Great IWC's in the Wild

I was wandering through the recent pen show in Washington DC. This show is HUGE and there was a sprinkling of watches for sale, too. Lots of pen guys seem to like watches, and vice versa I suppose.

Most of the watches were vintage pieces, and I unfortunately saw a few fake IWC's as well with the most ugly, poorly finished Unitas style movements you'd ever want to see. I have no idea why anyone would ever put a display back on those.

I was looking at some pens at the huge display of a really nice fellow who runs a sizable internet pen business featuring many of the finest Italian brands. I have dealt with the fellow before, and this was my first chance to meet him in person.

"I like your Ingenieur" he said, noticing the 3227 on my wrist. "Want to see my IWC?"

I'm not used to seeing IWC's in the wild, and I almost fell over when he pulled up his cuff to reveal a drop dead gorgeous Portuguese Perpetual in white gold with ardoise dial. While I was trying to make my now hanging jaw form some words he asked if I wanted to see his other IWC. He rustled around in his booth and produced a white gold Big Pilot! If seeing IWC's in the wild is unusual, how would you describe the chances of seeing two beauties such as these?

Bryant is one of the nicest guys you'd want to meet, and he seemed unaware of our Forum here. Needless to say, I mentioned it to him and suggested he stop by. He mentioned he'd be getting home from the show on Tuesday and would check out the Forum. So Bryant, I hope you're dropping by and might see this. And if you do, how about some pictures of those white gold beauties I saw in Washington?

Thank you for the great story Dick. It's always fun to look around and see if someone is wearing an IWC. I don't see many in the wild but sometimes you get surprised like you did :-)

Kind regards,

Clemens

That's cool, Dick! I go to pen shows also...and maybe it's time I started paying more attention to what is on folks' wrists!

Usually I see other IWCs in the wild at restaurants where another patron is trying to figure out what watch I have on , and vice versa.

Let's hope he comes on board.
I see most of my wild IWCs on airplanes. Always starts a conversation.

Regards,
Kevin

I see Rolexes everywhere, even at the gym while the owner is working out. Lord knows, from a few meters/yards away, I can't tell if they are real, however, I'm straining my brain to remember the last time I've seen an IWC in the wild. (Of course, I'm not counting GTGs, etc). I'll bet our brothers in SING, JPN, CHN and HK have a different story to tell.

IWCs in the wild I see quite often because I check out almost every wrist I pass by if possible and so I see many of them. OK, working in Switzerland and living in Germany might help a little bit. For me it's kind of sports and obsession too.

In Hong Kong in the past months spotting an IWC in the wild has been easy. having dinner with Felix last week we saw a ref 3714 a few tables away. Caught a Yacht Club Chronograph on the wrist of a driver near home a few months back...

On my annual 'retreat' to Tokyo this year, the immigration officer wore a Mark XVI and I complimented him on his choice, and in turn clicked open the compass on my ref 3510 PD, and he seemed delighted. on a few plane trips the guy sitting in front or behind me have won IWCs - a seven day Ingenieur, and an Galapagos Aquatimer ...

spotting them in the wild is fun and probably habitual - sometimes I do use an opportunity to strike up a conversation .

Several years ago in a restaurant i noticed a couple pointing at my watch. I asked them if they knew what it was. Of course they recognized my blue hands 5001. Then the guy showed me his watch....the gold 5001. My wife was happy to hear later on that it was twice the price as my steel watch.

Well, Dick it was a pleasure meeting you in person, and thank you very much for the invite here.
I had run across this forum a while back, when I had found it by doing a picture search, but was not really sure what it was all about. But Im very glad to have been invited.
I live in Arizona, and am a huge fan of watches in general, but love IWC watches and have two of them as Dick mentioned.
The BP was a watch on my list for the longest time and after I got, it just made me thirsty for the Perpetual, so after long thinking it would be a grail I would never get, I decided to pull all my resources and make it happen. And I could not be happier... Now though... I want another Perp... Ahhhh! ::Falling deeper in the rabbit hole::
But Im content for now... (Key word is "now", is my wife would say)
Im excited to learn more about the brand, because comparatively Im sure, Im still very young in my knowledge of luxury watches...

Well, enough talk... Here are my kids college funds! Hey, there is always community collage :)

Hi Bryant, welcome to the forum.

is that the 44mm ref 502303 ? if so, his twin says Hi from my today and your tommorrow...

and greetings from another pen-lover (thus far focused only on the more commercial Richemont sister brand...)

Hi Bryant, welcome to the forum. A gorgeous IWC pair you have there (superb photos). I've started off too with a BP and have a massive itch for a perpetual... but think it'll unfortunately be a long while before I can properly justify one. Love your comment about community college (LOL)...

Dick, strangely enough having been in London for over 10 years - I actually can't recall the last time I've seen an IWC in the wild here. It could, of course simply be the less than refined circles I must travel in! =P

Regards,
Thang

Welcome Bryant, and what an entry! Two stunning watches and magnificent pictures too! Enjoy the forum and I hope to see more posts and pictures from you in the future!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Hi Bryant,

Welcome to the Forum, apparently you suffer from a very common disease around this parts! ;-)

Lovely photos, thanks for sharing.

Cheers!

Welcome to this great watchplace, Bryant.
Your watches and pics are terrific!

Glad you decided to stop by, Bryant. Great photos! I'll never see enough of the ardoise Portuguese Perpetual!

I hope you'll pull up a chair and stay a while!

Bryant,
Looks like Dick did a good job of recruiting a new member. This is a great place to check out every day.

I had dinner with the big boss from the USA last week (when I say big boss think $15MM pa in salary) and he was sitting across the table from me and I noticed that he was wearing an IWC Top Gun Mirama with ceramic case and I commented up on it. He was very impressed that I recognised his watch. I then showed him my Da Vinci I was wearing and we got on fine. He got his as a birthday present from his wife. It is a good way to get noticed by the big boss.