Background: I've long admired the IWC Aquatimer range. I believe the 3536 is about as perfect as they come, and I recently have been shopping around for one. The problem with the 3536s, from my standpoint, is that I don't think in good conscience I could subject one to the daily abuse I put my watches through. They're just too collectible for that IMO.
I know some don't love the current gen 3568 ATs, but I really do. The black/yellow one that has made its way through the ranks here really makes me smile. The white dial version seems to be less common than the black dial. This one went up for sale last weekend, and I really couldn't get it out of my head. I shipped off my SAR (see my thread on Sentimentality) and ended up with this.
I'm not going to do an in-depth review, as Jason posted an excellent review of the black dial on rubber when he got it, and I haven't had this one very long. I'll just hit a few salient points:
- The size and weight is great, even on the bracelet. The dimensions are almost exactly those of the Sinn U1, and the downward-curving lugs help it sit well on the wrist.
- The fit and finish is top notch.
- The bracelet is everything I'd heard it would be. It's extremely easy to size. No micro adjustment is a bummer, but there's a half link on the bracelet, so it's easy to get a good fit.
- The bracelet has PCLs, which are not my favorite though.
- The dial has a lot of depth to it. The dial indices project well above the dial. The center of the dial steps down from the minute track. The hands float well above the dial itself. Somehow, IWC is able to create this depth despite the fact that the chapter ring is not very thick at all. Altogether, it's a very cool effect.
- The white dial really pops. It's a beautiful white, and it's very legible, as the indices and hands are outlined in black.
- There's a significant bit o' bling on this one, with the bracelet PCLs and the shine from the sapphire bezel. It's definitely a far cry from the understated 3536, even though there is some readily-apparent 3536 DNA in this iteration.
All in all, I'm really happy. I can see this one being a keeper.
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). Otherwise, it certainly is one handsome watch.
