project, and with the blue screw,…)[/color][color=#242828]For those who bought one, wear it in good health.[/color]Today, my CFA arrived at my dealer, went over to get it and very happy and proud with this one.
