• 18 Jun 2010, 5:35 p.m.

    Hi,
    This afternoon I'm going golfing again, but this time without my watch. A close friend of mine damaged his watch (Rolex) during a game. Being alert by this unfortunately event, I asked around and read about it in watch magazines... Mostly the shock when driving isn't good so I'm told. But does it apply for IWC watches as well?? I feel naked without an IWC watch around my wrist, but are not kean on damaging one. As you know I own fliegers a utc and aquatimers. Should I wear none while playing or is this not harmful with our excellent brand.
    I'm curious what the forum has to say.
    Cheers Bas

    PS the game is too nice not to play

  • Graduate
    18 Jun 2010, 3:15 p.m.

    golf and IWC no friends???

    Never wear mine, always take it off and put it in the "valuables" pocket on my bag. (this also helps to stop me from kicking my bag when I am not playing well :-) ).

  • 19 Jun 2010, midnight

    All mechanical watches have the same vulnerability

    ...to some harm when there is some impact after a swing, due to their common use of the Swiss lever escapement design. Automatic watches have an additional swinging element, the rotor (technically, an oscillating weight). Most golfers don't have a drive that will sufficiently affect these elements, but some damage is possible. It has nothing to do with the brand of the watch, since the design considerations are the same.

    Regards,
    Michael

  • Master
    18 Jun 2010, 3:20 p.m.

    Golf and Racquet sports can damage...

    Bas - I share your same sentiment. I do like golfing with a watch - but I understand that with each swing - I am gambling with certain disaster. I have also been known to dive into walls on the squash court wearing my IWC - in hindsight, that's so reckless. I usually just think of that guy at the IWC factory in the quality department who whacks IWCs with large hammers...

    I mostly golf with my "Collector's Forum Ingenieur" Automatic with the 80110 caliber IWC movement, second to that, my GST Perpetual Calendar - which is quite ridiculous for me to do.

    A few times in a round of golf - I may remove my watch - when hitting from rough grass or a bunker - where I believe the forces on the watch would be the greatest - but beware, it's no solution.

    homepage.mac.com/rsheridan/.Public/PH173.jpg
    Ready to tee off

    homepage.mac.com/rsheridan/.Public/PH188.jpg
    In the shade

    homepage.mac.com/rsheridan/.Public/PH174.jpg
    The 17th Green on Pelican Hill (North) Newport Coast, CA

  • 19 Jun 2010, 6:50 a.m.

    On the GST Perpetual Calendar

    ....IWC's former technical director used his when he went mountain biking. I guess it's a particularly robust watch.

    Regards,
    Michael

  • Master
    18 Jun 2010, 5:05 p.m.

    There was a long discussion about this...

    in Feb. 2009. Search the archives and you will find it.

  • Master
    18 Jun 2010, 11:35 p.m.

    Re: On the GST Perpetual Calendar

    Frankly, I'm surprised that anyone would take a chance exposing an expensive timepiece to shocks.

    The following e-mail exchange happened recently which explains the risk and damage involved:

    Customer:
    Just returned from my trip and received the estimate for my IWC GST Perpetual Calendar service... Could you explain to me meaning of "Dial Feet are Broken and one Dial Screw missing"?

    Jack:
    It seems that your watch was dropped at some point or it received a severe shock causing one dial screw, that normally keeps the dial foot secure to the movement, to fall loose. That in turn caused the dial to shift putting stress on the other thin dial foot and then both feet were sheared off. Since the movement was cased up, with all the multiple hands in place on the dial, it wasn't apparent to you that the internal damage existed.

    One more point: While you note that you have many other timepieces in your collection keep in mind that this large IWC perpetual calendar watch is packed with movement parts from edge to edge and therfore the the two "THIN" legs on the very edge of the dial are sensitive to falls and severe shocks.

    Regards,
    Jack Freedman

    P.S. Mountain biking shocks are quite different than shocks received from wild golf swings. The impacts between the two could be vertical vs. horizontal. I would not subject a mechanical watch to neither sport.

  • 19 Jun 2010, 5:50 a.m.

    thanks to all (!)

    kept it in the pocket of my golfbag.
    no problem.
    cheers
    BAS DEKKERS

  • Master
    18 Jun 2010, 5:40 p.m.

    Me thinks you guys need a mecaquartz PD by IWC!

    Cheers from Isobars.

  • Master
    20 Jun 2010, 3:20 a.m.

    Them's some ugly pants, Rich.......

    Does golf involve dressing like a 1920s paperboy?

    :-)

    Larry

    Many years ago, Rich, I used to belong to the Rocky Ridge Country Club in Hinesburg. is it still around?

  • Connoisseur
    19 Jun 2010, 3:45 p.m.

    It is a continual ongoing discussion

    with no correct answer. Phil Mickelson wears a watch during every round (we all know the brand). Ms. Ochoa also wore her watch (before retiring at the ripe old age of 29). Justine Hennin wears her DJ during every tennis match and Mr. Nadal started wearing his $500,000 Richard Mille during his matches (and the announcers discussed the price of the watch during one of Nadal's matches).
    Personally, I have worn a Rolex and my no longer owned Ingenieur while golfing. I think I did damage the Ingenieur and IWC repaired it under warranty. However, the damage may have been a coincidence as it is such a robust watch, I am sure it can stand the same amount of stress as a Rolex or RM.

  • Master
    19 Jun 2010, 9:30 p.m.

    I still think the best choice is to wear...

    a Timex, Casio or Suunto for sports like tennis or golf. Save your IWC's for everything else.

  • Master
    22 Jun 2010, 6:50 a.m.

    Larry! Lol,...

    I just landed here and still learning the politics and where the "speed traps" are...

    I have uglier pants still.

  • Insider
    22 Jun 2010, 6:40 a.m.