IWC and alternatives
Discussion
I may be in the market for a watch soon. This does depend on work paying out a bonus that I have met the criteria for but they have previously wormed their way out of. Budget is around $4-5k and I'm thinking second hand offers better value and less depreciation.
I would say that I typically don't like busy watches but this caught my eye
As you can see, busy. But, to the point, are IWC a brand that is worth investing in? I'm not expecting to make money but don't want to lose a fortune when it comes time to sell. I need a relatively understated watch that can be worn in business and casually. For sports I will stick to the G-Shock. I like the idea of a Panerai but I couldn't wear it for work. An IWC I could wear without people paying too much attention.
So where would you spend you $4-5k budget?
I would say that I typically don't like busy watches but this caught my eye
As you can see, busy. But, to the point, are IWC a brand that is worth investing in? I'm not expecting to make money but don't want to lose a fortune when it comes time to sell. I need a relatively understated watch that can be worn in business and casually. For sports I will stick to the G-Shock. I like the idea of a Panerai but I couldn't wear it for work. An IWC I could wear without people paying too much attention.
So where would you spend you $4-5k budget?
PJ S said:
Don't like fussy/busy, want something understated/under the radar â“ Grand Seiko is the answer, from a US dealer or Japan.
Personally I'd wait until you're sure you have money to spend, before getting yourself all worked up about what to spend it on.
I have some money already set aside for a rainy day so this thread really is trying to push me to make a purchase. My biggest issue is that I can't make my mind up. 6 years ago I wanted a Tag Carrera at $2k. Now they are closer to $4k. Personally I'd wait until you're sure you have money to spend, before getting yourself all worked up about what to spend it on.
If anyone comes up with a watch I fall in love with I will buy even if the bonus doesn't come in. I will just have more explaining to do with my wife
h0b0 said:
I have some money already set aside for a rainy day so this thread really is trying to push me to make a purchase. My biggest issue is that I can't make my mind up. 6 years ago I wanted a Tag Carrera at $2k. Now they are closer to $4k.
If anyone comes up with a watch I fall in love with I will buy even if the bonus doesn't come in. I will just have more explaining to do with my wife
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs-grand-seiko-sp...If anyone comes up with a watch I fall in love with I will buy even if the bonus doesn't come in. I will just have more explaining to do with my wife
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs-grand-seiko-sb...
Edited by PJ S on Tuesday 23 December 13:00
michael gould said:
IWC are still using ETA movements, so your IWC has the beating heart of a £200 watch
Not all of them - but the one above is based on a Valjoux 7750, yes. Don't think there are any 775x based watches out there under a grand even for base spec, which the IWC version certainly isn't..In the olden days, it was said 'no-one did a 7750 like IWC' but those days are over; they were supplied ebauches by Valjoux and then took them apart completely; upgrading, polishing and decorating everything possible. Swatch have now stopped this and IWC have to order them to their spec directly from Swatch just like everyone else, but they are still a good spec (interestingly not chronometer spec though).
IWC do make some movements in-house (as part of Richemont group, they of course have access to the knowledge and expertise of Jaeger-LeCoultre's back catalogue) so if you're set on IWC, it's worth searching one of them out. It still won't be an investment as such unless you buy very well, but it helps you to think you have more value attached to the wrist.
PJ S said:
Don't like fussy/busy, want something understated/under the radar – Grand Seiko is the answer, from a US dealer or Japan.
I'm assuming that the OP is neither a Japanese businessman interested in his own country's heritage or a highly educated watch expert with a penchant for knocking the Swiss. Therefore GS would hold absolutely no interest for him I have started looking at the SBGJ001 by the way. You finally broke me Phil...
yeti said:
michael gould said:
IWC are still using ETA movements, so your IWC has the beating heart of a £200 watch
Not all of them - but the one above is based on a Valjoux 7750, yes. Don't think there are any 775x based watches out there under a grand even for base spec, which the IWC version certainly isn't..In the olden days, it was said 'no-one did a 7750 like IWC' but those days are over; they were supplied ebauches by Valjoux and then took them apart completely; upgrading, polishing and decorating everything possible. Swatch have now stopped this and IWC have to order them to their spec directly from Swatch just like everyone else, but they are still a good spec (interestingly not chronometer spec though).
IWC do make some movements in-house (as part of Richemont group, they of course have access to the knowledge and expertise of Jaeger-LeCoultre's back catalogue) so if you're set on IWC, it's worth searching one of them out. It still won't be an investment as such unless you buy very well, but it helps you to think you have more value attached to the wrist.
michael gould said:
whilst i agree with you Yeti....there is just something about me that thinks that we are all being conned by many watch makers such as IWC , Breitling , TAG and many more who are all still using swatch group movements .....they lack honesty
As long as people have their eyes open... It's only in the last few years the like of Patek, VC and AP have started using in-house movements and they are still not completely in-house (unlike JLC, lords of all that is good). The tradition of watchmaking is the buying of ebauches from manufactures and modifying them. Recent'ish developments have seen Lemania become Montres Breguet*, F. Piguet become Blancpain*, Kalek become Manufacture Breitling and LMVH taking Zenith. That's why these brands are making in-house movements, they bought movement manufacturers! Patek of course just put the heads down, spent the money and developed their own calibres. But they are Patek, and are awesome.
The Richemont brands (Cartier, Panerai, IWC etc) all got JLC's movement manufacture R&D - which sadly is why JLC service times are about a year at the moment!
Special mention always to Seiko who even make their own molybdenum grease. They are a true manufacture.
- Both Swatch group brands, but given a huge amount of autonomy from the mother ship.
Riff Raff said:
Actually, they have ValFleurier to do their R+D and produce ebauches.
With no input from JLC? That's not what JLC said at the factory.Where do you think ValFleurier got their expertise? Or do you reckon they just appeared out of nowhere, fully formed and with hundreds of years of know-how, all ready to make Richemont groups movements?
Edited by yeti on Tuesday 23 December 12:46
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