the thrill of vintage collecting

For quit some time I’ve taken an interest in IWC watches.
But simply going to the nearest AD and buy a new watch, just doesn’t do it for me. First of all I don’t have that kind of money to spend, but secondly, I like the ‘sport’ of seeking a special vintage (preferable pilots) IWC watch, take plenty of time to find it, and then, after the purchase, finally send it to Schaffhausen to get it overhauled. I’ve calculated that sometimes this fun-process takes over a year a watch. The search, the long find and the contacts with the people who (most of the time) have always a story to go with the watch they sell, I find so much more fulfilling then just buying in a shop. I wonder if that is the real IWC collectors feeling.... Does anyone feel the same and recognise it, or am I really (as my wife says) crazy!
Let me know guys so I can reassure her I’m still sain and okay.
Cheers

Patience is a virtue...

I am not sure if I could search for so long for a special piece but I think that I am going to start a search too!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Quite the opposite

Although I like some of the designs of the vintage watches I like my watches to be new, to make my own history with them. To put it a bit bluntly, I just do not like to buy second hand. I firmly believe it to be true that new technology beats old technology, at least with IWC. I do not like to inherit the wear and tear, God knows what happened to those old watches. And I really love the thrill of entering the nice shop of a first class AD, to get the attention, and to buy my perfect watch. They are expensive, or let me rephrase, it is a lot of money. But I rather have a nice piece at my wrist where I can look at it often, than having the money at the bank, where I can loose it too as we all may be aware of: of course as long as I can, and want to, afford it. But to each his own, I kind of understand the feeling of owning a recently acquired Jubilee Portuguese.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch, which combines for me the perfect match of old and new

Collecting vintage IWCs.......

satisfies the hunting instinct - choosing the species, pounding its territory, selecting one specimen, getting into position (negotiate) and the kill (purchase). You may even put the trophy on the "wall", and have a story to tell a captive audience of unsuspecting friends.
Collecting new IWCs at the AD, imho stisfies only the gathering instinct, usually after a long wait.
Make no mistake, I love the new models - I own a CFI. As a general rule, I will wait until they age and earn the right to be called vintage.
Just my long winded $.02.

Vintage everything...

Inside

I too appreciate the thrill of the hunt, but..

...the thrill of the hunt is one reason I collected vintage IWC, and still have a rare and somewhat extensive collection of historical IWC pocket watches (Jones, Seelands, etc.). I also reject the idea of "collecting" by going into a store and producing a piece of plastic.

But also vintage watches are more fragile, require more service, and when really precious --like an original Portugieser-- arguably vulnerable if worn. So to me the answer is both. There is nothing wrong with wearing a contemporary watch. I don't view vintage vs. contemporary as an "either/or".

But also I view part of the thrill of the hunt on vintage as related to pricing. In that regard, I also should add that I have viewed, with some pride and some dismay, the huge escalation in IWC vintage prices. I bought my first Mark X for $1500 and today I would be lucky to find it for $6000. My first vintage Aquatimer was about $1000 and today $7500 would be a very good price. My first 866 Ingenieur was $2800 and today I'd consider a great find at $9000. Some of this is due to the decreased value of the dollar, and others have claimed this forum has helped escalate vintage prices. Regardless, the huge price escalation makes, at least to me, vintage IWC collecting less interesting.

As a consequence, lately I've started looking at "undervalued" vintage watches by a sister brand of IWC where Georges Kern, IWC's CEO, is now spending time. It's fun to find an incredible watch at an incredible price.

Regards,
Michael

oh...... wow!

the thrill of vintage collecting

v interesting line of conversation. I have enjoyed all my watches - each new, so I can't connect directly to the vintage aspect, but the acquisition instinct is strong! At the same time, I fear over the past few years I developed a touch of "stuffitis" and now I feel a need to simplify. As a wise man once gave a piece of advice, I'm trying to implement "The paid-off home mortgage has replaced the BMW as the status symbol of choice." But I'll still have an IWC on my wrist!

I tend to agree with Paul's post above....

but I think Michael has some good arguments. To me it depends on your definition of collecting. If you enjoy collecting watches but don't want to wear them on a regular basis then vintage watches, pocket or otherwise would be lots of fun. But for me, I need to wear a watch I purchase and as a result it has to meet my criteria for everyday wear. That is when Paul's arguments make a lot of sense to me.

Tend to agree Michael >

I had a few vintage pieces in the beginning but decided to shift my focus elsewhere.

Why didn't we purchase a million Euros when they first were introduced???
--
Cheers from Isobars.

great response from all of you

Thanks for the great response. Although I do get the impression that most of the forum-members define “vintage collection” as indeed collecting (very) old watches…. In my opinion it doesn’t just have to be watches from for example early 60-80, but can also mean watches from 1994-2000. Which happen to have my focus. Nevertheless great to read the stories.
Thanks a lot! Best regards

Bas Dekkers

There is vintage and there is antique...

IMHO, vintage is 25 years old or more, although some collectors will say 15. I have no argument with that. Antique is 100 years old or more. Watches less than 15 years old are not vintage. And btw, age is not the the only criteria for collectibility - not all vintage or antique watches are collectible. The vast majority of watches over 25 years old are just that - old.

Antique from 1886

Vintage from 1948

Jubilee from 1993 - 9 years to go

Beiing of modern manufacture this one will >

will keep on ticking much longer! :-) Might not this also change the criteria?
--
Cheers from Isobars.

Collecting vintage IWCs.......

Please can anyone give me any information re my iwc. I think it may be a MK11. It has boac on the back and a serial number,
cs 131/83/12