UTC/GMT complication

A relatively easy complication, the GMT/UTC function has such an impressive impact on the utility of a watch, especially for those who are used to travel around the globe.

I always wondered why IWC uses this complication on Pilot's watches only (at least to my knowledge and regarding the most recent collections).

This choice probably represents the best fit for this complication but still, I think it could be usefully used on more elegant looking watches too.

Is there a particular reason, which I don't know, for this restricted interpretation of the UTC complication on IWC watches?

Regards,

Roberto

Re: UTC/GMT complication

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "I think it could be used on more elegant watches too". If you're refering to dress style thinner timepieces then consider the following facts:

[i]The proprietary UTC mechanism, while not exactly a free standing module, is a layer of parts and bridges piggybacked onto the Eta based 2892 movement fully assembled by IWC. As a result, the total thickness of the movement combined with the UTC addition could be too thick for a dress watch.[i]

If, however, you would simply like to see other IWC style watches equipped with a UTC then it might be an idea worth implementing unless data statistics about the UTC function prove otherwise.

Regards,
Jack Freedman

Big Inge, Porto automatic...

aren't they dress style timepieces? Aren't their cases thicker than the case of the f.i. UTC S.Exupery?

Anyway, thank you very much for the technical explanation, I'm honored you replied to my question, really.

I simply thought it's a useful function and perhaps many would like to wear a dress style IWC watch equipped with this complication, maybe not using a window for it but simply a further hand.

Regards,

Roberto

Yes it is a bright idea Roberto

let's see what Schaffhausen has to say about this and let's hope too...

Argiris

I am in full favour of more 24 h indicating pieces

I am in full favour of more 24 h indicating pieces

The beauty to me of the UTC option is that it does 2 jobs:
1. The window lets you see your home time at a glance when you're travelling.
2. The really useful function is that you advance or retard the current time in fixed 1 hour jumps without stopping the watch, and the date indicator goes with this.
Not all GMT/time zone watches work this way and I am no expert - but once I was shown how this works in practice it was obviously the most useful function on a watch when you are travelling. Traders on Stock Exchanges may like to know the time in lots of places at once (and they no doubt buy watches with rotating dials and lists of obscure cities) but I just want to know what time it is and when I should ring home without waking my mum up in the middle of the night!