HOW DID YOUR FASCINATION FOR MECHANICAL WATCHES START?

My fascination started with a graduation present from my parents. Before I received my first mechanical watch, I had a collection of quartz watches that I had bought myself (Casio digital watch from the 80s, Swatch, Tissot T Touch and Tag Heuer Aquaracer chronotimer).

For my graduation gift, I received an automatic Montblanc Meisterstuck Star with date and guilloche dial. It was my first ever automatic watch and I instantly fell in love with the sweeping second hand - it moved smoothly around the dial.

Since then, my fascination with mechanical watches grew, especially the different types of complications a watch. My watch collection has grown with the addition of Stowa, Sinn and IWC 3777.

I bought an issue of Watchtime magazine, then went on to subscribe to watchtime and in all the reading I became a watch fanatic. Out of all the brands I read about, for some reason, IWC became my favorite.

Hello all IWC'ers.
I just got my blue Zidane today. It's much bigger than I thought but I love it. It start off that one day I saw my wife's boss waring Panerai, which very big on her wrist. I start look for big wrist watch since then. I don't like black and white on my wrist so blue is my other option. After research on history of IWC and their reputation. I start save money and talk my wife into this watch little by little. Finally she agree and my dream come thru.
To unpack start from IWC brown shipping box, then black leather box, when open it, Watch sit in creamy white leather pillow which serve as display, next to it plaque for model and serial number. In the bottom contain Zidane's DVD. Plan to watch it later.
Bottom line: Value of this watch worth every penny that you pay for.
I will replace alligator strap with blue rubber strap. Anyone know IWA# for this one. Please let me know. Thanks in advance. Andy.

For the very early age of 12 started wearing watches...after that i got the microb...so i got different swatches lorus fossils with the top of them a Gucci when i turned up on 23.After this different things passed through my hands...like..My Tag carrera my iwc porto fino a tissot and many others :)
So my case i can say is a matter of passion :)

It all started with my growing admiration for ancient History and my constant search for the reasons of survival and evolution of the human race. And by looking back in time to see how civilizations were created and evolved, I realized that one of the key elements of their success was “measuring time” in order to know when to plant and when to harvest…
And the best way to measure time is with something primitive like the shadow of a wood stick at noon time. A way that can stand technological evolution and continues on functioning even in the desert 300,000 years ago!
What I respect the most about IWC is that you only engineer mechanical watches.
Your masterpieces can function forever by running only on human energy…
I love the brand.

For me, it's really IWC, in particular vintage pilot, that got me fascinated. Ironically, it never made it to my collection but instead, the Portuguese.

Interesting.
It was my search for a 3706 that lead to my 3717 purchase years ago. I'm very happy with it although it was not my first IWC, which was a Cal. 89.
It was 3706 that made me fall in love with IWC.

Started when I sent in a 1960s Omega Constellation C for a restore 5 years ago. Took nearly 6 months to complete by Omega. Now I have a fully restored Omega Seamaster, Oris Titan Date....and I just purchased an IWC Portofino Automatic :)

A very warm welcome to the forum. Thanks for your contribution, how about posting a few pictures?

Cheers Chris

I don't know if I'd call it a fascination, and I also don't know if this applies solely to mechanical watches, but for me it's the human endeavour that went into the watch.
The minds that thought up the idea, the design, and the hands that put together such ingenious little machines.....
I have no understanding of machinery and am in awe of those that do.

As for IWC - my dad had one which is now in a very poor state and no-one at IWC said "throw it away and buy another", but instead looked carefully at it and told me a lot about the watch and how they can bring it back to life.
Lastly, they are one of the few who have a style that is perfect for me - I have just bought a Portofino 37; (and a Mark XV11 for my husband to tide him over until dad's watch comes back from the wizards' workshop).

We have been flowing the saga of your father's IWC with great interest and we are glad that it will get a second life thanks to you!

But WOW, the beauty of IWC certainly has won you over! Enjoy the new Portofino and Mark XVII well done.

For as long as i can remember, i never had a toy that never got disassembled to see what made the wheels go round and how you wound it up. The most memorable event was at about 4yrs of age when a Toy Robot Hairspring dug into and unravelled around my finger hurting me badly.

In 1972, (aged 7) a family trip to Poland took me to Warsaw where I came across our family pre /post WWII Watchmakers Shop (well known in its day) that fascinated me. I sat and watched my uncles repair clocks and watches and was given my own Clock to disassemble on provision i would put it back together again. That is where i came to know the words Omega, Patek as well as some Russian brands and got my first wrist watch. A green faced CYMA.

In 1976 my father presented me an IWC Yaht Club Cal 89 with a Blue Face which i still own today and there is a picture of it on this forum.

In 1981 i got a 4yr Apprenticeship as an Instrument Artificer involved in repairing small sophisticated precision mechanical measuring devices and we even made our own Scaled Dials.

I never got the real watch bug until later in life.

My fascination re-ignited in 2011 when i sent my Cal89 to the "Spa" as well as started looking for my 50th birthday present(for 2015) which went through a very long brand selection process that came down to IWC (Portofino/Portuguese), H-Moser (Venturer) and PP (Calatrava) which won in the end.

For me it started early but matured later in life.
I really appreciate the mechanical aspect and even given my profession, i am still in awe and amazed how they manage to do it in the first place and love speaking to the reps at the Jewellery Shows about their Maisons.

Long may it continue.

Thank you Mark; being won over is due in no small part to the kind people on here who have been so helpful and encouraging.
And the fact that IWC, having seemingly concentrated on men's timepieces for many years have now produced a watch which is perfect for me;(or, perhaps, my tastes have changed over time ?)

And I will post a couple of pics. as soon as I can.

All the movement insides and the sound of the watch....

Cheers Chris. Still waiting for the Portofino to arrive :)

Bonjour je souhaiterais vendre une IWC Portuguaise Anthony Zimmer si cela vous interesse : jeanne2004@wanadoo.fr je suis à avignon (France) bien à vous

When I first know how to appreciate the love of my father, when he spent a small fortune to get me a manual winding 'Micky Mouse' watch when I was 4. watchesoflove.blogspot.sg/2015/05/the-big-bang

I recently was given a vintage IWC from my Grandmother. From doing my own research I believe its from 1941 or 1942 but am uncertain. I would love to know more about this watch since it is an important family heirloom. Would anyone be able to help?