New IWC Spitfire Collection
- logan2z
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New IWC Spitfire Collection
A whole host of new Spitfire models has been announced by IWC, all with new in-house movements.
I like the chronograph quite a bit and the UTC model is unique and cool, but that red 'SPITFIRE' text is a real turn-off. Why does IWC always nearly get it right but kill it for me with one annoying design misstep?
Prices aren't bad considering the in-house movements: $4350 for the standard pilot and $5700 for the chronograph, in steel. 39mm for the standard pilot and 41mm for the chronograph, so a bit smaller than previous models. Some models offer bronze cases with green dials too.
Details at Hodinkee...
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/iwc-p ... ntroducing
I like the chronograph quite a bit and the UTC model is unique and cool, but that red 'SPITFIRE' text is a real turn-off. Why does IWC always nearly get it right but kill it for me with one annoying design misstep?
Prices aren't bad considering the in-house movements: $4350 for the standard pilot and $5700 for the chronograph, in steel. 39mm for the standard pilot and 41mm for the chronograph, so a bit smaller than previous models. Some models offer bronze cases with green dials too.
Details at Hodinkee...
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/iwc-p ... ntroducing
- JP Chestnut
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
IWC just couldn’t help ripping off the red sub text. They’re dick riders to the extreme.
I like the idea of a mark whatever with an in-house movement, though I’m not sure I’d like to deal with richemont long term.
I like the idea of a mark whatever with an in-house movement, though I’m not sure I’d like to deal with richemont long term.
- JP Chestnut
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Also, there’s a crack in the lume of that chronograph in the first picture. Nice.
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Finally an in-house...Spitfire chrono looks pretty good. Maybe the Mark gets an in-house next???
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Wasn't sure what I was doing in 2019 besides waiting for Pepsi. Now I do
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Nah a bit washed out. This is it. Like IWC listened and delivered, no dumb windshield wiper date windows no empty dial last year in house 3890. Just perfect
- logan2z
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I'm with you. The black ceramic Top Gun or the Spitfire Chronograph in steel would be my choice. Just wish they didn't have the red text, the previous Spitfire models didn't have/need it. Maybe it's not so egregious in person.
- rockmastermike
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- goaliechris
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Well, damn. That’s really nice. Checks a lot of boxes.
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I think in house movements are so stupid as it raises prices and servicing costs. ETA really threw people into a panic, but their actions backfired on them as Miyota was ready to pump out as many 9015s as the micro market needed. Now they forced others to put out in -house movements, and yet none are any better at telling time or being more able to be chronometer certified.
The ETA 2892-2 was a movement that almost any company could modify to their needs as a 3 hander or as a base for a chronograph. It was thin enough that these modifications kept the chronograph quite slim and most watch makers could service them.
Now the customer has to pay more to offset the costs of in-house movements and pay higher servicing fees including sending their watch back to the factory or very few authorized AD service centers. A lose-lose for the consumers.
It’s too bad. We shall see how much this impacts IWC sales over the next decade or so and I wonder if it will force them into a takeover position by a larger conglomerate like Swatch Corp, that will just put back ETA based (in-house) movements back into these watches again. Which leaves those with the in-house a bit SOoL when it comes to finding parts decades down the road.
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The ETA 2892-2 was a movement that almost any company could modify to their needs as a 3 hander or as a base for a chronograph. It was thin enough that these modifications kept the chronograph quite slim and most watch makers could service them.
Now the customer has to pay more to offset the costs of in-house movements and pay higher servicing fees including sending their watch back to the factory or very few authorized AD service centers. A lose-lose for the consumers.
It’s too bad. We shall see how much this impacts IWC sales over the next decade or so and I wonder if it will force them into a takeover position by a larger conglomerate like Swatch Corp, that will just put back ETA based (in-house) movements back into these watches again. Which leaves those with the in-house a bit SOoL when it comes to finding parts decades down the road.
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- logan2z
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I'm hoping that most/all of these are actually available at ADs and not exclusively available online at full MSRP
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Personally, in-house movements are one of the first things I’m willing to pay extra money for. The innovation and engineering that a brand must possess to create and manufacture their own movement is part of why I like mechanical watches in the first place.Champagne InHand wrote:I think in house movements are so stupid as it raises prices and servicing costs. ETA really threw people into a panic, but their actions backfired on them as Miyota was ready to pump out as many 9015s as the micro market needed. Now they forced others to put out in -house movements, and yet none are any better at telling time or being more able to be chronometer certified.
The ETA 2892-2 was a movement that almost any company could modify to their needs as a 3 hander or as a base for a chronograph. It was thin enough that these modifications kept the chronograph quite slim and most watch makers could service them.
Now the customer has to pay more to offset the costs of in-house movements and pay higher servicing fees including sending their watch back to the factory or very few authorized AD service centers. A lose-lose for the consumers.
It’s too bad. We shall see how much this impacts IWC sales over the next decade or so and I wonder if it will force them into a takeover position by a larger conglomerate like Swatch Corp, that will just put back ETA based (in-house) movements back into these watches again. Which leaves those with the in-house a bit SOoL when it comes to finding parts decades down the road.
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Hmmm...
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Same. Shows effort. It's no worse than a Val 7750 equipped IWC for 5K while other chronos with the same movement are 1-2Kmatt.wu wrote: ↑Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:27 pmPersonally, in-house movements are one of the first things I’m willing to pay extra money for. The innovation and engineering that a brand must possess to create and manufacture their own movement is part of why I like mechanical watches in the first place.Champagne InHand wrote:I think in house movements are so stupid as it raises prices and servicing costs. ETA really threw people into a panic, but their actions backfired on them as Miyota was ready to pump out as many 9015s as the micro market needed. Now they forced others to put out in -house movements, and yet none are any better at telling time or being more able to be chronometer certified.
The ETA 2892-2 was a movement that almost any company could modify to their needs as a 3 hander or as a base for a chronograph. It was thin enough that these modifications kept the chronograph quite slim and most watch makers could service them.
Now the customer has to pay more to offset the costs of in-house movements and pay higher servicing fees including sending their watch back to the factory or very few authorized AD service centers. A lose-lose for the consumers.
It’s too bad. We shall see how much this impacts IWC sales over the next decade or so and I wonder if it will force them into a takeover position by a larger conglomerate like Swatch Corp, that will just put back ETA based (in-house) movements back into these watches again. Which leaves those with the in-house a bit SOoL when it comes to finding parts decades down the road.
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- Jeep99dad
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
Totally agree.matt.wu wrote:Personally, in-house movements are one of the first things I’m willing to pay extra money for. The innovation and engineering that a brand must possess to create and manufacture their own movement is part of why I like mechanical watches in the first place.Champagne InHand wrote:I think in house movements are so stupid as it raises prices and servicing costs. ETA really threw people into a panic, but their actions backfired on them as Miyota was ready to pump out as many 9015s as the micro market needed. Now they forced others to put out in -house movements, and yet none are any better at telling time or being more able to be chronometer certified.
The ETA 2892-2 was a movement that almost any company could modify to their needs as a 3 hander or as a base for a chronograph. It was thin enough that these modifications kept the chronograph quite slim and most watch makers could service them.
Now the customer has to pay more to offset the costs of in-house movements and pay higher servicing fees including sending their watch back to the factory or very few authorized AD service centers. A lose-lose for the consumers.
It’s too bad. We shall see how much this impacts IWC sales over the next decade or so and I wonder if it will force them into a takeover position by a larger conglomerate like Swatch Corp, that will just put back ETA based (in-house) movements back into these watches again. Which leaves those with the in-house a bit SOoL when it comes to finding parts decades down the road.
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Charging 4-5k + for a SW300 is not better. Iwc needs to snow what they can do
Merde Alors! Et Vive Les Francais!
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I thought the FDE version would’ve been cool with the standard dial but even with a little photoshop I’d still go classic black ceramic.
Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
The whole point of a ceramic watch is to have a black watch that doesn't scratch. I don't need a ceramic watch that looks like steel.
- Skinny Rogers
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I really like the 39mm steel case...
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Re: New IWC Spitfire Collection
I’m still waiting for a line on the 3777-24.