Are IWC Watches Worth it ?
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 05. 2024
- Here I cover whether or not I believe IWC watches are worth it. Since I am wearing my personal IWC watch in this video, you might be able to guess. The quick answer is that it really depends.
Everyone has their own personal opinions about which watches that they like. While IWC does make a good watch, they may not be perhaps for everyone. With this brand, and most brands, I always recommend to buy preowned if possible, or if you must purchase new from AD, negotiate a good discount. They certainly are available from most brands.
Thanks for all the support!
-John P
CHECK OUT delraywatch.com/
Check out Delray Watch Supply on Instagram: / delraywatch
Check out Delray Watch Supply on Facebook: / delraywatch
#watches #iwc
IWC is one of those watches that looks better in real flesh than pictures, unlike For example Tudor
Are you saying that Tudor looks better in photos than in person?
I'm in college in Rochester right now and we have almost no ADs for much of anything.
@@DrZbo yes i meant that, as an example. They are good, although too hyped. Iwc even Mark xviii looks and feels apart.
Is that your personal opinion or do you have empirical evidence supporting your statement?
@@Brown_cheese just starting to think sbout research topic, lol
@@TheVarskvlavtbichuna I don't see how that's relevant to my question - which you didn't answer.
I got the IWC Mark XVIII Le Petite Prince. Beautiful watch! And I got it on the bracelet, which is quite lovely. I say the finishing and the experience of wearing it is on par with my Rolexes and Omegas. I think there is too much pressure for everything to be a bargain buy. That shouldn’t drive everything. What I hear people saying is that they like the watches but want them at a cheaper price. This whole worth it discussion is perplexing to me. Buy the watches you like and hold on to them. Don’t fall for the market analysis stuff. If market drives everything then we will all end up with safe, “value buys.” A boring way to enjoy the hobby. Watches are a way to express your individualism and you just can’t get that at cookie-cutter prices.
Very well said and I agree. I bought a lot of rolexes over the years and normally sold them on later for more than I bought them for. But in recent years I'm sick looking at them everywhere. I still think they are great watches but I stopped buying them since 2020. I somewhat forgot what the hobby was about. Iwc big pilot is one of the best watches on the market and often you can get pretty decent discounts. I bought a rose gold big pilot last week. Priced at around 30k. Got it for 17.5k brand new as a clearance deal. Registered it online at iwc for an 8 year extended warranty. Its a great size for my 8 inch wrist. And it's beautifully finished, love the 7 day reserve, the legibility and the case brushing and finishing. I just ordered their big pilot annual calender and got 2k off it from another dealer.
Buy what you like and enjoy it. Don't pay attention to market trends.
@@theonlyredspecial Congratulations on a fantastic watch! Wow that watch is a real stunner and I bet you are enjoying it to the max. And yes that 8 year warranty is really cool. I made a video about the LLP and forgot to mention that’s another perk of IWC. I do love Rolex too but it’s definitely not the only way to enjoy the hobby.
@@ALLinHerMovements absolutely and thanks. The money I’ve made in the last 5 or 6 years with Rolex helped me get two of the watches I really want and enjoy wearing and will keep. Health to you in 2021 my friend.
Well said!!! Do it for yourself. I talk to guys and they even know why their Rolex stops working after a few days-not even knowing it’s an automatic. Goes to show that brand and status is all that matters for most
Got an IWC Da Vinci perpetual calendar chronograph since 1999 and still love it .. as well as an IWC Portugieser Chrono in red gold...both glorious and reliable. Not only usable for sunday lunch appointments but for every day if you like 👍🏼
That "old watchmaker" is Kurt Klaus - one of the legendary master watchmakers in Switzerland and inventor of Perpetual Calendar for IWC's Da Vinci collection, 1985.
MAte, there's nothing like putting things in front of an out-of-focus camera that brings down the quality of a whole video. Please take care of this because 10 seconds of out of focus crappy details is just killing it.
Completely agree. He’s judging one of the better timepieces and can’t use a digital camera
Heads up that the ‘old watchmaker’ is Kurt Klaus a renowned watch maker who created IWC’s perpetual calendar mechanism!
I have the one with Richard Habring's work inside. A very cool watch which I bought at the very low end of the chrono24 price spectrum.
I was triggered and was gonna post something, but thanks i'll just thumbs up this now.
William Candrick I met Kurt Klaus 10 years ago at a IWC dinner function in London. He was brilliant and great fun to listen to. He loves his whiskey and he was pretty drunk as the night went on. It was a pleasure to meet the great man.
Amund Bjerve great find! Enjoy it.
Was going to pull the trigger on one as the watch was in my price range, but saw the servicing prices and realised that I'm nowhere near there yet lol
Last year, I bought a vintage International Watch Company, watch "Isomura " platinum case, 35mm very good condition, for a little over $2,000. I was pleased. I had it serviced, and new alligator strap, now I am very well pleased with this 50+ year old wrist watch!
Score!
Really great review of a brand, i'd love to see more of this kind of thing
Good afternoon John, how are you? I am happy that you made a video about the brand i work for. What i am not happy is the topic itself you decided to went for and the watches you decided to show to your audience. In fact the Ingenieur Line & the aquatimer line are both the collections that people are the less interested in. I would have expect from you a presentation of a Portugieser or an Iconic Pilot’s watch. I think that you should have developed more into the story of the brand because eventhough there is a lot of brands outside with maybe more interest nowadays, IWC made important pieces in the past that contribute to the watch world. If you think of the perpetual calendar synchronize by the crown, the first watch made fully out of titanium, the destriero scafusia in 2000 was the most complicated watch in the world. But that is just a fact.
Also blue dials are part of the brand for decades but people think its only since 2019.
I appreciate and consider all opinions from you and from the people in the comments. I just wished you could have gone more into details with our collections and product.
I lovely day in Miami, greetings to Federico!
Cheers mate & love your content.
Thanks. I did not talk negatively about the pieces really- the question I answered was if they are worth it and the other IWC watches dont hold either. Nice watches, but not great buys at retail price.
John P Watches i am not saying that you said bad things about those watches, i was saying that the use of collections like pilots or Portugieser would have been better options.
Cheers John.
I really appreciate the IWC Mark series and would like to own a Mark XVIII, but there are other timepieces that take priority right now for my collection.
I just picked up the LTD edition Pilot Chrono Racing Green and love it!
Bought an Aquanaut 14 years ago and use it both for diving and as a low profile summer watch, love it
Nice video, Mr. P. Excellent content and good presentation - indeed, the best compliment is I just sent you an offer for one of the 10 IWCs you have posted on DWS. The big problem is that IWC watches are mostly huge. Many of us do not have forearms like body builders or corpulent torsos. And you were so right - I have a Milgaus which is stunning but very large and heavy, and should come with a valet to carry it around. If you decide to part with (at a reasonable price) I like the Turler.
Hi John. I am a fan of Hawaii 5-0 and liked Steve McGarrets IWC Aquatimer Chronograph ( REF 3767-02). Trouble is the modern IWC offerings are nothing like as interesting as this 2010 (ish) model. Whist the range of IWC modern watches is extensive, nothing floats my boat to make me want to pull the trigger any time soon. Great video mate, 👍
I've had my eye on the Racing Green. These are mostly pretty inexpensive watches, so I don't think there's much reason to sweat the price. If you like it, buy it.
The Ingenieur is very nice, but it wears very small with the case flank being cut down around the sides. It’s a 40mm, but looks smaller on wrist. The Aquatimer is just the opposite. It wears very chunky on the wrist. IWC, for me, is one of those brands that you may want to try on before buying. Love the brand, the prices are a bit high.
I have two pilots watches and I think they feel special. 3717 and a 3706. Both keep fantastic time and the 3717 went 10 years before it needed its first service.
IWC watches are among the most beautiful and original watches in the world. The IWC da Vinci, Aquatimer of early 2000, today Aquatimer, Portuguese, Engineer, Big Pilot are very beautiful watches. The IWC Aquatimer original look doesn't look like a Rolex Submariner or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
mena seven I agree, especially the portofino
@@hamzaa.8082 I love my 3548 Aquatimer! I sold my last Rolex and never going back. In addition, I’ve since purchased 2 MK XVI. A silver on brown strap and a black with black strap. I can honestly say I’m done and happy!
I like the Portuguesier chronograph out of the modern line. I have a caliber 89, it's a great watch
IWC is a brand that is difficult to fairly assess, because at the entry level, they tend to pale in comparison to brands like Omega, Rolex and perhaps even Breitling. However, when you get into their higher complications like the Perpetual Calendar or annual Calendar models, as well as tourbillons, they surpass the Omegas, Panerais, Rolexes and perhaps give JLC a run for their money.
For me personally I own their Big Pilot Le Petit Prince. Its one of my favorite watches in my collection. Truly an Icon in the industry.
Surpass JLC?
@@Not-a-bot222 definitely do not surpass JLC at all especially in the Hybris Mechanica range. IWC does have nice watches in the higher complication range, however. Unfortunately, in those prices, if that's the level you play at, it's just difficult to justify it over a Lange or a Patek to name a few, in terms of value.
Spitfire! The red text one, with in-house movement! Total STUNNAH
Nice vid today John. What do you think of ref model UW389101 Top Gun? I want to buy my first IWC and was considering this one. Clean and simple easy to read dial for a daily driver imo.
Love my Pilot - everything I wanted - top grade reliable movement, exquisite case finishing, anti magnetic, screw down crown, domed crystal, Hindu numerals and an iconic watch with genuine history.
I own two IWC portofino pieces, references: 3341 (stainless steel) and 2009 (platinum). I think they are very elegant and classy.
Is platinum made of real platinum?
I have a black on black Portuguese 7 day reserve. It’s my dress watch- usually Rolex sports guy. I knew this watch won’t hold Rolex kind of re-sale value, but I love it / its beautiful and well made. Bought it new at a good discount but got burned on price increase at time, went from 10k to 12,600. Don’t regret the watch - only wear when dress up but lovely piece.
Nice content. Should do for many big brands.
I simply can not get enough of my Portugueser chrono. One of the best designed dress chronographs out there. But I knew that I will never make my money back if I will ever decide to sell the watch. I also think that the dials of IWC perpetual calendar Portugueser and Pilot watches are the best designed/proportioned perpetual calendar dials out there. But once again will never nuy one of them new.
0 respect given to Kurt Klaus by not even calling out his name but instead calling him an old watch maker, In 1985, IWC's Kurt Klaus presented his latest invention at BaselWorld: The IWC “Da Vinci” Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, which went on to become one of the most justly famed perpetual calendars of all time.
Any thoughts about the portugieser 150th edition with the new in-house movement?
More and more I'm becoming a real IWC fanboy (among other brands as well). At my AD recently I saw the LePetit Prince chrono on the brown strap and couldn't resist that blue dial. I know IWC gets grief for many pieces with ETA / Valjoux movements but I don't care. My next will be the Portugieser Chrono with in-house mvmt - 3716 with white / silver dial.
My primary interest is high end dive watches. IWC has had some great divers, but they always seemed too expensive for me to consider.
The current generation Aquatimer is beautiful.
I love the aesthetic and the bezel function of the Aquatimer, but for an ETA movement, price is a bit steep.
I watched so many videos about the spitfire, pilot's watch, engineour. Finally I mustered enough money and bravery to walk into an IWC boutique today, and I walked away with a portofino chronograph LOL. Just simply a beautiful timeless dress watch
I think that IWC is worth it. And sits on top of brands like Rolex. They are in a different level. With their Portuguiser line and complications like the perpetual calendars. Those watches are next to Jaeger Leoultre, Blancpain and Breguet.
@Mark Michael they don't use low grade selitta, and you know it.
I bought a IWC Saint Exupery about 4 months ago after owning a IWC Mark II years ago. To cut to the chase, I thought the quality of the watch was poor given the money I paid for it new. The first issue I had was that there was an issue where I had difficultly screwing down the crown. The threads would bind on occassion where I had to back out the crown a bit and restart the process. It was as if the threads were cross threaded or there was a burr on the threads. I was going to return the watch for warrantee service until I realized the second issue.
The second issue was that I had to set the time in the counter clockwise direction to take the slop of out the gear train; otherwise, when the seconds hand made one 60 second revolution, the minute had did not line up with the next minute indicator on the dial. I had to set the time by passing the desired hour and then adjust the time in the counterclockwise direction. At that point I realized the quality level I was expecting in the watch was not there and I sold the watch and bought another watch. No longer a IWC fan and would be weary of purchasing another! Keep the videos coming.
i've never had that or any problem with that watch. It sounds like you had an anomaly.
Where are your eyeglasses from? Looking for a pair. Thanks!
Buy what you like will never go wrong
Well IDK, I think both of them are good choices, nevertheless, the IWC im drawn the most to its the Portuguieser, those complications, the fancy Dressy look... Its súper expensive but It has some particular carisma that I totally like
Very cool line, agreed
I am going buy new 40mm Portegueser on white dial, blue hands with dark navy alligator strap&buckle! What would you say about this release? Thanks!
Got a gold 1973 Ingenieur Perpetual from my granddad. It’s amazing.
I love IWC. I hope they make a come back. I enjoyed your video.
I have an older generation Ingenieur Chronograph, it's a great watch. I'm a big fan but you cannot get them for retail.
I got mine preowned, 10 months from new for less than 50% of the retail price
Great buy !
Nice pick-up!!
Sounds like a steal Marceau !! congrats
50% is a real knock in such a short time?
I think IWC gets a lot of shit because of the ETA and Sellita movements found in their entry-level models. Many people think paying 4 grand for a Sellita powered Mark18 is a rip-off even though I disagree.
MakawakaM you are totally correct. the eta movement design is already proven to be bulletproof then IWC goes in and upgrades extensively. why mess with an amazing design? I think some of IWCs stink comes from some of the newer models that have essentially drop-in eta and sellita mvts. i could be wrong though. any IWC mvt experts around??
Especially when you’re wanting a simple 3 hand reliable and robust movement... and there’s one out there that’s proven and easy to service and repair. Why would you want someone to make their own and risk it being unreliable down the line
@@manuel_winde just because normal people dont like to pay 7k for a watches using the same movement as a watches at 7 hundreds
But im a huge fan of the design of iwc
@@manuel_winde if YOU buy a valjoux caliber by your own whit the high quality as possible, you will pay something like 580 dollars, so imagine how much pay iwc when they buy thousands of them
I like my vintage manual wind cal. 89 IWC. Other vintage IWC watches from the '60's with the in house Pelaton movements are excellent but have recently come down in price. New IWCs not worth the price.
I am in love with the IW459402 I don't know why. I want to buy it. I never owned a watch of this price before and it just speaks to me. Its simplicity and very nice blue dial is awesome. I know an omega or a Rolex has better resell value but I'm not in the market to buy and sell just for owning it as my daily driver. I know there are similar watches on the market for more and for less of the price but none of them look exactly like this one except for another IWC watch that is more expensive. Do you think i should go ahead and buy it?
Awesome that you are showing watches in this format. I like your normal content and Feds as well this new content is great keep it up.
I have one and I think that it really worth the money. I love it!
I just received my new Big Pilot watch and this thing is incredibly accurate. Ive had it five days and its not lost or gained more than one second per day. Just incredible performance !
I’ve thought this for a while. For me, IWC just doesn’t provide the value that Omega does. I am engineer and love the technical side of horology. IWC seems more focused on case and finishing and when they make a good movement, they don’t put an exhibition case back. If you want both with IWC, expect to pay 10k+. Id rather have 2 omegas for the price of one IWC.
Well the finishing is what you look at 99% of the time so it's more important than the movement in my opinion. All of the Seamaster (including the Planet Ocean and Aqua terra) and Speedmaster range have the same case design with the twisted lugs, it gets boring after a while. Just look at the finishing on an Aquatimer case and compare it to a Planet Ocean, it's light years ahead.
Stunning watch. Simple and versatile. I hope they make this model in a 36 or 37
Which model?
Trev Barlow The Ingenieur
I just got the Le Petite Prince chronograph with the steel bracelet. It's a magnificent piece of engineering. Well worth it.
I was at my local IWC AD today, was getting very excited about the Timezoner...but t
I can't get over the 60m WR
I haven’t had the pleasure to own this watch yet but I agree there must be a bargain of a deal for I to squire this watch. Ps i love my Tudor 👍😉 looks better on my wrist then in a pic 🧐
If you like the channel commenting helps push the channel on the algorithm even further! Just comment anything!
Thanks Stephen !!!!
IWC watches are among the most beautiful and original watches in the world
Hey what’s your opinion on the racinggreen IWC. There’s only one thousand pieces made can you see it being valuable soon like a hulk
I have an aquatimer 2000 white face rubber strap, great watch but straps are too expensive for what they are and you can not get any alternatives due the unique quick release system. Should have bought a Rolex sub. The iwc is for sale any interest?
what year is your white faced aquatimer 2000? The tritium models I hear with the white face are hard to come by
I picked up a perpetual Rodeo Drive in London love this watch!
I love IWC, specially Pilot’s watches. They do need to update some models and try to keep up with other luxury brands. Also some details in their low/mid levels, for example throwing in a deployment buckle in their leather or rubber straps.. For the price you pay, should be getting a bit more for your money.
I would almost certainly buy anything designed by Gerald genta.. The man was a great designer.
would be cool to own a genta design, I really hope to get one in my own collection
They have some gems in their collection, but they need to invest I. The Ingenieur and Aqua Timer to play more in the sports watch segment.
I’m buying a Portugieser 7 Day next week - to me, it blows any Rolex I’ve owned (still an owner) out of the water in terms of design and refinement. At the entry level though, IWC is a really tough value proposition when compared to Omega for example.
Fan of the channel, I do enjoy listening to what you have to say.
Try turning off auto focus set the depth for your close-up shot before you start and move the watch around withing the focus point.
Thanks !
I stumbled across, after selling my former collection, an IWC Pilot Chrono 43mm, on leather, from an AD for $4700 out the door. Now they’re making it a 42 and using an “in house” movement and they’re like double the price. Not a chance!
They’re great at half off
So are you
More like 70% off
@@LJB006 oOf
@@LJB006 still 2x as expensive than your mama
IWC is the first watch I brought n the brand that drive me into this hobby
coincidentally, i just received today my mark xvi IW3255-02 spitfire that i ordered preowned online for an awesome price. I had an aquatimer years ago which was beautiful. I am very interested to see what Grainger-Herr does to improve the brands awareness and market share in the US since in china for example they are much bigger. Style wise, IMO, IWC is fantastic, they just need to get back to watchmaking vs fashion. 15 years of Kern will take some time to makes changes. Kern did very well growing the companies $$$ so lets see where they go. some of the recent pilot chronograph release and the timezoner are beautiful however I do not see a major impact for them if they stay focused on the 44mm to 46mm space even when they are well made and beautiful. 46mm pieces for me at least, are clown like. leave that market to GShock.
The third hand of IWC watches seem to move much slower than those of other brands. I wonder if this slower movement, if it happens, can make an automatic watch more accurate at timekeeping.
I personally, would rather have an automatic watch that just keeps the time, without any complications that display the date, or the day, or anything else.
For me an IWC watch is like an Aston Martin, Classy, Sporty and Sexy
They are very well made but they have priced themselves out of the market at least here in the Philippines
I would like to see them priced a bit lower, they are attractive but their "entry" level watches start pretty high
If compare with panerai, iwc or panerai has higher level ?
@@antonfelix2339 I'm going to say IWC. Especially in the modern era
They are lovely watches but most of them that I like are pilot themed so very specific, but not worth the price. I would pick up a pilot Chrono maybe second hand and would get black dial black leather strap..... thinking of it instead of omega speedmaster....cheaper and less obvious maybe? Love some feedback.
we need MORE content John P MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They're such bad value at retail because they're so unrefined. I love the look of it, but they're either thick, bulky, lack power reserve, water resistance, mass produced. If you give any manufacture unlimited size, they can make any watch. IWC Portuguese managed to make a 13+mm thick watch and 41 diameter and still keep the reserve and resistance so bad. They just didn't keep up with the times with R&D trying to save some money
What do you think about IWC Top Gun pilot watches?
IWC I one of the five watch brands to supply watches to Luftwaffe during WW2 and the only watch brand which supplied the Royal Air Force at the same time. This makes it one of the most iconic aeronautical watch brands. IWC pilot watches are classics.
Surprised you didn't discuss the Portugieser at all which I believe has passed or at least the Pilot for popularity. What are your thoughts now that they have an in-house movement in that watch?
The new Ingenieurs don't have any sort of magnetic resistance. They truly dropepd the ball on this one, would've been a fun historical touch. Now it's just a basic sellita put in a basic stainless case with no features whatsoever.
Love their pilot watches.
IWC has a simplicity that may be perceived as a bit boring but then again they are very well made.
I think this is mostly in their entry level watches though. At their higher in house complications, they shine a bit better. Certainly not to the degree that the holy trinity or Lange does, but I would say their Perpetual Calendars are better in execution than JLC's. The only thing JLC executed better there, is the thinner movement.
Hey John! Would you consider buying the spitfire 39mm as a daily watch? Keep going with great content! 😉
I personally would be unlikely to unless I received an amazing deal. Very cool watch, and it is well made, just everyone has their preferences. If someone loved it, I could give them my blessings on it.
is the seconds hand working correctly?
This new model no longer has magnetic protection, I think if you check their website, you will see that for the mark xviii they mention the soft iron cage, but for this model they don't. Also, I don't have anything against sellita and I don't doubt their quality, but it is a bit of downer to have this movement in a 6k watch.
Haha, I'm sorry John. Youre right talking about second hand prices, you are actually a second hand dealer in the end! :)
First I never liked IWC old C,E.O George Kern way of doing business, but I have faith on the new boss Chris Herr. He his an Architect, and you see his vision that the future of IWC is his history with pieces like the 150 years anniversary, or the Spitfire collection.
Wish they had that Pallweber in a smaller size.
I love IWC I even have the spitfire chronograph and I really like it, but worth it or not depends on what is worth it for you?, the don't hold resail value like Rolex, the have great quality, to my opinion under 10,000$US they are 100% OK, with IWC you can go up even to the price range of Patek and in that range they are not worth it because the resail value. if you don't like big watches they don't have much choice in the sport range.
I have a Rolex explorwr 2. A Submariner and a seadweller. All recent 2021 - 22 models. However my Aquatimer beats them all for wrist time. Just something special and tough about it. I can't put it down. My Otis aquis and titan don't do a bad job either to be honest. Rolexes are certainly popular. But sometimes what is popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular. Simply putting it. I like my IWC and Oris as much as my Rolexes
“You can only dive so deep when you’re in the clubs in Miami.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Own a Solid gold IWC Portofino and a solid gold vintage IWC 3092. Their watches look way better in person. My favorite watch brand, but the sizes are getting way too big. My next watch wont be from IWC. Need to explore other brands.
Of course they worth best caliber at affordable price and the technical level is incredible
You are right it is subjective. I buy any bigger tool watch that I can find 44mm watch looks like a lady's watch on a 6'4 semi shaved yeti. I think there is an edge in the market for those of us who are executives can afford any watch we want but aren't smaller fellas. Not the big gaudy Breitlings with garbage diamonds thrown on them but classy understated watches. My first big boy watch was the watch my father gave me upon graduation from USMC combatant diver course and that was a seiko monster tuna. I had deployed many times with that thing and it served me well. I now have it in a nice display with my other combat memorabilia. Anyhow- I like watches no smaller than 48mm and the IWC Miramar and the perpetual IW502902 fit that for me. Love them. I won't ever own a fragile dress watch. They bother me as much as the folks on youtube who complain about big tool watches.
JP, I'm surprised you reviewed iwc without touching on the big pilot or the portugieser, as they are the staples of their lines
I don’t think you should say “buy used and you don’t have to worry”. Buying used means not knowing if anything is wrong with the watch.
I want to like IWC. I love the look of them. But two things for me: the watches are large (especially lug-to-lug) and the power reserves on the lower ranges are a bit weak.
IWC are all about the movement and not about style they make one of the best in-house movement next to Audemars Piguet
Geez I hate ads in your videos other than that great channel
Thanks 🙏🏽
IWC is an icon on Swiss watch making industry
If you're at a corporate fundraiser in a tuxedo and an IWC on your wrist, you'll ooze class.
If you're a drug dealer in a Range Rover with your hand out of the window, IWC on your wrist, nobody will even notice it.
IWC have the best bracelets IMHO for the price and ease of adjusting.
Pearlage? Is that fancy for machine turning?
Oris is offering a handsome, dressy watch with an in-house movement with a 10 day power reserve and a small seconds subdial + date for rougly half as much as an IWC Portuguese 7 days. It's true the IWC has nicer finishing, but I don't see $5k worth of difference...$500, $1000 at most.