So, the article mentions:

"An ultimate tribute was when in 2015, the CEO invited me to design my own watch (with valuable input from other collectors and the design team at IWC). It was commissioned and produced in a limited edition of 27 pieces (my lucky number), which is really wonderful."

It might be revised into something like this, with no loss of face:

"An ultimate tribute was when in 2015, I was instrumental in getting a watch commissioned and produced in a limited edition of 27 pieces (my lucky number), which is really wonderful. It was based on an initial design by collectors with a strong bond to the brand, with the approval of the CEO and the assistance of the design team."

About the platform InnerVoice, according to their site:

"The goal of InnerVoice is simple: utilize the power of endurance sports to inspire change.

Our contributors produce first-person stories that give you a behind-the-scenes view into the world of your favourite endurance athletes. From World Champions to Weekend Warriors, we highlight the human behind the results and shed new light on the dreams, despair, motivation and vulnerability that drive us to push our physical limits.

Through long-form articles, podcasts and videos, InnerVoice gives endurance athletes a new media platform to tell their true story, in their own words, in a safe space."

So, I guess IWC has no noticeable relations to InnerVoice, but IWC may have approved the content as far as they are mentioned in it.

Again, Andrew should be invited to shed his light on this. According to the article, Andrew values integrity. In view of this, the issue should be dealt with.

Kind regards,
Paul

OK, thank you for this information. To be fair Andrew should give his view on the facts mentioned, add some other facts if he thinks this is necessary.

Kind regards,
Paul

Very interesting and inspirational. Looking back at my working life, at the people I worked with, I experienced that dedication and integrity will take you quite far, along with the courage to ask when you don't know something, or want to confirm a way to go. Good luck, Andrew!

Kind regards,
Paul

Very interesting! I guess, what you are saying is, that all other non-flexible straps and bracelets are useless if you are a real diver. Those straps and bracelets are for the desk divers like me, or if you want your diver's watch to look a bit more civilized on a night out. Thank you!

Kind regards,
Paul

Congratulations IWC, this is a magnificent sign of confidence for the future!

Kind regards,
Paul

Hi T.M. I guess I know who you are, it would surprise me if we weren't FB friends, and wouldn't live in the same small country.

Great post, you passion about your watches, or your dreams, is crystal clear!

A few of the watches I own form the core of my collection, them being perfect to me. I feel emotionally attached to them, even if they are not on my wrist very often.

1. Vintage Collection Portuguese
2. Vintage Collection Pilot's watch
3. Vintage Collection Ingenieur
4. Portuguese Perpetual Calendar

Classics? I don't quite know about that, it's a term that has no significant appeal to me. Like, it could also mean old an fragile, that doesn't do it for me at all, certainly if such a watch would be very expensive too.

Kind regards,
Paul

You need big wrists: the lugs stick out, I found out many years ago while trying the titanium version.

Kind regards,
Paul

That case back just looks awful, I truly wonder what kinds of actions, related to watch maintenance, could cause such damage.

This may be related to the other issue: the watch wasn't regulated, which is a very standard maintenance job: why wasn't the watch regulated? I had a Portuguese Handwound regulated by an AD in Switzerland, in 3 days they did a beautiful job.

Let's hope they get it right the second time: when considering some horror stories read here over the years, I get the impression that the further away from Switzerland, the worse the service. Good luck!

Kind regards,
Paul

No, I don't know much about vintage watches. But others can provide information on it when having the case number and the movement number. The former is visible on the picture of the case back, the latter is not visible on your picture, it would help if you could show this here. Good luck with your restauration job!

Kind regards,
Paul

It seems to me, that the watch shown needs quite an extensive service job: IWC does this kind of a job, here called a spa, quite well, the watch looks and functions like new, at some cost and elapse time. I am not quite sure a watchmaker can achieve that same result.

Kind regards,
Paul

It's better to be rejected than to be ignored.

I agree with the complaint of Andy Stevens. I fully understand that IWC's priorities lie in the production and selling of magnificent watches, that is the core business. There are two issues I don't like about this whole affair.

• There is no formal reaction in this thread by an IWC representative, like maybe the moderator: why not? Being informed about the opening of a new production site, or about a motor car race with IWC input, is just fine; giving an answer to issues like raised in this thread is just as well part of the job, I would say.

• Several times, promises have been made here at the forum about improving the website and forum whithin a reasonable period of time: the word "soon" was mentioned in this respect more than once. These promises were not kept, without explanation. In my world, not keeping promises is an ungentlemanly kind of behaviour, showing disrespect to those to whom these promises were made, like here to the forum community. Such a behaviour sticks to one's mind: is this the IWC way to treat potential customers that feel a special bond towards the brand? 

By the way, core business, me implying that the website and forum would not be part of this. Just imagine 1.000 active forum members. Just imagine them being inspired by the forum to buy 10 new IWC watches over a period of 10 years. Just imagine these watches cost CHF 10.000 each. That would be CHF 100.000.000 of revenue during roughly the period the forum exists. OK, maybe I am a factor 10 too optimistic, let's say CHF 10.000.000 of revenue. Whichever way you look at it, this revenue exceeds the cost of website and forum in quite an interesting way, I am sure.

My comments are worded in a rather harsh way. After a period of, I feel sure, more than a year, I feel there is reason to do so: it is not personal, it is about the way one should do things. So, please, IWC, moderator, can something be done to improve the website and forum in a way we all can be proud of them? Could we have an answer that can be trusted? Thank you!

Kind regards,
Paul

Let's keep up the good spirit! It certainly helps to see the difference between hope and expectation. If I remember well, the last time people knowing about it made some promises about a new, much improved website was a few months ago, And before that moment, there was a comparable promise a few months earlier, maybe close to a year ago. Both times, there was a mentioning of the term "soon".

Just from what I see, we forum members see, a good functioning website has taken a back seat at IWC, where we were front runners some ten years ago. Somehow the enthusiasm for this forum has fallen too, when compared to ten years ago: are these two connected to each other?

As for "soon", it means something different here when compared to the normal English conversation. It comes close to this:
Don't hold your breath on soon,
It's more like sooooo <breathe> ooooon,
Or you will swoooooooooon...

Kind regards,
Paul

When coming to the forum, one is supposed to enjoy himself, to relax while in the midst of a stressy life. Thus, the new and appropriate motto: Take your time!

Kind regards,
Paul

Not knowing much about your budget and taste, a safe bet is a Mark XVIII on a bracelet: beautiful watch but not extremely noticeable, ruggedized all the way, also standing moisture and heat. Good luck!

Kind regards,
Paul

Without mentioning any details I asked at another huge watch forum by means of a poll which was the favourite position of the date window. After more than 30 hours 54 members had voted: the 3:00 position was the most popular with almost 50% of the votes, mostly for traditional reasons, followed by the 6:00 position with 30% of the votes, mostly for symmetry reasons. Even some lovers of a no date option made their choice for a position of the date window, as the no date option was explicitly excluded from the possible choices of the poll.

Kind regards,
Paul