SIHH 2008 Report: IWC
By: AnthonyTsai (registered) Saturday, April 26th, 2008SIHH 2008 Report: IWC
Text & Photos: Anthony Tsai
IWC Ingenieur "Climate Action" - limited edition of 1000 pieces. Case is stainless steel with a black ceramic bezel, and the strap is a textured nylon strap. IWC produced this piece as a "carbon neutral" watch and part of the proceeds will go to The Climate Group which is an independent nonprofit organization created in 2004 to help spread the word of establishing a low-carbon economy.
Black ceramic bezel of the 44mm Ingenieur "Climate Action"
The contrast of the black and splashes of faint orange give the Climate Action a unique look
Solid caseback of the Climate Action
Next are the IWC Pilot's Watches. IWC will be introducing a smaller 44mm version of the Top Gun Ceramic, and this smaller Top Gun is a regular chronograph instead of a rattrapante found in last year's 46mm model.
Smaller 44mm version of the IWC Top Gun Pilot Ceramic watch
The IWC Antoine de St. Exupery Pilot's Watch is available in 3 metals - platinum, rose gold, and stainless steel. Last year's version had the UTC display at 3 o'clock with a power reserve at 7 o'clock, so this year's edition is a little different with the UTC display at 6 o'clock and date at 3 o'clock.
What's nifty about the UTC display (UTC =Universal Time Coordinated) is it offers unlimited adjustment of the hours display both forwards and backwards, and the date display at 3 o'clock is synchonized with the UTC display. So this means if you forward the hour display in the UTC to the following day, the date will advance as well. And if you set the UTC hour display backwards a day, the date will revert back to the prior day.
44mm steel version of the IWC Antoine de St. Exupery Pilot's watch - 1,188 pieces
Rose gold version - 500 pieces
Platinum unique piece (not for sale) will be auctioned off for a good cause
Next is the IWC Pilot Watch for Father & Son, and you can only buy these 2 watches as a set for an estimated USD$49k. Father's watch is a platinum Big Pilot and the son's watch is a stainless steel Mark XVI with Big Pilot crown. Engraved in the casebacks are both the father's and son's names as well as "Pilot" on the Father and "Co-Pilot" on the Son watch.
Son's Watch - stainless steel Mark XVI w/ Big Pilot crown
I guess IWC didn't like the idea of Patek's famous advertising slogan of "You never actually own a Patek Philippe; you merely take care of it for the next generation" so it created these Father & Son watches. Now your son doesn't have to inherit your father's watch after he passes away. Father & Son can now both have watches to wear at the same time, so no one has to die anymore :P Makes perfect sense and I wonder if and how Patek will respond to IWC's campaign 
.
Father's 46mm platinum Big Pilot
The new antique brown colored Big Pilot strap matches well with the antique feeling of the faint peach colored luminova on the dial
If you have a second son, you may purchase another Mark XVI Son watch for an additional $4500.
Father & Son IWC Pilot's watches
Next is IWC's Vintage Collection which was made as a celebration of IWC's 140th year anniversary of its Jubilee Edition 1868-2008. Sets are available in both platinum (limited to 500 sets) and stainless steel (unlimited production). The first 140 platinum sets will be sold as a complete full 6-piece set with a retail price of $241k. After the first 140 sets are sold, then you maybe purchase the platinum pieces individually. Below are pictures of the Vintage Collection in platinum.
Beautiful antique looking suitcase which is the box for the IWC Platinum Vintage Collection
Following are the 6-pieces from the IWC stainless steel Vintage Collection.
One thing that surprised me was the launch of the Da Vinci Precious Stones, a ladies' line, because IWC's marketing campaign has always been watches for men. These ladies' Da Vinci's are available in precious stones of ruby, emerald, sapphire, and diamond. I'm not here to criticize IWC but I wish they would have introduced a totally new case style if they wanted a women's line because just adding rubies and diamonds to the Da Vinci case is, to put it bluntly, an easy short cut.
IWC had other interesting watches at SIHH 2008 such as the Grande Complication, Portuguese Tourbillon Mystere, and Da Vinci Chronograph & Perpetual Calendar, but they were only re-editions in new case metals and dials so I didn't bother to highlight those watches since they technically aren't "new".
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