The NYC Flagship Boutique hosted a GTG for the local Collectors’ Forum members on Saturday to introduce the New Pilot’s Novelties for the first time in North America.
The morning was an opportunity to see the new Pilot’s Novelties Collection and to make and renew acquaintances that is a tradition of these GTG around the globe.
As usual the NYC Boutique crew was our friendly and hospitable host for the morning. Hoa Huynh, the Flagship Manger, and his crackerjack team made sure our visit would be a memorable one. We were also welcomed by Edouard d’Arbaumont, President of IWC North America, who had good things to say about the worldwide reception of the Pilots watches and about the status of the NYC IWC Flagship store as the best in world. He introduced our Forum Moderator, Tonny, who gave us a brief history of IWC Pilots watches. Tonny made the trip over the pond just to spread the good word about the new Pilots and to extend his friendships with North American Collectors. It was a great pleasure to have Tonny make his first visit to the NYC Boutique and to meet with the NYC GTG team.
Without ado, here are some pictures of the day at the Boutique with some occasional watch shots. I tend to focus on people and let others do the close up work on the magnificent IWCs on display. I hope others will post more pictures of the watches we saw as an add on to this post or in their own post here on the Forum.
As soon as one walked into the Boutique, Edouard greeted each of us. Here he meets Jarrod and Steffi.
L to R:
Hoa, The NY Flagship Manager, Jarrod, Steffi, Tonny, and Gaelle, the new Retail Director for IWC NA.
Within minutes a few more guests arrived:
L to R: Hoa, Steffi, Jarrod, Tonny, David P., and Adam Craniotes. David P. is one of the original IWC Forum members and contributors. His knowledge of the brand’s history and tradition is unexcelled. He stopped in for the weekend traveling from FL back to his home in Boston.
David’s magficent Wempe Regulator.
Tonny examining my 3711 Doppel Chronograph.
Just look at those bicepts; I mean parfaits.
Evan Nanos, one of the NYC GTG crew talks with Adam and Edouard.
Group shot
Group shot with heavy metal on our wrists.
Edouard delivering his opening remarks,
Tonny making up his speech…just kidding he was very well prepared with an excellent overview of IWC Pilots watches overtime.
The wind up and the delivery.
It’s show and tell time now.
Two very interested serious collectors. Steffi was enamored with the Ladies’ Automatic 36 with the Ardoise dial. I think she will find it in her Christmas stocking…what do you say Jarrod?
The admired Automatic 36...it's irresistible says Steffi
As an aside Tonny showed us his Apple watch. Wink, wink.
This is Tonny’s 1979 Silver Shützenuhr pocket watch that just came into his collection. William Tell is on the front case, the apple with his arrow through it on the back, and the beautiful dial. The tale, as most of you know is:
"Seven hundred years ago, William Tell shot an arrow through an apple on his son's head and launched the struggle for Swiss independence."
Here’s yours truly on the other side of the camera lens. A rare sighting.
After the presentations and show and tell several of us went down to the World Trade Center Memorial sight and toured the One WTC Observation Observatory. When we got over our acrophobia, we headed back to Mid-town for dinner with Edouard and Hoa, our terrific hosts. I packed away my camera during dinner so others who had their mobile phones handy can add on pictures of the group and the table shot. I have one group shot at the end of the meal with my phone. It's a very bad, grainy shot, but it will have to do.
Now for a few pictures from the WTC excursion.
Mark L says Jarrod is never without his mobile phone, he’s right. We were waiting for the E train trip down to the WTC.
The new WTC tower.
The next couple of shots is the reflecting pool, where the South Tower Stood.
See anyone you know on the far side?
The group before heading to the top of the WTC tower.
Steffi says she was framed…she didn’t order the Ladies Pilots, honestly.
The elevator entrance to the WTC Observatory on the 102nd Floor. The elevator ride was a rapid ascent to the 102nd floor in 28 seconds. There is a great movie on the walls of the elevator depicting the history of what Manhattan looked like from the 1800’s until today. That was a very quick history lesson.
The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges over the East River.
As is normal and expected, the IWC team in NY puts on a terrific show. They are focused on making the Collectors’ Forum members welcome to their Flagship. Thanks again IWC and especially to Edouard, who spent time with our motley crew on his weekend. Thanks to Tonny for flying over to be with us. Thanks to the locals for making it a great day. As we always say, a major and enduring benefit of being part of the Collectors’ Forum is the friendships we make and the great times we have together at these GTGs.
The next one will be April 16 welcoming Mark Fleminger from Toronto. After that, at least for me, will be the Bill Barker Amsterdam GTG on 17 June. Come one and come all.
