IWC Tribute to 3705

[logan2z]

It's official...

https://www.iwc.com/us/en/specials/ecom ... -3705.html

Unfortunately, I think they screwed up the dial. But the price is better than rumored, $11,900.

[Cabaiguan]

Price is better than expected. Seems like they are taking preorders instead of just selling outright?

[Panerai7]

They have absolutely failed building any value.
There’s nothing in it worth price hike of $4000 over this one which is actually ceramic and not baked titanium, and can be easily had from AD for $6300-6500

[sierra11b]

Prefer the current top gun

[Cabaiguan]

Plus the TG keeps the SS pushers which I like as it adds contrast to the all black case. $12k is a tough pill.

[Panerai7]

Plus the TG keeps the SS pushers which I like as it adds contrast to the all black case. $12k is a tough pill.

Online exclusive. Clever, no one will ever know how many they sell (6-8 probably)
Also being online only, the delta widens even further. Full MSRP plus tax. So ~13K-ish vs $6500 for Top Gun from AD out of state. I think I'm overestimating 6-8

[JP Chestnut]

Oof, that dial sucks. A 1-to-1 copy in whatever size they wanted to make it would have been so much better than this.

[goaliechris]

Yeah this is a disappointing effort. I prefer the Top Gun for all of the reasons already stated. Just a swing and a miss.


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[logan2z]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

[JP Chestnut]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

The 3706 is a weird watch that I think most people would find suboptimal in size. I liked mine, but it's definitely 7750-thick with a small diameter.

This new 3705 could have fixed some real problems with the sizing of the original but they screwed it. Bigly.

[logan2z]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

The 3706 is a weird watch that I think most people would find suboptimal in size. I liked mine, but it's definitely 7750-thick with a small diameter.

This new 3705 could have fixed some real problems with the sizing of the original but they screwed it. Bigly.

I've never had one on the wrist so it might wear a bit weird at 39mm with the thickness of a 7750 watch. But I certainly prefer the appearance of it to this Tribute.

[jimyritz]

It's not bad---$12K????

I'd rather have the IWC Pilot Watch Spitfire Chrono at $5900

[JP Chestnut]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

The 3706 is a weird watch that I think most people would find suboptimal in size. I liked mine, but it's definitely 7750-thick with a small diameter.

This new 3705 could have fixed some real problems with the sizing of the original but they screwed it. Bigly.

I've never had one on the wrist so it might wear a bit weird at 39mm with the thickness of a 7750 watch. But I certainly prefer the appearance of it to this Tribute.

Definitely. It's a great looking watch. I can't recall, have you had a Mark 15? I expected the 3706 to wear similarly but slightly thicker. In reality, it's much more chunky like an Omega PO 8500. Still a great watch if you can deal with the size.

[logan2z]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

The 3706 is a weird watch that I think most people would find suboptimal in size. I liked mine, but it's definitely 7750-thick with a small diameter.

This new 3705 could have fixed some real problems with the sizing of the original but they screwed it. Bigly.

I've never had one on the wrist so it might wear a bit weird at 39mm with the thickness of a 7750 watch. But I certainly prefer the appearance of it to this Tribute.

Definitely. It's a great looking watch. I can't recall, have you had a Mark 15? I expected the 3706 to wear similarly but slightly thicker. In reality, it's much more chunky like an Omega PO 8500. Still a great watch if you can deal with the size.

I currently have a Mark XV and love the way it wears. But, yeah, it is only 11mm thick compared to the 3706's 15mm.

[kempoman]

Sorry, I am not sure if i get the excitement for a 3705. The only difference i can see is the ceramic casing for a flieger chronograph.

[matt.wu]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

This was the easy answer for me. The 3777-24. I didn’t want the ceramic, and for the price, I didn’t need in-house. This one’s even got the numerals that everyone wants.

[logan2z]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

This was the easy answer for me. The 3777-24. I didn’t want the ceramic, and for the price, I didn’t need in-house. This one’s even got the numerals that everyone wants.

They got the dial right on that one. I recall people scoffing at the size when it was released but it doesn't look too big at all on your wrist.

[BBK357]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

This was the easy answer for me. The 3777-24. I didn’t want the ceramic, and for the price, I didn’t need in-house. This one’s even got the numerals that everyone wants.

I’d be all in on that IWC. Perfect.


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[Panerai7]

If you can live without a ceramic case, I'd track down a nice example of the 3706. You get the real deal with the classic dial for a fraction of the price. Or, go for the new Spitfire Chronograph for $6K with the same in-house movement as the 3705 Tribute.

This was the easy answer for me. The 3777-24. I didn’t want the ceramic, and for the price, I didn’t need in-house. This one’s even got the numerals that everyone wants.

I’d be all in on that IWC. Perfect.


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There’s one on recon, been available for over a month. If anyone likes this model it’s a decent deal for $4700

[Knome]

The choice is easy, for anyone that doesn't like this or any other particular IWC piece, they usually always have other options... And if the other options are cheaper, even better. A couple of great ones in this thread too. I don't think they "screwed up" or failed horribly on this piece, if they made this tribute exactly the same as the 3705, online forums and comment sections would still have posts from people complaining about something. These brands always make little tweaks, I don't see the big deal.

The price however is definitely kind of a bummer, but ceratanium has always been a hard sell to collectors, let alone mainstream audiences. The value proposition is just hard to convey. I don't see it ever becoming a mainstay in the collection. Reading comments online about this watch.... just seems like this is going to be the original 3705 story all over again, except this time it's more intentional.

[logan2z]

I don't see the big deal.

Not a big deal. It's a watch, not life or death. I just think so many other brands do a much better job than IWC when it comes to 'Tribute' or reissue models. In my opinion, IWC comes across as either lazy, arrogant, or out of touch with what collectors want. And if these Tribute models aren't geared towards collectors and people knowledgable with the brand's history, then who are they geared for?

We give Hodinkee a ton of crap on this forum, but when they release an LE they usually nail the design - it's usually exactly what collectors want, which is why it sells out in a matter of minutes and commands a premium on the secondary market. They don't make little tweaks or try to get too creative. They simply take a successful design from the past and recreate it in order to satisfy collector demand.

Longines is another company that knows how to do reissues/tribute pieces. For the past several years they have churned out models from their back catalog that are essentially exact recreations of popular vintage pieces, and they are popular with collectors - at a fraction of IWC prices.

The recent Zenith reissues of the A384/6 are nearly identical to the originals, and collectors did backflips over them.

In IWC's case, the Tribute to Mark XI was a flop. Nobody seemed to be overly excited about it and, if memory serves, it didn't exactly fly off the shelves. I'm curious to see if the 3705 Tribute does any better, but I personally think it's another misfire. I was excited when it was rumored that it was a collaboration with Hodinkee because that would have almost guaranteed that the watch would be faithful to the original. But left to their own devices, IWC produced what really appears like a parts bin watch. They couldn't even bother to get the font right when they had already produced the 3777-24 with the correct font - and that watch wasn't even billed as a Tribute watch. It really boggles the mind.

I like the brand and have defended them in the past, but they continue to disappoint by setting high expectations and then failing to deliver.

[Knome]

Well if they don't sell out and do ok on the secondhand market, you're probably right. It's a big fuckin deal.

Otherwise a thousand eventual owners of the piece will be happy with their purchase and we just called all of them not true collectors.

[JP Chestnut]

Stop taking it so seriously. It’s a fact that Richemont did chase away a lot of IWC’s collector community. Secondary prices on things like the 3536 haven’t risen at all in 10 years. If you like them that’s fine. Many aren’t so favorable.

Andrew made a more than fair statement.

[AtomicTom]

Well it's still awesome to see no matter how you slice it Andrew !

I didn't miss the 90's, but certainly don't mind reliving them with
this beauty here. Or at least the pictures of this beauty to be a
little more accurate. Oh, and the dial looks fine to me sir !

The whole watch looks fine. Or incredible to me ! ..Thanks a lot
for the news about it !!!

[logan2z]

FYI, it looks like there are more to be had...

https://www.iwc.com/us/en/watch-collect ... -3705.html

And a couple a bit above MSRP that have been sitting on the forums for a couple of months...

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/fsot ... t.5294728/

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/lnib ... 5.5286668/