How to get Naked - a 2 step Guide

I discovered this during the course of this last week. That indeed that it is much easier to put oneself into such a position than what I had previously thought possible.

In fact, it's a very easy "state of affairs" to reach.

How?

Step # 1: Wear this watch for a continues period of a week or more - like I did

Step #2: Leave the house in a hurry for a weeks travel to Montenegro and wear this fine watch

...and believe me, you will experience the feeling of being naked!

I love my Mark XVI - it used to get considerable wrist time. When I looked at the weather conditions in Montenegro prior to leaving last Sunday and it said 37C degrees Celsius (98.6F) I decided to take the Pilot with it's nice and cool metal bracelet.

But, I had not considered that for the previous 10 days I had been wearing and loving the feeling of my new Ref.IW387804 Spitfire Chrono !!!

Take the Thesaurus and look up synonyms for Naked - > Bare, Undressed, Stripped etc.

And that folks is EXACTLY how I felt all week last week. Almost paranoid...the Mark XVI looked tiny on my wrist. I missed the presence of the Spitfire. Time and time again, I had that feeling that my wrist was naked, that I had had my watch lost, stolen, stripped off my wrist!

Thank you IWC for influencing my life.

Thanks Mark for your captivating subject! When I look at the pictures of your new Spitfire, I see it also has a steel bracelet so there was no reason to swap it for the Mk XVI? I guess you felt guilty about not wearing that one and then didn't have time to swap to the Spitfire again?

Kind regards,

Clemens

Mark,

This is my problem summed up very nicely. I have tried to wear some of my "smaller" watches. But each time I feel like something is missing. After wearing a recent style Pilot for any length of time you just expect to feel the weight on your wrist. The solution is to wear the smaller watches on your other wrist. You"ll definitely feel even the smallest weight there!

naked [ney-kid] -

adjective
1.
being without clothing or covering; nude: naked children swimming in the lake.
2.
without adequate clothing: a naked little beggar.
3.
bare of any covering, overlying matter, vegetation, foliage, or the like: naked fields.
4.
bare, stripped, or destitute (usually followed by of ): The trees were suddenly naked of leaves.
5.
without the customary covering, container, or protection: a naked sword; a naked flame.

Mark, I know exactlyhow you feel, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One man's nakedness is another man's bliss.

While I have not sampled the new Spitfire (which is admittedly a knockout), I nonetheless never feel naked with my Mark XVI Pilot. Au contraire, I always feel I am happily conforming to Ben Jonson's ideal, "Still to be neat, still to be dressed." ("Still," here, of course, means "always."

To each his own, it goes without saying.

Cheers! and enjoy that new Spitfire . . . but don't neglect the Mark XVI!

Donald

Down here the word is rendered as "nekkid"...with just the right amount of nasal drawl! Example: "I'd feel d**n nekkid without my big ole' watch!" That Spitfire Chrono is a great way to be properly covered!

In my case I always make a gradual transition .......so as to avoid 'That naked feeling " :)

46>44>42>39.

@ Donald, your 100% correct. The Mark XVI is a real handsome watch with classic yet at same time modern looks - and it gets much wrist time here. Add to that, that my MArk XVI is the most accurate timepiece in my stable!

I actually love the absence of weight wearing my Mark XV

...and we like it on that strap!

Actually, the Mk XV at 38mm is just a milimeter smaller than the Mk XVI - but equally handsome.

LOL!

Well I know this feeling. On the other hand it's a great way to appriciate other watches again. The mark XVII will grow on you again... I'm sure and ou will appriciate your new watch when you are back.

On holidays I always have my cfi for 7 years now. Always miss the other watches but on the other hand it's great to wear one watch for a longer time. Really feel it and low how it runs. I usually switch every day... So holidays are good and gives me even more time. No time needed to think Kerr what to wear!

Dear Mark,

it's time for you to get rid of those small vintage watches you have.

I remember you have a small 40mm ref. 1816 that would perfectly fit my collection.

And then, that ugly submarine on the case-back...

Don't worry, I'll take care of it! LOL

Edit. Forgot to say: do you have the new IWC certificate for it? LOL!!!

:)

Mio fratello is such a helpful and caring guy!!! LOL!

Jim, my friend, it doesn't need to incommode the Sister Sledge to say, we're a family.

Mark, I'll do it for you. Thank you for the symbolic price you're going to make me pay for it too! LOL

Mark, All I can say is I feel your pain.

Enjoy.

Kevin

LOL.

I was wondering what this thread was when I clicked on it - and when I saw it was Mark's post, I feared for this community and my eyes, LOL.

but jokes aside - I feel your pain Mark. I go double-wristed everytime there is a good (perhaps not so good) reason - usually a get-together. other times ... the mood takes charge, and thankfully, the small ones do come out to play - if 'chosen' carefully that morning. when rushed, I have like you felt naked !

today's 40mm and last weekend's 39mm, pardon the non-IWC, both wristwear for a working weekend :)

Mark,

I've been intrigued with this posting. IMHO I cannot see how "feeling naked" should apply. I've tried on the new Spitfire and agree it definetly has heft and weight. However, from my viewpoint, not much of that beautiful bracelet gets the attention it deserves. Sadly, it's rather lost in the picture. On the other wrist ( I mean hand ), the MARK does not look "size challenged". In fact, it provides a nice amount of that stunning multi-link bracelet to show, balancing the overall look. It's a great combination !! Fear not...no "little man syndrome" here to worry about.

I may get some push-back on this, but IMO the MARK's should not be in the upper diameter range. The simplicity and minimal complication dial looks just right in the 38-39mm size. The Pilot Chrono's and BP's cover the larger diameter needs perfectly.

@ Shing....my compliments on your 39-40mm pieces. You wear them well !

Best Everyone,

Andy

No pushback....but you bring up an interesting point. I think there is a difference in how many of us collect watches. Some collect vintage models but never actually wear them. I even met a collector one time who did not even wear a watch. He collected all kinds of watches but never wore any of them.
MF has an unbelievable PW collection but I seriously doubt he has any of them in his jacket pockets.
On the other hand I only collect watches I intend to wear. If I find myself not wearing a watch I will sell it. And so that is the rub for me on the the smaller watches. I like a big watch anyway, and always have. So, no matter how much I appreciate the history of the pieces I know I won't wear them and therefore I won't collect them. This is not meant to denigrate anyone's choices.
For example, I think that Tony's quest to acquire all of the Mark 11 watches issued to the RAF,BOAC etc is really cool. I understand his compassion for these pieces even though I would not be able to wear such small watches.
Anyway, I think Mark's point was that after wearing a relatively large watch for a week it is difficult to wear the smaller watches.
I think we can all appreciate the other Forum members collections even if we would not actually wear the watches collected.