An outstanding Bio and tribute to our fellow collector, Andrew Thomas

Well done, my freind.  The Bio says it all.  

https://www.innervoice.life/andrew-thomas   

This was an excellent bio...congratulations to a true original and friend among friends!  I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet you, Andrew!

Great BIO(!) 
and excellent “Ambassador”of our brand.I RIDE WHEN I'M FREE Andrew says in this biography, but reading it, I think he realy meand to sayI'M FREE WHEN I RIDE
cheers Andrew 

Very interesting and inspirational. Looking back at my working life, at the people I worked with, I experienced that dedication and integrity will take you quite far, along with the courage to ask when you don't know something, or want to confirm a way to go. Good luck, Andrew!

Kind regards,
Paul

"An ultimate tribute was when in 2015, the CEO invited me to design my own watch (with valuable input from other collectors and the design team at IWC). It was commissioned and produced in a limited edition of 27 pieces (my lucky number), which is really wonderful."

Really?!

I was hoping to never had to do say or do this, but that statement is blatantly false.  The Special Watch for Aviators was conceived on 8 October 2015 by a group of collectors, during the last dinner or the 2015 Collectors' Meeting, seeking to design a 'perfect' vintage looking pilot watch.
Andrew had no input at all on the design, although without his contacts at IWC the SWFA would never have been made, and for that we are thankful. Andrew also arranged for a meeting of all the collectors who acquired the SWFA prior to the 2107 Collectors' Metting which included a memorable flight on the JU52.
There were many collectors present at this dinner who witnessed the birth of this watch. 
It is incomprehensibe to this collector why Andrew claims the SWFA is his design.
The image below was just the first rough sketch, which went through several iterations until he final design.

OK, thank you for this information. To be fair Andrew should give his view on the facts mentioned, add some other facts if he thinks this is necessary.

Kind regards,
Paul

It is not the first time this issue is raised in this forum.  Andrew did not comment then, either because he did not see the thread, or decided to ignore it.
​​​​​​www.iwc.com/forum/en/discussion/72581/?page=2
At the time it was hearsay, and we gave Andrew the benefit of the doubt.  He could have been misunderstood or been carried away extending his participation in the SWFA project to its design. 
The situation is quite different now.  Andrew has claimed authorship, in a article signed by him.

Nothing to add and only to agree completely with Clepsidra.

So, the article mentions:

"An ultimate tribute was when in 2015, the CEO invited me to design my own watch (with valuable input from other collectors and the design team at IWC). It was commissioned and produced in a limited edition of 27 pieces (my lucky number), which is really wonderful."

It might be revised into something like this, with no loss of face:

"An ultimate tribute was when in 2015, I was instrumental in getting a watch commissioned and produced in a limited edition of 27 pieces (my lucky number), which is really wonderful. It was based on an initial design by collectors with a strong bond to the brand, with the approval of the CEO and the assistance of the design team."

About the platform InnerVoice, according to their site:

"The goal of InnerVoice is simple: utilize the power of endurance sports to inspire change.

Our contributors produce first-person stories that give you a behind-the-scenes view into the world of your favourite endurance athletes. From World Champions to Weekend Warriors, we highlight the human behind the results and shed new light on the dreams, despair, motivation and vulnerability that drive us to push our physical limits.

Through long-form articles, podcasts and videos, InnerVoice gives endurance athletes a new media platform to tell their true story, in their own words, in a safe space."

So, I guess IWC has no noticeable relations to InnerVoice, but IWC may have approved the content as far as they are mentioned in it.

Again, Andrew should be invited to shed his light on this. According to the article, Andrew values integrity. In view of this, the issue should be dealt with.

Kind regards,
Paul