I'm new to IWC watches, and I have a few stupid questions:
Although IWC has Pilot's Watches and Aquatimer, but didn't IWC start with Pilot's Watches? So, is IWC better at building Pilot and Aviation Watches? Is IWC more famous with it's Pilot's Watches?
What about Portugieser? What's the main difference between Pilot's Watches and Portugieser? The Portugueser Yacht Club Ghronograph, anybody like to share the opinions about the watch? How is it compared with a Rolex Yacht-Master II?
The movements used by IWC, where can I find more information about them?
Hello and welcome to the forum. To find out more about the different calibers : look here There is on top a drop down menu where you can see all the different calibers. IWC have different lines like the Pilot, the Aquatimer, the Portugiesers,... they all have their history and merits,some prefer this or that line, but all are Probus Scafusia, top quality. Enjoy reading.
No need to apologize. Everyone started off as a newbie at some point. Keep learning about IWC, and you will soon become an expert.
IWC did not start by making pilot watches. It started by making pocket watches. However, it did make pilot watches before it made the Aquatimer/Portugieser series.
IWC is famous for making a lot of watches, including the Perpetual Calendar Da Vinci. Nonetheless, yes, Pilot series are one of the more famous series of watches that IWC makes.
Portugiesers are designed with a very different philosophy from that of the Pilots. First of all, you will not be able to find a Portugieser with a metal bracelet, whereas you will with the Pilot. Portugiesers (except for the Yacht Club series) always come with leather straps. Pilots also have lume, but most Portugiesers don't (again, the only Portugiesers that have lume are the yacht Club series, which are the more "sportier" version of Portugiesers).
Both the Portugieser and Pilot series are very iconic to IWC.
Aquatimers are not as well-known and widely accepted as the Portugieser/Pilot series. However, they are still very well designed. Unlike many diver watches which are not really necessarily designed for water-sports, IWC designed its Aquatimers with real divers in mind. IWC partners with organizations like Charles Darwin foundations, and let their scientists/researchers wear Aquatimers for work in the waters. Every new generation of Aquatimers being released is a result of the input/feedback received from the scientists/researchers (on how to improve the dive watches). In my mind, IWC successfully manages to blend sporty-look, elegance and ruggedness into one design--and that's the Aquatimer series.
Perfectly explained, Kelvin. The Portugieser Yacht Club chronograph is the perfect sports AND dress watch for casual wear as well as business or cocktail suit. I just love it. You can use it for swimming, it's very well readable at night as well as in bright sunlight and has a beautiful movement which can be admired through the crystal back. I don't compare it to other brands because I think there's nothing similar in style anywhere else.
Pilots are iconic, and Portugiesers are beautiful. Should I get myself a Pilot's Watches or Portugieser as my first IWC watch?
The Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph is nice. The two sub-dials seem to be too "complicated", and I don't like the letters "YACHT CLUB" in the sub-dial. It would be nice if IWC can make the sub-dials more "simple and pretty".
What do you think?
BTW, does anyone know that when was the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph(IW390505) released? Will there be an updated version of the watch? Since it's using Rose Gold, is it more of a dress watch though it's sporty?
haha... just because a watch has a gold casing doesn't mean that it is a dress watch. The IW3905 is at best a "dressier" watch. However, nowadays I don't think it really matters if you wear it to a ball or other dress-up events. You may want to have the rubber strap switched to one with leather in-lay though. It will enhance the "dressier"-look of the Yacht Club. Below is a photo borrowed from the Internet, showing a Yacht Club Ocean Racer with a rubber strap which has leather in-lay. You can order the strap from your friendly AD or nearest boutique:
You asked when was the IW3905 first introduced? I think it was 2-3 years ago. It was already an update from the Yacht Club introduced years ago... but now with a slightly smaller case. I know you are asking about the next update to the Yacht Club... well... honestly I am not even sure if IWC will plan to continue with it. If you check the latest catalog (2017/18) out there, you will find that the Yacht Club is no longer featured. That's too bad, I really hope IWC will continue to make them.
If you don't like the complication and the word, Yacht Club, chances are a more traditional Portugieser will suit your taste better. Alternatively you could take a look at the new Da Vinci series.
As to whether your first IWC should be of a Pilot or a Portugieser... well, what type of watches do you own now? what type of events/situations do you regularly attend? If the majority of your watches are sport watches, then go for a Portugieser. If you have some dress watches already, and you are looking for a more versatile watch where you can wear causally, then go for the Pilot.
Either way, I assure you that it will not be your last IWC. :) (speaking from experience). The Yacht Club is not a bad choice in between if you think your next IWC is going to be a few years down the road.
Good luck and please share with us after a decision is made!
I always thought that the main difference between the IWC Yacht Club Chrono and the Rolex Yacht-Master II was that the Rolex does not have a flyback chronograph;) Mine has a 5 and 10 minute countdown feature (emoji with crazy eyeballs and tongue sticking out).
It was an interesting read that the OP chose exactly the 3 IWC lines (Portugieser, Flieger and AT) that I like most. Regarding the Yacht Club Chrono I find it a beautiful watch but I'd go for an even smaller case and without the crown protecting shoulders. (The 40.9 mm case of the 3714 would make a perfect match!) To put it straight: take the 3714 case with the 60 m WR and screw-down crown of the YC Chrono and put the cal. 89xxx of the YC Chrono inside, keep the YC Chrono dial design (mainly the lume on the dial and hands). I'd instantly add a simple-design steel bracelet for myself or at least the already existing mesh.) Now this combo would make a perfect allrounder for many. Of course the larger model may stay in the sortiment too, the smaller could be an option. Just my two cents of course.
So do you mean that the Portugiesers are more formal, and the Pilots are more casual?
BTW, is it okay for a dress watch to have date and complications on the dial? Won't it be weird?
What I'm trying to say is that, a dress watch should be a dress watch, and a sport watch should be a sport watch. I know mixing different styles is okay, but is adding too many complications to a dress watch an "often seen"? Don't people feel awkward about it?
I read an article which said that: The movements of some dress watches are shared with other models. The functions of the movements are just hidden.
So is the Rolex Yacht Master same? It only has date function, but is the movement it's using capable for water sports?
Another question, movements that have chronograph functions, and movements that are used for extra-thin watches, which are "toucher to build"?
I contacted one of the IWC Sales Representatives, and she told me that the IW390505 is priced around 20,000 USD in the US, but around 24,000 USD in the city I'm currently living. It's about 4,000 USD more expensive at the place I live.
About shared movements: Having functions hidden is not usual. What is usual is that there are several variants build upon the same base movement. Developing a completely new movement for every desired functionality is very expensive, so new movements are often designed to be modular i.e. additional modules providing new functions can be added to a common base movement.
Both chronograph and extra-thin movements are more demanding to develop than an average time-only movement. What is more demanding depends on the level of ambition the designer has when it comes to achieving desired goals like accuracy, size, robustness, serviceability, aesthetics etc...
The difference in retail prices in different countries can be based on things like different VATs and custom duties. Also, companies have geographically different pricing strategies. For example, some companies strive to have fairly uniform prices globally, whereas others don't.
yes, Portugese series tend to be a bit more dressier, while the Pilot series are a bit more sporty.
If you talk about dress watch in a very traditional sense... then, the less complications it has, and being a bit smaller in size (less than 40mm) with leather and precious metal is idea.
Weird, you say...?
We are living in a less than idea world now. If Lamborghini/Maserati can come up with SUVs, and Aston Martin with a Japanese K-car makeover can sell several times more than Toyota does, I don't see why we can't have dress watches pretending to be sport watches, and vice versa.
...and if anyone can afford something like a Richard Mille or HYT, I bet that person can wear whatever he/she pleases (dressy or sporty).
Everyone has his/her preferences and reasons. The good thing is we just need to choose which to buy first, and then which one to buy next. The decision has never been exclusively "this" or "that".
I personally will start with a versatile sport watch, since I will be able to wear it in all occasions.
After that I will probably opt for a dressier piece--a proper dress watch for those formal moments.
After those two, I can pretty much buy what I want from then on--an aggressive sports watch, a watch with sophisticated complications, etc etc.
I am a long time IWC watch owner after purchasing 'superb' Portuguese and Pilot watches.
Unfortunately, it seems that the company is fixed on continuing to fit securing strap bands to its leather straps that simply are not fit for purpose and require replacing every year (after one and then, inevitably, the other snaps off). The straps are otherwise in very good condition as this happens ~every 12 months (subject to frequency of wearing). I have received no satisfactory response from IWC after raising this with them and am fascinated to hear from other owners that have suffered the financial burden and avoidable frustration, if only the strap securing bands could be made to match the quality of the rest of the watch.
A shame.
Please share any matching disappointing experiences.
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