'Fraid so. The IWC has bitten me -- HARD. I do love me some chronographs. I have no intention of selling my Speedmaster co-axial. And I'm NOT a collector. More of an accumulator who wears what he buys.

I'm looking at the 43mm Pilot Chrono, probably in basic black, but blue is nice as well. And blue may differentiate it more from my Speedmaster. I thought about the Portugueser but I detest how the sub-dials cut off some of the numerals on the face. To my unartistic eye it just looks lazy, like the designers created a beautiful simple dial and then simply laid the sub-dials over it. IWC does this on other models too, like the Big Pilot. The lone sub-dial partially occludes the 2 and 4. Drives me crazy.

Anywho, the Pilot Chrono has three sub-dials and doesn't screw with any of the numbers on the face. Any other Speedmaster fans also have an IWC?

 

Funny, I *really* love the dual register Portuguese Automatics and the Big Pilot but for some reason the Chrono doesn't sing to me. Not sure why... It might come down to the pushers. I dislike them so much it just about ruins the entire watch for me. It looks like they are on backwards.

 

I have an IWC Pilot’s Chrono, bought some years back. I also have this, which I think is a gorgeous watch.

 

This is the only line in your post that doesn't describe my thoughts exactly. The rest is spot-on and I could have written it myself pretty much word-for-word...

I like having a variety of watch types to wear, each with a different style or look to them. I'm not a calculating planner who has a checklist of 10 'types' and I obsess over getting just the right version of each so I can check off that category.

One of the styles I am casually searching for is something with a bit of a 'pilot' style and the IWC chrono's are high on my list of possibilities.

I also hate it when partial numbers are shown on a dial (whether chrono or small seconds sub-dial). I struggle to understand how such a design makes it past the many design review and sign-offs before hitting the dial manufacturing process. Doesn't someone raise their hand and suggest "shouldn't we drop the small remnant of the 6 at the bottom of the dial...?"

 

EDIT: on my PC for some reason I couldn’t see the first image, only the case back shot. I tried to make a joke and on my phone I see also the front of the watch so obviously the joke is on me... doh!

 

I own a classic hesalite Speedy, and the IWC Pilot Chrono you're contemplating. To be specific, I own the black dial version of the Pilot Chrono.

What drew me to the IWC Pilot Chrono is the design of the dial. It's well-thought out, simple yet evocative of of a complex aircraft instrument panel. Little details like the concentric ridges in the sub-dials are appealing to me as well. It's super-legible -- it's the only chronograph of mine that I can read (including the totalizer dials) while hiking at night with a headlamp. Though it is a full millimeter larger in diameter than the classic Speedmaster, it doesn't seem to wear appreciably larger. And I like the idea of owning a watch driven by the workhorse Valjoux/ETA 7750, which IWC can tune to chronometre-like precision.

On the downside, the watch is much thicker and heavier than the Speedmaster; I don't have the numbers at hand, but the weight and thickness difference is really noticeable when worn. I tried to wear the IWC on a NATO strap but the strap wasn't rigid enough to keep the watch under control -- just too much mass (maybe due to the soft iron inner-case?). The black leather strap that comes with the IWC is thick and unusually stiff, and necessary to manage this watch. So that's how I wear it -- with the original strap. Very happily, I should add

 

There have been a couple for sale in the Watches For Sale subform. I think the same shop has been bumping two of them for the last 6 or so months.

 

Here's a little side-by-side comparison. Sorry that both images are de-saturated -- I was going through an artsy-fartsy phase I guess. What doesn't show up in my photo of the IWC is that there is a noticeable creaminess to the colour of the numbers and markers; not like faux patina god forbid, but definitely creamy and not stark white like the Speedmaster's markers and numbers.

 

I have to ask this: what difference does it make that you're a Speedmaster fan? I'm just curious what it has to do with you liking the IWC, and why you had to make sure you made this about the Speedmaster.

I might have to amend my joke. It used to be:

Q: How can you tell if a person runs marathons, is vegan / vegetarian, or has a 'rescue' pet?

A: You don't have to figure it out - they'll volunteer that information repeatedly without any prompting.

Looks like I'll have to add "loves Speedmasters" to the question.

 

That is certainly a handsome and tempting timepiece.

 

That watch is gorgeous. I may hunt for one of those after I secure my chrono.

 

They definitely look thicker than the classic Speedmaster, but I've been wearing a 44.25mm co-axial model Speedy with the glass bubble back. The glass back sticks up a millimeter or two and bugs me no end. A hair smaller than my 44.25mm would probably be ideal for me so the IWC Pilot Chrono, at 43mm, may be my perfect size.

 

Sounds like me. I tend to lock in on one watch at a time, and for the last couple years it's been the Speedmaster. It's been a loooong honeymoon. I didn't think I'd ever look at another chronograph, but I was naive. Speedmasters are a gateway drug.

 

Everyone should have a vintage 39mm IWC 3706,...... somewhere in the collection

Possibly the most comfortable bracelet, ever conceived

 

@ras47 get one, they are sweet. I chose the 3777 in black as it had a black date window. The LPP is nice too, and I was torn between the two, but it had the white window. They are beautiful watches man, I don’t think you’ll regret it a bit. I can’t wait to wear mine again.

FYI, the stick straps are short. 7.5 inch wrist or above you’ll need to replace.

 

Many thanks! Especially good tip on the strap as my wrists are 7 3/4".

 

@ras47

Let me enable you even more. Nothing beats the excitement of new watch day.

This could be you:

 

...or a Doppel

 

Hey @ras47 ...this will probably help you complete your Split S to disengage from your Speedy obsession

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=7536673&rid=12189#msg_7536673

An ETA based IWC pilot's watch is a completely justified buy for IMO. Thankfully the prevailing "in-house" snobbery is starting to go away and some common sense is coming back...as a collector newbie I fell for the in-house marketing BS a few years back

I have to admit I do have a soft spot for the IWC Mark XVIII...


and also for the....


wait for it...


...Bremont MB2/MB3...had to mention the MB2/MB3, even though Bremont is so looked down on here on the OF. FTR nicely designed and well made watches IMO and at least Nick and Giles fly (and unfortunately crash) vintage planes.

You can make a case that some IWC, Tudor, Bremont, Breitling watches are all ridiculously priced as industrial finished mid-level luxury three-hand ETA based watches retailing above US$3K...but who cares? If you love the design, the look, the feel of the watch, I say go for it and screw the watch forum snobbery!!!!

I might actually end up buying a Bremont MB2 next time I visit the UK...wanted so much to be at Farnborough this year but other commitments got in the way