Cracked ceramic IWC case

Cracked ceramic IWC case

Author
Discussion

sasha320

Original Poster:

598 posts

256 months

Sunday 7th June 2020
quotequote all
I have managed to crack the ceramic case of my 2010 IWC Top Gun IWC Double Chronograph.

Does anyone know if IWC will still be able to supply and fit a new replacement case for this model?

I understand the cost could be as high as £4k (strip, fit new case, rebuild and service) as it is a new case that’ll be required (and I’m fine with that); but I’ve also read they don’t make them / stock them anymore and I won’t be able to find out until the IWC shop and repair centre opens.

Anybody have any ideas?

Voldemort

6,610 posts

286 months

Sunday 7th June 2020
quotequote all
I'd e-mail IWC HQ first off to see if they have a stock of suitable cases.

How did it happen? Have you insurance to cover it?

CardShark

4,206 posts

187 months

Sunday 7th June 2020
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You're not the first and won't be the last, ceramic cases (and, more commonly, bezel inserts) are fantastically scratch resistant however they don't suffer well with hard and sudden shocks. I hope that insurance will cover it because, as you've said, it's not going to be cheap.

As above, I'd contact IWC directly.

sasha320

Original Poster:

598 posts

256 months

Sunday 7th June 2020
quotequote all
I had already spoken to IWC who are simply answering calls and providing basic information and customer support for online shopping.

All technical / service / repairs / parts / specialist queries will have to wait until the service centre(s) opened.

The watch case broke because I dropped it onto a hard floor.

Although I am comfortable with the case replacement cost, I am wondering whether an OEM replacement case exists In stock as this watch is no longer produced.


Voldemort

6,610 posts

286 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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If you're comfortable with case replacement cost and you're guessing that could be around £4k then why not drop another grand at it for this:
https://www.chrono24.com/iwc/pilot-top-gun-double-...

sasha320

Original Poster:

598 posts

256 months

Monday 8th June 2020
quotequote all
This is part of my thinking process. I guess the options are

1. Repair (£?)
2. Replace case (second hand case) (£1.5k plus labour to fit)
3. Replace case (brand new spare part case) (£?)
4. Replace watch (like-for-like) (£5k to £9k)
5. Replace watch (for latest model) (£11k)
6. Replace watch with something else
7. Do nothing (for now) and use another watch (£0)

So I figure I understand my options and I have a cost against all of the options except 1. and 3.

According to the internet a repair would be possible with some sort of filler / glue compound and visually the repair could be polished out to be almost invisible. However I can’t identify a supplier yet and I am unsure of the water resistance post any repair. IWC aren’t likely to want / be able to repair it, nor warrant the watch after any official service work.


Edited by sasha320 on Monday 8th June 12:06

rog007

5,778 posts

232 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Sell it for spares and buy second hand? Should hopefully be much less than repairing via the manufacturer.

hvaerjeg

1 posts

43 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Hi. What happend here? The same thing happend with my watch last week. How much to fix?

sasha320

Original Poster:

598 posts

256 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Yep, IWC have the middle case in stock.

Total cost was

- c£2,200 middle case
- c£550 full service
- c£150 new hands and pusher

Covered by insurance thankfully.

I have since sold the watch as I couldn’t be bothered with the carryon should it happen again.

The IWC Ceratanium double chrono watch looks interesting if the case material is more resilient to sudden knocks / drops. But that watch is retailing for £10k+ which is too expensive for my tastes (until there are more second hand for c£5k).

SpartacusF

197 posts

61 months

Saturday 30th March
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Glad I searched for this as was about to press the button on an IWC ceramic pilot’s chrono.

Any updates on longevity of these cases and have they improved them since 2021?

sasha320

Original Poster:

598 posts

256 months

Sunday 31st March
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I think the Ceratanium case is a good option if you like these watches.

There doesn’t appear to be a flood of reports on the fragility of the Ceratanium cases.