What is your favorite IWC? Vintage, neo-vintage, and/or modern?

It is such a difficult and ridiculous question. And it's probably been asked before on our forum. But if you're like me, your answer probably changes on a daily or weekly basis. IWC has made so many great watches and still continues to do so today. According to my records I've owned more than 80 IWCs in the past 20 years. I will admit due to chronic regrets, I've owned the same model on several occasions, several times.

Ok, enough banter, here's my favs:

Vintage (Pre-1990) The Jumbo Ingenieur Ref: 1832, designed by Gerald Genta and featuring the upgraded 8541ES movement. It was introduced in 1980 and immediately flopped! Less than 350 pieces were made. Everyone was going quartz crazy at that time.

Neo-Vintage: 1990-2005) the first Cousteau Divers watch. Ref: 3548-06 Nothing horologically special, an IWC gussied-up ETA movement, but this has been go-to watch, in any situation (travel, pool, hot day, or boredom) for more than 10 years.

Modern: I have to with the Kurt Klaus Perpetual Chrono DaVinci Ref: 3762 since it is such a unique complication and amazing casework:

Now I'm leaving out so many of my favorites: Wempe Spitfire Perpetual, the Split Minute Aquatimer, any platinum Big Pilot, the Jubilee Portuguesers, the original Portuguesers (325 and 74) and the military Ingenieurs. Oops I forgot the Mark XI and Mark XIIs, and the new Mark 18s.

Could name 1 or 2 favorites?

Have fun,
Larry

Larry, great watches, interesting discussion. Of course nothing new, but we're not either.
By the way: Your choices are great and wonderful examples of IWC's huge history.
My favorite all time IWC is this one. Unfortunately never in my collection and even the picture is borrowed.

I have many favorites, but our Collectors' Forum Pilot Watch has become my favorite. To me, it epitomizes everything about IWC watches that make them special. The fact that it was designed by and for our forum members is extra chile in the salsa!

[](s596.photobucket.com/user/ahaujim/media/2015-09/58447ECA-ADB0-4896-B6D1-F967CDD362DC_zpsx5ipdjit.jpg.html)

Right now, the steel Vintage Collection Portuguese. It is just perfect in every way, and you can wear it always as long as you don't endeavour into exciting, life endangering stuff.

Kind regards,
Paul

Vintage, bevor 2000, diameter <40mm,
like ref.3531, don´t like the big ones,
here is ref.329 from 1956

Vintage favorite: Portugieser 325

Vintage runner ups: Mark 11, 812 AD, and 666.

Neo-Vintage favorite: Portugieser 5441 Pt

Neo-Vintage runner ups: Mk XII Pt, and Aquatimer 3536 Ti

Modern favorite: CF3

Moder runner ups: Portugieser 5001-14 and Aquatimer 3231-04 WG

Excellent topic Larry

I really love this Vintage Collection Ingenieur Laureaus.
It ticks all the boxes for me. It is a heritage piece, perfectly evolved from ref 666. Can be sporty and and formal, is the perfect size and that dial colour :-) :-)
Oh yes, it reminds me of its original owner every time, making me happy and sad at the same time.
[](s1335.photobucket.com/user/regnimelf3717/media/IWC/A336170B-654D-48C0-A6B7-740E78B05E33_zpstuwnaube.jpg.html)

[](s1335.photobucket.com/user/regnimelf3717/media/IWC/18BD154E-FBF7-4185-9C95-BAF6E57A4852_zpsd1mf5kxd.jpg.html)

Modern? This, which is perhaps the most IWC-y of IWCs:
[](s114.photobucket.com/user/craniotes/media/IWC%20Top%20Gun%20Perpetual%20Calendar/31F4B624-CE7D-4535-95DE-3E204D84EB9C_zps6khzefjf.jpg.html)

Why, you ask? Good question. Well, there's the ceramic and titanium case construction -- IWC pioneered the use of both materials in watches; and then there's the c.51614 perpetual calendar movement, which has Kurt Klaus' DNA all over it; and finally, it's a Big Pilot, which all but defines the pilot's watch genre (and let's face it, folks, IWC owns this space).

As for vintage, it would have to be the Ocean 2000, while the Ingenieur ref. 3227-01 with it's 2005 debut date just sneaks in under the bar as my favorite neo-vintage piece.

Regards,
Adam

I love this classic piece Mark.
Just because of the same reasons as you describe.
Not got into it but it's damn cool.
Congratulations!

Vintage: Mark 11, Ref 325 ex aequo
Runners-up: Ref 666, Ref 866, Ref 1832, Ref 812
Neo-vintage: Ref 5441
Modern: CF Ingenieur, CF da Vinci, CF Pilot ex aequo.

Thank You Tilo :o)

from my collection:
vintage

middle age

modern

Well, all I can say is "WOW". Love these examples= thanks so much for showing these beauties!

Nelson

Agree with Nelson WOW WOW!!

OK, for me:
Vintage-> not so hard: Mark XI; second place: Ref. 325; third place: Ref. 1812 Aquatimer

Neo-vintage-> harder: Jubilee Port; second place 866 Ingenieur; third place Ref. 3711 tied with Portofino 5251 'Fried Egg'

Modern-> CFPilot; second place Big Pilot

Subject to change, although I doubt my 'first' place votes would move :^)

Nelson

Some breathtaking watches here!
My collection concentrates on IWC watches from year 2000 or younger, a the moment there are 13 pieces in my little collection. Many many (I mean many!) more to come.
It is nearly impossible to tell a favorite, and my perspective changes every now and again. So my favorite simply is the IWC at the top of my wishlist.
At the moment (and I do not see how this will change until I have this watch) this is the BP PPC Ref. 5026 Orsini or Zegg & Cerlati.
Kudos go to Teeveetee for pointing me in the right direction. :-)

Way to go VC Inge Laureus Brother :o)