• Graduate
    13 May 2010, 1:55 a.m.

    for the second time i damaged my big pilot because it fell of my wrist in normal daily use. (taking off a coat)

    the same once happened with my portugieser automatic.

    both watches have the original leather strap with metal clip.

    I should say somebody at a high tech company as IWC should be able to develop a strap that does not fall of so easy and damage my beautifull watches

  • Master
    13 May 2010, 8:10 a.m.

    That is sad, it should not happen

    How did it happen: did the deployant clasp just open? That happened once to me with my Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, it just opened while I was sitting on my bike. As I was holding my handlebar it could not fall down, but it was scary. This was a few years ago, it never happened again.

    Kind regards,
    Paul, wearing steel VC Portuguese, with a tang that has not these kind of problems

  • Graduate
    12 May 2010, 6:25 p.m.

    That is sad, it should not happen

    the problem is that when the strap is some years old, the pin that goes into the leather strap does not fit so firm as in the beginning. When the clasp then occasionally opens the watch falls down.
    Because it happens so easily I think that I am not the only one with this problem.

    I would like to have some kind of safety device that keeps the watch from falling when the clasp opens.
    My dealer forwarded the problem to his iwc representative who suggested to let a smith make some ajustment (for instance a screw) to solve the problem.
    I however am of the opinion that we should not weld parts onto my watches or something like that, but that IWC should come with a solution.

    lets try to solve this (expensive) problem.

    Marcel

  • Master
    12 May 2010, 4:30 p.m.

    Which pin? And if the strap is old why...

    not buy a new one? I have seen a deployant strap open on occasion but have never seen a pin pop out.

  • 13 May 2010, 5:05 a.m.

    Please resolve this with an authorized dealer...

    ...aside from the fact that I, like Indblr, have never heard of this occurring, we ask that repair issues (of which this may be one) be handled off-line. We can't evaluate your siutation electronically.

    For example, if the strap is old, is it the first one? How old is it? Did it get wet and shrink? Was it ever taken off the watch and put back on? Did someone along the life of the watch replace the springbar, possibly with an incorrect size? Was the watch bought new from an authorized dealer, or might the seller or owner have taken it off and not seated the springbar correctly? And, also, straps don't spontaneously fall off of watches --was there some pressure exerted, intentionally or unintentionally?

    Please --there's no need to answer these questions and I'm not saying there was any maltreatment by you. All I'm saying is that someone needs to examine what's occurred, physically and not electronically. Springbars have been used for decades in the Swiss watxch industry, uniformly by all companies, and with few if any problems.

    Good luck --I'm sure a dealer can help if needed.
    Michael

  • Graduate
    12 May 2010, 10:05 p.m.

    Which pin? And if the strap is old why...

    I went with my problem to this forum because i was advised so by my dealer. (a perfect IWC-dealer by the way, name on request)

    i understand why the moderator does not want this discussions on the forum, However, i thought that when this is a common complaint maybe i can make my contribution in developing even greater watches in schaffhausen. I am a fan, do not misunderstand my reasons please
    I own two iwc's and on the point of purchasing a third.

    My problem should not have anything to do with age or something like that. the oldest is two and a half years old, the youngest one and a half. never dived with, sported with or anything out of the ordinary.

    i conclude, also from the answers from the moderator, that this forum will not bring me to solving my (luxury) problem.

    at least I tried.

    Marcel

  • 13 May 2010, 6:45 a.m.

    Forum rules request that repair issues be off-line

    ...we ask that everyone reads the rules before posting. I also do assume that the clerk in your store understandably hadn't read the forum's rules nor understands fully the purpose of the forum. Please also realize that I didn't make the rules but do try to carry them out.

    In all events what you've reported is not a common complaint, but I wish you well in resolving it with a better fitting spring-bar. It's the first I've heard in about 9 years of moderating this forum.

    Good luck,
    Michael
    P.S. If there's any follow-up comments here, kindly e-mail me rather than posting. Thanks,

  • Graduate
    13 May 2010, 2:50 p.m.

    Forum rules request that repair issues be off-line

    Michael,

    My problem was not a repair issue. It was a question to other iwc-fans if they have the same experiences/problems.

    After my attempt to get help through the forum I received various e=mails from various parts of europe with the advise to ask questions like mine on the german forum. They might want to help to find a solution, is was told.

    The general tone of the received e-mails is that you are not very custom-orientated when issues that aren't positive about IWC get on the forum. Maybe you should work on that and try to be more helpful to your IWC customers. After all, they are the ones the forum was meant for.

    Let's see if this message gets on the forum!

    Marcel

  • Master
    13 May 2010, 10:15 a.m.

    That has neither been my experience...

    nor my observation of our moderator's responses on this forum. The community here tries to be helpful within practical parameters and the delineated rules of participation, and MF sets that example.

    Best regards,
    Jim

  • Master
    14 May 2010, 9:40 p.m.

    Can I suggest taking it back to your dealer

    The physical examination of the watch, band and pins and moving them around to replicate the problem should identify the cause.

    The dealer can them suggest a solution. Please report back on the result.

    I cannot see how any forum can identify what is wrong from your description.

    Cheers from the cellar