Hello everyone,
Glad to be a part of the IWC community. Name is Eric and while I've been a watch enthusiast for as long as I can remember, like most here I'm sure, I finally decided to purchase my first IWC, a Mark XVIII (black dial w/bracelet), back in November of last year. Not sure what took me so long but the important part is I'm card-carrying member now and proud.
I positively love this piece and don't care if it's considered "entry level IWC"... for me this is IWC. It's been six months and the honeymoon phase is still going strong... I haven't been able to say that about any other watch I've owned. I've dabbled in everything from numerous Rolex, GS, Vintage, the list goes on, and have come realize my passion is with the pilot-inspired bloodline. They don't stay otherwise. My 3570.70, 6139 are also beloved timepieces I'll never part with, mainly because I'm a space nut, but because they're also hardened aviator timepieces.
I suppose my family rich military background has something to do with this. Personally, I never flew anything but jumped out of a few planes for a paycheck, including one to rate my British wings. My still-sharp-as-a-tack 92yr old Grandfather started as a crop duster back in Kansas as a teen before serving in that same capacity during the Korea War. My Grandfather was P80 mechanic for 6 years before becoming a secret squirrel until retirement from the Airforce, but most importantly pertaining to IWC, my English Great Grandfather was involved with the British war effort as an civilian engineer and somehow got his hands on a Mark XI after his time.Wish I knew the story behind him acquiring the piece seeing how he wasn't a service member.
I remember years ago (~15) my Grandmother showed me pics of him wearing the watch which were held in an old cookbook, but once she passed away the family was never able to recover them, and we all looked diligently knowing it would have been special for me to have. In fact, her childhood home was destroyed by a V2 rocket when she was 14 and out on errand with her family to receive rations. So yeah, that's why I'm here and part of why I love the watch and aviation watches in general.
I love the watch so much I've been trying to move another watch so I can purchase the Silver/White XVIII on leather. I actually have a custom strap already made for the watch even though I don't own it yet! If I cannot sell the watch I'm trying to sell I'll eventually get it anyway, but like to keep the collection at a solid five pieces, which is my sweet spot I've realized being in this game so long. Okay, maybe six! ;-)
I'd also like to know where I can source the 2016/2017 catalog? I try to make an effort to secure the original catalog for the cornerstones of my collection. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
At any rate, thanks for having me!
-Eric
