Another Icon in Sketch

The Portuguese by IWC was what started my horological intrigue. Pure, simple and yet alluring.

Even in a sketch, the simplicity is so beautiful. The proportions perfect.

And the movement side is equally breathtaking...

But what the sketch can't show is the patina. That is something else altogether.

Having been released in 1993 to commemorate the 125th Anniversary this has been a much sought after timepiece for me. In 2014, IWC relaunched a special limited edition of the Portuguese Jubilee for the watch publisher Revolution.

The Little Prince & The IWC Pilot's Chronograph

Last year, my friend from Thailand came to town and one of the things he had wanted was a watch. He originally wanted either a Panerai or Rolex but after I brought him to the IWC Boutique, his mind was made up immediately when he saw the Pilot's Watch Chronograph, Edition Le Petit Prince.

This is a special edition piece with their signature cockpit dial in a sunburst midnight blue colour. Sits perfectly on my tiny wrist. And the reflection from the sunlight gives the dial a much lighter blue hue.

The raised applied markers are well finished and adds a touch of class to the timepiece.

Another look at the midnight blue dial - a very clean and legible layout. This is the reference 3777 with a case diameter of 43mm.

The accompanying brown calfskin strap with beige stitching perfectly matches the timepiece.

And the case back reveals that the timepiece is water resistant to 6 bars. Engraving of the Little Prince makes this a special edition.

As I have said before, my friend was so taken by this timepiece that he did not hesitate to purchase it on the spot. He tells me that even his wife likes it too and they share the piece together.

Pictures taken by iPhone 6.

Perpetually Yours - The IWC Portuguese Perpetual

This is one of the most recognisable perpetual calendars on the market.

It was love at first sight for me... but alas, has been out of my reach.

The dial is well balances and not too crowded but for someone like me who is long sighted, even the clean layout is a challenge for me. And this variant comes with the North/South moonphase.

This timepiece belongs to a friend of mine. Simply a beauty in every respect. The Portuguese range is an icon for IWC and although they have several iterations of this timepiece, I like the rose gold black dial the most.

The case back features an automatic movement with the Pellaton winding system proprietary to IWC. The movement provides a seven days power reserve so well known in the Portuguese stable.

The 18K rose gold case is rather well made and the crown is signed.

A final look at the iconic Portuguese Perpetual.

There are several variants out there but this rose gold black dial is one of my favourites. Then there is the white gold blue dial version which is also very handsome. Whatever the case is, I will settle for any variant of the IWC Portuguese Perpetual.

IWC Big Pilot - What's Transitional?

The IWC Big Pilot was one of the first few BIG timepieces to come onto the market. The original reference 5002 is well known to have the old movement beating at 18,000 beats per minute. Then IWC released the newer 5004 with a whole new dial but similar movement beating at 3 hertz instead. But there was a period in between the old and new - the transitional period.

The original 5002 BP housed the calibre 5000 which beats at the slower 18,000 beats per minute while the updated 5004 has the movement beating at 21,600 beats per minute. The difference between the 5002 and 5004 are obvious - the dial being the telling tale. The 5002 has a more classical (true to origins) look while the 5004 has a more modern touch.

Then there is the in-between - what many have come to call the Transitional. Old dial with new movement. How about the “best” of both worlds? For those who like the more classical look of the old dial but the newer beat, one has to hunt for the BP Transitional.

How does one tell the difference between the “normal” 5002 and the 5002 Transitional? Well, from the exterior there is only one tell tale sign - the crown. Of course you could put it on a machine to get the rate of the movement. But it is rather difficult to do that while on the outside.

The first generation BP has a crown with the fish logo on it. The BP Transitional has the Probus Scafusia crown while retaining the old dial.

I find the dial of the 5002 more endearing than the 5004 so if I were to choose, then 5002 it will be for me.

The dial of the 5002 gets the roots from the original pilot watches that IWC is famed for. And that is what I actually like it for. The dial is rather clean and well made. The BP comes with the calibre 5000 with 7 days power reserve and the Pellaton winding mechanism.

The only “anomaly” is the date window at 6 o’clock. I believe the original Pilots’ watch does not come with the date.

And of course they did not come with 7 days power reserve too.

The case back is solid proudly announcing the Big Pilot heritage.

Timepieces comes with a brown leather strap and folding clasp.

But at 46mm, the watch is rather big for my puny wrist. So as much as I like the BP this is probably not the one for me.

But I do have the Mark XV which incidentally was my first mechanical timepiece and is probably as close to a Pilot’s watch for me as it would get.

IWC Big Pilot - A Big Deal

The IWC Big Pilot is a big watch - all 46mm of it! But for a good reason too as they need to be legible during flight in the days before auto-pilot was invented.

The "original" Big Pilot ref 5002 is more "pure" to me as the dial is reminiscent of the old pilots watch. With the newer ref 5004, the looks somewhat more "modern".

Stay tuned for another blog on this incredible piece - what they call the Big Pilot Transitional. Thanks to a good friend who allowed me to shoot this piece.

Merry Christmas & A Happy 2015!

It is coming to the end of yet another year.

May I take this opportunity to thank all the friends and visitors to my blog.

Have a Merry Christmas and may the season bring love and joy to you and all your loved ones!

IWC Portuguese Jubilee - A Tale of Two Similar Timepieces

International Watch Company - not often heard anymore. Most if not all know them as IWC and ever since the Portuguese Jubilee, the name International Watch Company on the dials of their timepieces were not seen again. Not until recently when Revolution Magazine collaborated with IWC to reissue the Portuguese Jubilee.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the magazine, Revolution Magazine approached IWC and they collaborated on the reissue. Based on the reference 5441 which is the much coveted Portuguese Jubilee, IWC reissued the watch with some minor differences. On the left is the reissue Jubilee and on the right, the original Jubilee ref 5441. Notice the difference in the word Schaffhausen? The original 5441 has the words slightly italics. Under a loupe (pardon these pictures as I did not have the right camera), the words International Watch Company on the original is also more fine. It seems the reissue has "bold" lettering. The seconds hand is also different - one slightly slimmer than the other. The most obvious is the case colour - the reissue is more "pink". The original looks a little more yellow.

On the movement side, the original Jubilee houses the calibre 9828 while the reissue has the calibre 98200. Both calibres from similar base if I am not mistaken.

The timepiece is quite well made as one would expect from IWC.

A closer look at the ref IW544001 - that is what they are calling the reissue.

The movement is the calibre 98200 and it beats at 18,000 vph.

Rather well finished movement.

Another comparison of the two movements side by side.

And again of the two timepieces...

Priced at S$29,000 for the ref IW544001, the watch was mostly pre-sold as I understand. By the time I went down to the IWC Boutique in Ion, I was told there was only one piece left for the auction. There are only 10 in this limited edition series. The number 10/10 will be auctioned off to raise funds for charity.

In any case, which one do you prefer? The original Jubilee which was released in 1993 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of IWC or the current ref IW544001? Go down to the boutique to take a look at the IW544001. Should be there till the end of the year.

IWC Collectors' Forum Pilots Chronograph

IWC Collectors' Forum Pilot's Chronograph

In 2014, IWC in consultation with a group of forum members created the Pilot's Chronograph that will be sold through the forum and the IWC Boutiques only. It is officially called Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Collectors’ Watch” - Reference: IW387808.

I like the contrast of the dial and the hands and markers. Something different.

Limited to 250 pieces. But I must say the pricing is a little prohibitive. For those keen to take a look at the piece, one is available in the IWC Ion Boutique. Be quick though. I suspect it will go quickly.

IWC Pilot Chronograph - Little Prince Edition

A friend of mine had come in to Singapore for a short visit and had wanted to visit some watch boutiques. Ion was the place and the first boutique we went to was IWC. And what we found there we a couple of surprises including the IWC Pilot Chronograph Little Prince Edition reference 3777.

What's so special about this piece? Well one year ago, IWC launched the Pilot Le Petit Prince and the Big Pilot to commemorate the book's 70th anniversary. This year, they unveiled the unlimited edition of the chronograph. As with the earlier LPP editions, the dial is blue in colour.

However, unlike the other two earlier pieces this is not a limited edition. So one will notice the seconds hand does not have the star at the tip.

The dial side does not indicate the LPP edition but it is shown on the case back.

The brown calf strap on this one is perfect for the timepiece.

Under the sun, the sunburst dial becomes more evident and surprisingly blue.

And another wrist shot taken outdoors.

A close up shot of the dial taken outdoors. The 12 o'clock indicator is particularly well made and together with the 3, 6 and 9 markers adds a touch of class to the timepiece.

Priced just slightly higher than the regular edition, I think the Pilot Chrono LPP edition is a winner. However, it would have been nicer if they had used the seconds hand with the star at the tip. But then they would probably make that a limited edition and end up charging more too.

IWC Portuguese Jubilee - 1868 to 1993

The IWC Portuguese Jubilee. One of may favorite timepieces.

Simple watches are probably the most difficult to make - how to make an iconic and instantaneously recognizable three handed watch? Well to mark their 125th Anniversary, IWC came up with the Portuguese Jubilee featuring the Calibre 9828 pocket watch movement. I am sure IWC did not start out to create an icon but the watch has garnered much success since.

Reference number 5441, this beauty was made in limited numbers to commemorate 125 years of IWC watchmaking. Released in 1993, one thousand were made in steel, 500 in rose gold and 250 in platinum.

The pocket watch movement is well decorated and well finished. Calibre 9828 manual winding movement beats at 18,000 vph.

The front crystal is plexiglass which gives the watch a vintage look to it but also adds height to the watch. The encased watch is relatively slim for a watch this size - 42mm. Back in the 1990s, a watch sized at 42mm was considered huge. And I believe it was not an instant hit till much later. The Jubilee is a very close replica of the original Portuguese.

This watch is a keeper for me.