IWC Spitfire Chrono
Discussion
it's coming up to six years that I've owned this watch, and it's been worn all the time except the odd occasion when I get the Monster out, but that usually lasts a couple of days before the yearning for the IWC gets too strong. All I can say is that it is provenly waterproof to any depth I've been able to go in the shower and bath and the pool, that the glass has resisted every cackhanded and clumsy attempt to scratch it, that apart from time changes I've never had to adjust it (well, the end of month dates excepted of course), it still scrubs up well although it is showing some slight signs of usage, the bracelet is very comfortable although a finer adjustment that just plus or minus a link would be preferable (I do like the Monster bracelet for that) and I don't see me ever wanting to part with it. In fact, it's rather dulled my interest in watches these days, since I can read it at night without glasses and it ticks all the boxes I could think of. Any similar sad cases out there?
I wore my 21st birthday present Oris pretty much every day until the bracelet was too knackered last year. It'll be 14 years old in august. It's now on a brown Oris croc skin strap. Still a really nice looking dress/vintage style watch. I also alternate it with my Orange Monster and an old £50 Citizen divers watch which is now on a "bond" style nylon strap.
Strangely enough the default choice recently has been the citizen!
ETA: I should say, it's clearly not in the same league as the IWC, but my parents got it me for my 21st and if I ever lost or broke it I should imagine I'd be heartbroken.
Strangely enough the default choice recently has been the citizen!
ETA: I should say, it's clearly not in the same league as the IWC, but my parents got it me for my 21st and if I ever lost or broke it I should imagine I'd be heartbroken.
Edited by TeaNoSugar on Wednesday 27th March 13:19
I'm not sure I am exactly 'opposite' and I don't think my feelings are typical, but...
My 42mm Spitfire Chrono receives about a couple of week's worth of wrist time a year, where my Rolex ND Sub is my usual daily.
I had to send my Spitfire back to IWC twice with faults, within a year or so of owning it, and it is now sitting in a box (guess I've had it around 6 or 7 years) awaiting a trip to the PO to go for a service and case refurb... Before I consider whether to sell it or keep it.
I was particularly disappointed with the case. The metal seems much softer than any of my other watches on rotation (Rolex, Tag, Seiko) and has picked up a couple of nasty dings on the lugs and a few scratches. The strap rotted through, relatively early on, but we have lived in a number of hot/ humid climates, so I won't hold that against them, though genuine straps are pricey (I never liked the look of the bracelet, I'm afraid).
So, in summary, I think it's a great looking watch but I wouldn't buy it if given the chance again. Still, I managed to get my hands on it the week after they released the 42mm at Basel and only paid something like GBP1,950, which seems like a bargain, looking at the prices now! They are a great watch, I think I just got a 'Friday' watch, which has taken time and money to sort and when I bought my Sub, that was just because my IWC was back at IWC for a service and I could never part with that.
Mrs9 thinks it is my best looking watch and loves it. The former Mrs9 used to wear it and I loved it on her - looked very 'on trend' with the large case etc but she wouldn't have had the chance if it was getting enough wrist time with me. I wouldn't recommend someone didn't buy one, if that was their dream watch, but I am somewhat 'over' IWC at the current prices.
Hope that's not overly negative and I am pleased you have had such a good experience - just relaying my tail!
My 42mm Spitfire Chrono receives about a couple of week's worth of wrist time a year, where my Rolex ND Sub is my usual daily.
I had to send my Spitfire back to IWC twice with faults, within a year or so of owning it, and it is now sitting in a box (guess I've had it around 6 or 7 years) awaiting a trip to the PO to go for a service and case refurb... Before I consider whether to sell it or keep it.
I was particularly disappointed with the case. The metal seems much softer than any of my other watches on rotation (Rolex, Tag, Seiko) and has picked up a couple of nasty dings on the lugs and a few scratches. The strap rotted through, relatively early on, but we have lived in a number of hot/ humid climates, so I won't hold that against them, though genuine straps are pricey (I never liked the look of the bracelet, I'm afraid).
So, in summary, I think it's a great looking watch but I wouldn't buy it if given the chance again. Still, I managed to get my hands on it the week after they released the 42mm at Basel and only paid something like GBP1,950, which seems like a bargain, looking at the prices now! They are a great watch, I think I just got a 'Friday' watch, which has taken time and money to sort and when I bought my Sub, that was just because my IWC was back at IWC for a service and I could never part with that.
Mrs9 thinks it is my best looking watch and loves it. The former Mrs9 used to wear it and I loved it on her - looked very 'on trend' with the large case etc but she wouldn't have had the chance if it was getting enough wrist time with me. I wouldn't recommend someone didn't buy one, if that was their dream watch, but I am somewhat 'over' IWC at the current prices.
Hope that's not overly negative and I am pleased you have had such a good experience - just relaying my tail!
I refrained from replying because I don't like feeding trolls, but I agree with you. Eight years or thereabouts on my wrist and yes, it is "patinated" but it was only that somehow the crown had come unscrewed and I didn't notice it. Simple as that. It still screws back up, so the reason will remain a mystery I guess, but it was never off my wrist, whether swimming, shower or whatever. So it's been sent to Dom and he says a simple clean should sort it.
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