Ok, excuse my ignorance, but what is the advantage of the Big Pilot's antimagnetic soft iron inner case? Is it a necessity? Enough so that IWC opted against installing a transparent caseback? Imagine the BP if it's massive calibre was proudly on display? I'm not complaining because I think the BP is the finest watch out there. Just interested.
Curiously,
lincoln
Advantage of shielding
Hi Lincoln,
I feel much more comfortable wearing my watch around electronic equipment knowing it has a good shielding for magnetic fields. When I got my first mechanical watch (no IWC, no special shielding), I read somewhere that mobile phones could magnetize a watch and this made me change my habit of putting the phone in my left pocket.
I guess in normal life, the shielding is often overkill but it doesn't hurt either.
Kind regards,
Clemens
Advantage of shielding
Thanks Clemens. And thanks for putting it into practical terms. Note to self: stop placing my watch on my laptop. I currently don't have an IWC, but I'm saving to buy the BP in steel. My current watch is a Gucci 7700 chrono with quartz movement. I thought it was so cool and stylish when I was an annoying college kid, but now the watch seems tacky. I suppose after anyone experiences an IWC watch, the competition seems second rate. Anyway, I've rarely considered the adverse effect that everyday electronics has on watches (and possibly our brains:-). I'll be more careful going forward.
Antimagnetic shield question
If it hasn't got magnetic shielding it isn't a pilot's watch - just like if hasn't got magnetic shielding it's not an Ingenieur.
I failed to find that definition
Please, could you tell me where I can find it? I have two watches with such a shield, the rest doesn't have one. If I would do something with magnets I would either put my Inge Automatic on, or lay my watch down, as I usually do when there is any danger lurking around: not too often.
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch, without such a shield, but with a beautiful movement that I can admire once in a while, and it never flew, yet
Definition of a Pilot's Watch
IMO: A Pilot's watch is a 'tool watch' - is not a 'style' but rather is designed to do a job. Traditionally a Pilot's Watch is very legible, has an over sized crown / pushers (allowing adjustment when wearing gloves), the glass is fixed in such a way that it can cope with changes in air pressure and it is able to withstand the vibrations and magnetic fields created by the aircraft. With developments in aircraft design most of these requirements have become less important but I would argue that resistance to magnetic fields caused by electrical equipment etc may have become even more important. Kind regards, JLJ
Your definition is correct...
"Pilot watches" with display backs or with fancy dials with useless sub-dials are romantic or fashion watches. Pilot watches are simple - the Mark 11 and the B-Uhur being oustanding examples. The quality of being anti-magnetic or a-magnetic is essential. The magnetic fields generated by the radios and the flight management systems in the cockpit is considerable, even in modern aircraft.
A pilot's watch with a display back is like a dive watch that is not waterproof.
Your definition is correct...
"A pilot's watch with a display back is like a dive watch that is not waterproof."
That's a great analogy.
Your definition is correct...
Absolutely. It works equally well if you substitute 'Ingenieur' for 'Pilot's Watch' .
Absolutely...
The fundamental concept behind the Ingenieur was anti-magnetism. An Ingenieur with a display back is a denial of the original concept.
Pilot watches and Ingenieurs are, as the names indicate, tools. Not toys.
Antimagnetic shield question
I found this commentary on magnetism interesting. I pulled it from an watch retailers website:
A Few Notes to Accuracy
Magnetism
If a watch suddenly begins running extremely fast (20 seconds per day to hours fast per day) it is usually an indication that the hairspring coils are magnetized, causing the coils to stick together. This shortens the rotation of the balance wheel and increases the beat rate extremely. Correcting this is one of the simplest tasks for a watch maker. The watch needs not be opened (only in extreme cases), is passed through a demagnetizing machine and is ready to go again. Magnetism can also cause a watch to stop or run slow - however, generally the watch will run fast.
Absolutely...sort of...
The argument may be valid, but the 3234, for example, has "Ingenieur" on the dial so that is what it is, in just the same way that an IWC with a Piaget movement is still an IWC, in my humble opinion.
It doesn't matter what it says on the tin .....
... if it can't do the job.
Piaget Movt.
In my opinion the job of an IWC Portugieser is to be accurate, reliable and beautiful. It's nice if it has an IWC movement but having a quality movement from another manufacturer doesn't stop it doing its job ...
Absolutely (nt)