With admiration and respect, but concern, for IWC

IMO, very well stated (nt).

Great Comments. I would only add that

I miss some of the designs aimed more for the "traditional" IWC buyer. I think if the company rises, we all rise. I just miss a 36-38mm pilot watch, the 40 mm divers watch and the thin elegant 40 mm port style watch ( okay the vintage port qualifies, especially with the ardoise dial). IWC is a very special company that has always had a spot for its traditionalists. I just hope that with its continued success, our little collectors niche does not get lost.
Regards,
Dan

Any thoughts from IWC collectors

who have perhaps followed IWC for a much longer period (eg 10-20 years) than the current set of contributors.

I would be keen to learn from members who were here right from the start of the forum who had already the IWC bug way before the forum existed.

Andrew

I can

swallow even dozens of pictures of Mr. Zidane wearing IWC watches even if I'd prefer Kurt Klaus as main and only brand testimonial.

I'm glad if the mentioned pictures of a famous soccer player may help the Company to widen their audience and bring some new buyers, I simply don't care.

What I do care is just about the substance, I have a little skill and experience to analyze a watch and understand if it's good or not and this is the only thing that leads my choices.

The most important thing I see, in my humble opinion, is that IWC is working better in this last decade rather than the one before.

New in-house movements
Resumption of some classic movement architectures and patents, related to its glorious past but also effective tools (one for all, the Pellaton)
New and first in its history chrono movement in-house
Improvement in polishing standards (even if I would love to see even a higher quality from this point of view)

The future of the brand is safe and Mr. Kern is a tireless promoter of IWC and he does it with success even if sometimes picks a soccer player as testimonial...

... please, no more Zidane, please! :-)

Regards,

Roberto

Thank you

Was that a limited edition? Do you know if any are still available?
Once again thanks. Kevin

Yes it was a limited edition of 50 from...

Carlson in Hong Kong. They quickly sold out two years ago but you can see them for resale on some sites. I was in Hong Kong in April and they did have one on display so it would not hurt to contact them.

You bring up an interesting point....

The marketing of a watch has to able to reach all the possible markets in the world. Depending on the celebrity used some markets are, by definition, missed.
Your reference to Zidane makes my point. Hard as it it might be for the rest of the world to believe, in the US there is very limited interest in world "football" or as we call it soccer. So when Zidane started promoting IWC watches I had no idea who he was. So IWC has to target US buyers in other ways. Peyton Manning anyone?

Very true Alan>

When Michael posted pictures from the LA shindig recently, the only person I recognised was Richard Sheridan! None of the US "celebrities" at all (bar Larry King).
And Zidane will not be well thought of in Italy...(but I'm moving off topic).

Ross

No you are not Ross

and I really like this new interesting point Roberto made.
But football is a more mass media sport than american football is, I actually love and played both back in my college days.
Anyway I can get off track pretty easy here.

I think Hollywood is the key concerning the US market Alan.
Because choosing your ambassador is an issue.
It can backfire easily due to doping scandals for one.

Best regards
Argiris

And yet, while Hollywood celebrities can be

a major attraction for some, they can be a turn off for others. Which sort of goes back to the point I was making at the start.

People are all different, tastes are all different, and what we each look for in watches and why we seek it is probably all different, too. Consider the many intelligent responses in this thread.

I suppose that is what makes marketing a tough job.

Very true indeed Dick

but my reference to Hollywood was mainly for the kind of magic movies offer all over the world and they are mainly responsible to establish icons for the masses. Directors eyes are responsible for the rest of the world to adopt the American way of living in quite a subliminal way.
Great thread by the way.Thank you.

Argiris

I would guess that most forum members...

are unaffected by the celebrity marketing in terms of buying an IWC watch. But the thread here gets into dilution of the brand name. I think that IWC has been careful to target markets which bring high visibility without denigrating the message.
I could not care less about Hollywood stars wearing IWC watches. But I would certainly enjoy attending such events because it would be fun. And there is nothing wrong with having fun.

Agreed on Forum Members Alan

let IWC summon Megan Fox LOL

Best regards
Argiris

Yes, now I might pay attention. lol

I know I am parochial!...

I am more interested in what all the guys and Nicky might be wearing on any given day at the forum...than what is adorning the arm of a random celebrity! :-)

Best regards,
Jim

If not Zidane ..... why not

Thierry Henry ..... extending his hand .......
to help those who need his help like paisa' Gallas ..... and Domenech .......

Thanks

Thank you very much for the information, I will contact them.

I cant agree more... nt