A Christmas to remember - Oh yeah, to really remember... | Gallery

Master 1348 posts

29 Dec 2015, 10:05 a.m. 29 Dec 2015, 10:05 a.m.

First things first, and I mean the really important things first - I am a lucky man, oh yeah, a really lucky man. And by lucky I don't mean winning the lottery or anything like that - I refer to more important things than that.

We all love watches, wine, whiskey, cigars, cars, bikes, shoes, pens and other things - but let's face it, if we didn't have love in our life those "things" would not really mean all that much. That is why I am a lucky man. I have that woman who not only loves me but she accepts me spending time riding my bike and spending many many hours reading about, looking at, chatting about, trying and talking about watches:-)
And it doesn't stop there, she shares my interest in watches and she lets me spend our hard earned money on them as well!!!! - which brings me to the whole reason for this post.

But, before Christmas and Santa Claus (aka. my wife) make an entry a story always has a more humble beginning, and this one started in January of 2013.

What happens in January you ask? Lots of wonderful things is my answer, but for us watch aficionados and IWC Uhren-virus infected souls there is one clearer answer to that question than all the other possible ones - SIHH in Geneva. I had the esteemed pleasure of attending SIHH in 2012 and again this year, but in 2013 I was stuck behind my computer in the office.

Fortunately thru this fine Forum we are all still connected to what happens at SIHH, and I knew that I could trust my good forum-friends to keep us up to speed on what was going on. And they did not disappoint. Every day they brought us coverage of the event and of course all the details of the watches released, including all the pictures and the thoughts & observations not provided on the IWC website. I devoured every post - but do you know what? None of the new watches released really spoke to me!

How could that be? As an Engineering Manager who bought a Big Ingenieur Chronograph to celebrate the day I got that job, I was really looking forward to 2013 being the year of the Ingenieur. And here I was, ready to find a new Ingenieur to introduce to the family, but I was left wanting.

Well, as you probably have already guessed, as I am writing this post, this story of course has a happy ending ;-) And do you know what, thankfully there are many ways to fall in love with something! My first IWC, the Portuguese Perpetual Calendar was one of those instant, love at first sight, moments. This story is about the love that slowly develops but eventually becomes just as strong!

So fast forward to 2014, and the year of the Aquatimers. As some of you know my love of horology started with sports watches, and especially diving watches - so 2014 was a much anticipated year. Maybe another "must-have", "instant-love" would appear? Ägain I was stuck behind my computer, following every 2014 SIHH post on this Forum. And a couple of them really did tickle my fancy. I was really looking forward to seeing them in person.

That chance would first appear in June in New York City - and here this story, as many other stories, takes a side turn which changes everything :-)
My wife and I were met for a great GTG at the New York boutique by Bill, Evan and the late, missed and much loved Kevin. But what happened that day was not that I found another IWC to love - it was my wife who found the first IWC that she loved :-)

And what can a man do when his woman falls for an IWC? The only responsible thing of course, go out and get it for her! A few months later, with the help of another very good Forum friend, Mr. Mark Levinsohn himself (8541), the wife's DaVinci was secured and awaiting pickup with Mark.

In October 2014 I was flying thru Amsterdam on my way to a conference and Mark arranged a small GTG with me to pick up the DaVinci. We met up in the morning at Schipol airport and then went into Amsterdam, where Clemens had taken the time out of his busy schedule to meet up with us for lunch and then a trip to the IWC boutique.

Well, this is how my story finally comes back on track. as we are being well treated and we are perusing many of the IWCs in stock I tend to gravitate towards the Portuguese collection, and especially the new Oceanracer.

But then Clemens asks them to bring out his new favourite.

And something changes.

This is something from SIHH in 2013, something that didn't really speak to me in the pictures. But suddenly in real life I see how cool it really is! I put it on, shoot a number of pictures, I take it off, turn it around, put it down, I shoot a few more pictures - WOW this is truly a cool piece. Unfortunately it has a price tag to match;-) So I mentally put it on my wish list and then leave it behind.

Fast forward another year. Another SIHH has come and gone, and this year I was there, I loved it, and I loved several of the Portugiesers displayed. But this favourite watch of Clemens keeps growing in my mind (or in my heart:-)). Another Forum and FB friend, Mr. SC Fong, now has one and every few weeks I see him posting pictures of his watch, and this just keeps fueling my fire and desire.

So what is the natural next step for us poor Uhren-virus infected souls? Yes, we start looking for a way to satisfy the hunger. And almost exactly to the day one year after Mark and Clemens provided me with a revelation a possibility appeared.

And we are back at the beginning of this looong story (sorry about that my friends;-)).
I am lucky, I am very lucky - why? Because I have a wife who loves me and understands my love for watches. I put the possibility of a deal in front of her and her response is:
"Well, it's Christmas soon isn't it?"

Have I mentioned how lucky I am?

Well, the deal is done and soon I get this fabulous message:
[ i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/040_zps68zvxlce.jpg ](s1105.photobucket.com/user/Skule/media/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/040_zps68zvxlce.jpg.html)

Oh, but wait - that one was already on my wrist when I started unwrapping;-)

This is still in the box:
[ i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/048_zpsit7tczp1.jpg ](s1105.photobucket.com/user/Skule/media/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/048_zpsit7tczp1.jpg.html)

It is just the coolest watch - ever! To me this is the Ingenieur over all Ingenieurs - it is cool, it is technical, it is classy, it is beautiful, it has a perfect match of materials and colors, the titanium alumnide greyish hue, the contrast with the black zirconium oxide pushers, the rubber/alligator strap with silver stiching - and then that movement!
A digital perpetual is to die for, and with the chronograph to top it off -

487 parts of complexity and coolness!

The dream Ingenieur for an engineer!

If you are still reading this post I was allowed to wear the watch for a couple of weeks but then it was repacked and put under the Christmas tree - and reopened on Christmas eve as a gift from my wife :-)

How lucky can a man get?
[ i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Skule/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/DSC_0827_zpsqmwzp80w.jpg ](s1105.photobucket.com/user/Skule/media/2015_11_06%20IWC%20Ingenieur%20Perpetual%20Digital%20Date/DSC_0827_zpsqmwzp80w.jpg.html)

Thanks a my best wishes for a fantastic New Year for all of you - may you all be as lucky as me:-)