Baselworld/SIHH

I W C at SIHH . . .
Apr 13 2008,13:48 PM

. . . starting with the heavyweight class, the Grande Complication in rose gold, which combines the complications of a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and chronograph in a single movement . . .



. . . and very attractive, I might add, in what appears to be a slate grey dial with perhaps a hint of blue. I'll bet Anthony liked this one ;-) . . .

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If rose gold isn't your favorite precious metal . . .
Apr 13 2008,14:04 PM

. . . then it's also available in platinum . . .



. . . and yellow gold . . .



. . . but I can't imagine anyone not lusting after the rose gold version.

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The other heavyweight contender from the I W C stable . . .
Apr 13 2008,14:31 PM

. . . would be the Portuguese Tourbillon Mystére in a deep shade of rose gold . . .



. . . with a seven day power reserve and incorporating their Pellaton winding system, coming in at a stately 44 mm by 14 mm case.

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For those that missed out on their chance to own a Kurt Klaus Da Vinci perpetual . . .
Apr 13 2008,14:41 PM

. . . in precious metal, your opportunity to catch the train before it leaves the station is here . . .



. . . in stainless steel. Yes, it's in the currently fashionable 'plus' size, measuring in at 43 mm by 51 mm . . .

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Also in the Da Vinci line is . . .
Apr 13 2008,14:58 PM

. . . the Chronograph Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation with a blue dial in stainless . . .



. . . this would be my second-favorite of the new I W C's ;-) . . . . I liked the original black version, and this one even more . . . blue becomes this design, imho.

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Love the blue dial on this one!
Apr 26 2008,13:02 PM

It's like you say, blue becomes this models very good. Usually i hardly like blue dials on a watch (expect maybe on the cousteau divers)... but this one is great.

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For the ladies amongst us . . .
Apr 13 2008,15:08 PM

. . . I W C has new versions of the Da Vinci Automatic in steel . . .





. . . and in gold, too . . .

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Wow...is that a smart move?
Apr 13 2008,21:54 PM

Art, thanks for posting.

Seems like this is the easiest move to have some lady's range fast....just decorate with pave and baguette setting diamonds.
I thought IWC would design another range.

On second look, just change the satin-straps (and not the pink dial) with the original macho leather, they could be worn by males too!

Kong

This message has been edited by Kong on 2008-04-13 22:02:27

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What happened to the 'MADE FOR MEN' deal?
Apr 14 2008,10:12 AM

Not that it bothers me in the least--but it is inconsistent with their ads.

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An I W C for the environmentally conscious . . .
Apr 13 2008,17:43 PM

. . . with a composite ceramic and steel case, the Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action" . . .




. . . the proceeds of which will be donated in part to the organization of the same name.

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Refreshing to see it in white dial. A good cause....
Apr 13 2008,22:12 PM

hmmm, solid case-back...wonder if  this piece have a soft-iron cage...

Kong

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Good idea, certainly much better than the AMG connection....
Apr 14 2008,03:18 AM

Hi,

As AMG is close to producing the most polluting cars on Earth!

I'm glad to see this great watchmaker turn itself towards more responsible options!

I hope to see the carmakers change too. Bentley has announced great efforts for the years to come. I hope to see Aston Martin do the same soon (hopefully).

Dje

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Dje, check out Mercedes's BLUETEC. [nt]
Apr 14 2008,04:00 AM

No message body

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Yes I know Bluetec....
Apr 14 2008,06:23 AM

Hi,

But I don't think AMG is concerned so far!

At least MB is doing better these days.

Cheers

Dje

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For heavy metal fans . . .
Apr 13 2008,17:47 PM

. . . the platinum Big Ingenieur . . .



. . . and rose gold version . . .



. . . offers a tactile reminder of one's success every time it's strapped on, coming in at 214 grams and 179 grams, respectively.

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Steel examples from the Vintage collection . . .
Apr 13 2008,18:01 PM

. . . which were examined in detail a few weeks ago by SJX . . .

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. . . of which the Da Vinci . . .
Apr 13 2008,18:07 PM

. . . is my personal favorite novelty from I W C this year . . .



. . . neither on technical merit nor historical grounds; I just flat out like the evocative hexagonal case that is so reminiscent of the funky cushion-case designs of the early 1970's . . . I'm afraid that I don't have a lot of company in this opinion, but this is the one new I W C that I will make an effort to try on.

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The Portofino, Ingenieur and Portugaise are quite nice! nt
Apr 14 2008,06:26 AM

nt

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TWO NIT-PiCKY's on the Inge
Apr 14 2008,10:14 AM

Love the new Vintage Inge but... two visual problems for me are... the Swiss Made seems to be printed too high? And the date wheel's font is very 'robotic' looking, which seems incongruous with the vintage watch design...?

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The platinum Vintage models were also on display . . .
Apr 13 2008,19:07 PM

g






. . . and while I normally prefer black dials (or dark, to be precise), in this line-up I prefer the platinum version of the Portuguese . . . generally speaking, I'm very partial to designs like this, and they seem more in keeping with the original versions when dialed in white. This message has been edited by Dr No on 2008-04-13 19:10:34

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For Aquatimer fans, there's a special edition . . .
Apr 13 2008,19:20 PM

. . . chronograph, the "Cousteau Divers", in 44 mm of steel with an engraved depiction of the Calypso on the caseback.



I will readily admit to not being a fan of sports watches in general and dive watches in particular, but there seems to be some aspect of this design that is not quite in balance . . . perhaps I'd have a different opinion if the date background were in black with the dates in white.

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Tom Cruise, your I W C is here . . .
Apr 13 2008,23:37 PM

. . . Top Gun, of course . . .



. . . tough guys only need apply ;-) . . .

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Btw this Top Gun Ceramic is smaller at 44mm instead of 46mm
Apr 14 2008,08:24 AM

and it's a regular chrono instead of a rattrapante.

Cheers,
Anthony

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For the travel-conscious aficionado . . .
Apr 13 2008,23:54 PM

. . . come the Pilot's Watch UTC, Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry in steel . . .



. . . and gold . . .



. . . sporting 44 mm cases and tobacco brown dials.

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Finally, for Cat Stevens fans . . .
Apr 14 2008,01:00 AM

. . . the Father and Son duo, the Big Pilot's Watch in platinum and the Mark XVI in steel. Father . . .



. . . and son . . .



. . . for the guy that wants to share his interest in watches with the next generation. Junior no longer has to wait - the future is now!

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Here's more info on the IWC Father & Son Pilots Watches
Apr 14 2008,09:13 AM

You can only buy these 2 watches as a set for $49k.  Father's watch is a platinum Big Pilot and the son's watch is a stainless steel Mark XVI with Big Pilot crown.  Engraved on the casebacks are your both your names as well as "Pilot" on the Father and "Co-Pilot" on the Son watch.  If you have a second son, you may purchase another Mark XVI Son watch for an additional $4500.

Cheers,
Anthony

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Thanks, Art!!
Apr 14 2008,10:16 AM

great stuff!

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Actually, Anthony did all the heavy lifting, Mostel . . .
Apr 15 2008,00:56 AM

. . . I merely scribbled the text ;-) . . . cordially, Art

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Thanks Art and MTF.
Apr 14 2008,23:17 PM

I am sure this collection will be a commercial success.

- SJX

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Nice and great work, Art
Apr 17 2008,00:07 AM

Thanks for having taken the time to cover for us the IWC novelties!

I love your evocation of  Cat Stevens!

I think that IWC shoud  maybe deerve more interest, their watches, some of them, are quite interesting...

A forum, soon?

Best.

Thanks.

Nicolas

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Great report,Art and others.
Apr 17 2008,00:40 AM

Hi Arts,

Thanks for the coverage on IWC.Happy to see IWC's development this year.

Silver dial Big pilot and Mark IVX are unexpected models.Ingenuir in silver dial is very attractive on the other hand Top GUn.Ceramic chrono is a limitred pieces?Agree on the "Man's watch" might have been forgotten by them now......may be ladies buy alot nowsaday.

Davinci deserve to be more exposed here,hardly see any article and coverage since their launched last year.

thaanks,ART.

BHK9

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