BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
IWC is a mixed bag for me. They make (and have made) some absolutely stunning watches such as the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph, Portuguese Perpetual Calendar and the Portugieser Chronograph. But, they also produce some of the plainest watches around appearance-wise. I’m reasonably sure this new watch belongs in the latter camp. I hope it’s a technically excellent piece because I’m not sold on the appearance, although that is subjective.
The rounded case of the new piece is 41mm in diameter and made from ceramic which has been coloured blue. The dial is also blue, and the strap (I’d make an Eiffel 65 joke here, but Hodinkee already did that). There isn’t much to the dial. It’s spartan but functional with large markers and hands that have undoubtedly been slathered in lume. There’s a date window at 3 O’clock too. Umm, the end of the seconds hand has been given a red tip for, er, readability, I guess… I’ve run out of stuff to say, let’s move on.
Inside the ceramic case (and under a titanium caseback) is the calibre 32111, an in-house movement with a 5-day power reserve a d a 4Hz beat rate. It’s also protected from magnetism by a soft iron cage around it, and, um, it has 21 jewels. I’ve run out of words again.
The case is water-resistant to 100m and presented on a strap based on rubber but with a blue textile inlay. That’s it. Do you see the problem here? I like the functionality of this watch, but there are no flairs for me to talk about, no pizazz. Also, it’s ridiculously expensive for what it is. IWC wants $6250, and luckily, they’re only making 750 of them. I’m sure other folks have more to say. Apart from mentioning the fact that this supports the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation (which provides hope for impoverished children and young people across the world by fighting violence and discrimination), I can’t think of much to say.
Visit IWC here.
