IWC Porsche Design Ocean Studies - Part 1

Hello dear friends,

i have always been fascinated by the details of our watches. It is
particularly exciting when you compare two very similar, but not identical,
watches. For me, the Ocean 2000 and the Ocean BUND are exactly these
dissimilar siblings.

The experienced collectors among us certainly know these small but subtle
differences. But perhaps there are also members here in this forum for whom
one or the other detail is new.

Therefore, here is part 1 of a small comparative study of my Ref. 3509 with my
Ref. 3504.

At first glance, the black bezel and the red minute hand of the Ocean BUND
stand out as a difference to the civilian Ocean 2000.

The dial of both watches is identical.

There are clear differences in the hands. As already mentioned, the red minute
hand of the BUND is immediately noticeable. But the second hand is also
different. The BUND lacks the red tip of the civilian version.

The engraved case back of the BUND also immediately catches the eye.

Those in the know know that the Ocean BUND was basically delivered to the
German Bundesmarine with the black Velcro strap. A metal strap was supplied as
an option. The grey Velcro strap belongs to the Ocean 2000.

The lugs of the BUND strap bear a NATO stock number. The same applies to the
last links of the titanium strap.

I will continue this study in part 2.

Cheers,

Sascha

Brilliant post

Thank You Sascha

Great post, Sascha, and fantastic photos. I am curious about the dials, you
say they are identical but I see a difference around the date window. Is the
movement the same and the date ring positioned at the same distance from the
center of the dial on both? Also, the fonts on the date rings appear to differ
as well.

Just read part 2 to find more answers provided by Stanford. Great information,
great forum!

One mor difference between the Ocean 300 BUND and the Ocean 2000 are the
glasses.

This example with a BUND 300 and AT 2000 (identical glass as the Ocean 2000)
shows, why the BUND has a flat glass. The domed glass of the AT is unable to
read, when the vieving angle gets to small.

Thanks Heiko, nice demonstartion there with the submerged watches. I was
curious about the reason for the flat crystal on the Bund.

As someone who serves in the German Armed Forces, I once had the opportunity
to speak with someone who worked on the procurement of the Ocean BUND many
years ago. When I asked him about the flat glass, he told me that the
Bundeswehr only required a water resistance of 300m. Therefore, the only
component IWC has made the glass flat and therefore thinner. Positive side
effect is that what you can see well on Heikos picture: the better readability
of the watch above and under water.

Cheers,

Sascha