Help - my new watch is rusting !

...and I absolutely love whats happening to it!

As some of you are aware, Giovanni and I join an annual dive trip of a group of friends, each year traveling to a different location to meet up with the guys, have fun and do some serious scuba diving.

This year unfortunately the dates (planned a year in advance) caused a major issue for us, as the recent CF3 Collectors Event in Schaffhausen was later scheduled to be bang in the middle of our trip. Sadly with tickets paid, and reservations all done - we needed to ask IWC management team (and those of you that attended) to excuse us from the event.

This year our destination was here:

Where we boarded after a speed boat ride out, the far side boat - Similan #4:

Which boat cruised the islands between dives bringing us to the nicest of places to dive - like this pinancle here:

Where underwater I could relax, adopt my usual pose and enjoy the wonderful nature at it's best (yes that's yours truly). The boulders underwater are an explosion of colors.

and team with life from close up (like this feather star here):

and hanging out in the big blue afterwards, leaves time to replay the dive in ones mind :

But that time is all important - so for this one needs a reliable backup timepiece - to ensure that all are safe. And what better an excuse then, than for my good friends at IWC to manufacture, ship and let me have on my wrist - just in time for this trip, this wonderful Aquatimer.

Watch arrived 2 days before the trip - and was oh so shiny - almost BLING (had it not been so handsome. Here a wrist shot from the Airport Lounge prior to flying out. Very SHINY watch!

But to my absolute joy and pleasure - I could watch this watch over a period of just 6 days and 18 dives develop this fantastic aged patina!

A gradual dulling of the shined case and after 2 days - the luster was gone.

And the watch looked great with some reddish coppery tints beginning to show:

This gradual aging progressed day over day - leaving me with what is to my eyes a truly magnificent and fantastic diving watch.

The buckle is "worn brass"

The case is superb!

This has now become my favorite of Aquatimers - I cant wait for the Red to start being supplemented by some greens!

Photo credits to my good friend Derick Burger.

Mark - your last picture is missing!!!???

On purpose?? Are you just teasing us???

Ok - now it's all there:-)

PS! As you know I do have a scuba license but I rarely get to go diving - however, the Similan Islands is actually one of the few places I have been to dive :-)

Well done report, Mark. Thats really great to see the (quick) changes of the AT.
The bronze AT is on my wishlist as well, but not on top of the list, as I haven't been scuba diving the last 4 years. But I've been to the Similans as well and it was great...(a lot of Manta-Rays)

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers Chris

Come on Mark,
We all know how you really got that watch to start "rusting". LOL

Spectacular photos and exciting story. Many thanks for sharing.

Looks like you had a stunning time with a stunning watch Mark.
I'm sure that went a small way in compensating for missing the meeting in Schaffhausen.

Photos just don't do the AT justice! I was blown away when I got to play with it in New York when I was fortunate to attend the recent Boutique function.
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Mark, cant blame you for being blown away.

This watch really is a magnificent timepiece. At first I thought "it's a cool novelty"... But having had it on the wrist now for the 9 days of vacation, I am more than amoured to it. Everything about this Watch works! The dial is stunningly impressive, the Size and Fit on the wrist perfect, and indeed the case with its patina simply blows me away too!

I just wonder if any of my other AT's now will ever get wrist time again ?

Excellent. I look forward to further pictures of the rust getting worse. I was lucky enough to try one when the Aquatimers made it to NZ. I loved it. It's genius and definitely on the (long term) list of wants.

Cheers,

Jarrod

And I love this pic, looks so cool.

mark, looks like it was MADE for you.

and as you know we're all going to enjoy watching this beauty 'age' so keep the photos coming. who knows, in a couple of years you may be joining the 'green watch club' LOL.

best wishes,
thang

Mark - major congrats my friends, but I'm afraid this post makes me a bit sad:-(

It makes me sad for that Deep Two of yours. What if the D2 only get to go desk drawer diving from now on? Feeling lost and forgotten in the dark, cast aside now that you have a new love in your life?

Please comfort it by giving it the love it deserves and the chance to soar in the big blue as intended from time to time:-)

What a great report Mark. Very beautiful pictures and a stunning IWC watch. Thanks for sharing.

Wow what a stunner Mark! Wasn't aware it changes colour that fast but that's a good thing I see!!!

Groeten Bob

That's a wonderful tool watch.
And a great report Mark. We see how much you enjoyed your holiday.

Huge congrats on a real beauty! And to say that is your favorite Aquatimer - that is pretty impressive! I would love to see how its color change develops over time, please do keep us posted. And Jarrod is right about that photo - really nice.

Amazing photos, Mark. Good to see a watch put to proper use. Lager splashes on your AT has certainly given it some patina.