For New Collectors: 5 IWC Watches Under $10,000


IWC is a collector favorite with several iconic collections. Names like Portuguese, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, and of course pilots’ watches from the “Mark” series, have earned their places in the horological hall of fame. Here are five current IWC watch models that are in stores now, priced below $10,000.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII

The IWC name is practically synonymous with pilots’ watches. The company has been manufacturing them since 1936. The best-known, the Mark 11, went into production in 1948 and continued until 1981, ultimately achieving cult status among collectors.

Our first featured watch is the latest in the Mark line – the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII. Measuring 41 mm in diameter and priced at $4,900, this watch is comfortable on the wrist and the wallet. The date window presents a vertical display, similar to instruments found in aircraft cockpits. To keep the price accessible, the movement is the IWC 30110, which is produced by a third-party manufacturer to IWC specifications. A soft-iron inner case protects the movement from magnetism.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII
The Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII is the latest in a line that originated in 1936.


IWC Portofino Chronograph

Famous for its sporty Ingenieurs, Aquatimers and Pilots’ watches, the IWC Portofino collection is sometimes overlooked. It shouldn’t be. Portofinos offer classic good looks in many forms, and the chronograph is a particularly striking example. The lines are clean and well-balanced, and the dial blends dress and sports elements to create a versatile look that can be worn anywhere. At 42 mm x 13.5 mm, the size is just right.

The displays beneath the sapphire crystal include day and date, central chronograph seconds, continuous hacking seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock. Small red numerals on the chronograph counters add a hint of spice. All of the indications are absolutely legible, as they should be on a proper chronograph. The displays are powered by a automatic movement produced by a Swiss movement specialist to IWC’s specifications.

The IWC Portofino Chronograph is priced at $6,100.

IWC Portofino Chronograph
The IWC Portofino Chronograph offers sporty yet elegant looks that can be worn anywhere.

IWC Aquatimer Automatic

Dive watches are available with a variety of complications, and while models with bells and whistles can be both great looking and useful, the added functions are often unnecessary for the stated purpose of the watch, namely diving. To do the job they were made for, these timepieces benefit from clean, legible displays, and therein lies the attraction of dive watches in their purest form. Simplicity begets utility, and they still look great.

The IWC Aquatimer Automatic is available with black or silver-plated dials, and with a choice of rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet. On the black-dialed model shown below, the dive-related displays are coated with green Super-LumiNova. The simple dial and bezel design facilitates instant recognition underwater. This watch also features IWC’s innovative external/internal SafeDive rotating bezel. The device that looks like a second crown at 9 o’clock is actually a housing for a drive wheel and pinion. Turning the external bezel, which offers excellent grip, rotates the internal bezel via the wheel and pinion mechanism.

At 42 mm in diameter and 14 mm thick, this is the smallest member of the Aquatimer family. Water resistance is 30 bar, or 300 meters. The bracelet offers IWC’s quick-change system, which allows the owner to switch between bracelet and strap with no special tools. The caliber 30120 movement is Swiss-made by a movement specialist to IWC’s specifications.

The IWC Aquatimer Automatic, on a bracelet as shown, retails for $6,750.

IWC Aquatimer Automatic
The IWC Aquatimer Automatic is the purest form of the Aquatimer aesthetic.

 

IWC Ingenieur Automatic

The Ingenieur is another IWC icon. Several models are available, but as with the Aquatimer, a strong case can be made for the pure lines of the Automatic. One of the most convincing arguments lies in the proportions. At 40 mm x 10 mm, this model sits well on the most wrists. The Automatic’s big brothers may impress with imposing size, but for average individuals, this watch offers excellent fit and comfort.

Aesthetically, the classic model most closely respects the family’s traditional design cues. Famous watch designer Gérald Genta penned the conspicuous bores in the bezel. Like all great watch designs, the Ingenieur is instantly recognizable, and it is among the toughest-looking fine timepieces on the market. A sapphire crystal and screw-in crown add to the feeling of security.

The Swiss-made automatic movement offers hacking seconds and a 42-hour power reserve. A soft-iron inner case shields the movement from magnetism. Water resistance is 12 bar, or 120 meters.

The IWC Ingenieur Automatic lists for $6,800.

IWC Ingenieur Automatic
The Ingenieur Automatic offers rugged good looks and an unmistakable design.

 

IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer

IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer is intended for pilots, frequent flyers, and anyone who needs to keep track of the time in other parts of the world. The hour and minute hands show the local time, and as the owner passes through time zones, the time can be adjusted forward or backward in one hour increments via the crown to display the new local time, even when crossing the international date line. Once the time is set, the rotating black-and-white 24-hour ring allows the owner to read the time in all 24 time zones. When the local time is changed on the dial, the time displayed on the ring is not affected because the movement continues to run during the changeover.

The Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer case measures 45 mm in diameter and 13.5 mm thick. The movement is an ETA-base with an IWC module, and a soft-iron inner case protects it from magnetism.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer is priced at $9,650.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Worldtimer is designed for anyone who needs to track two time zones.

This article was originally published in 2014; prices are subject to change.

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No Responses to “For New Collectors: 5 IWC Watches Under $10,000”

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  1. Dr Vikram Gangaramani

    Hi,any perpentual calander watch or limited edition under 10000 dollars

    Reply
  2. Steve Schall

    I have a pilot watch, special edition Little Prince chronograph with the blue face. It is beautiful and is within 5 seconds of perfect time a MONTH, after setting it. This is far better than any Rolex I have owned. I plan to get a Portuguese chronograph soon. IWC is a winner.

    Reply
  3. Yes, the price is attractive but overall very disappointed with IWC. Now they are putting ETA movements in the 40MM Ingy and did away with the 3227. The exposed date wheel is a nice fashion move but put an in-house mov’t in the Mark series Pilot and they would fly off the shelf.. Overall, IWC watches have become oversized and overpriced…Seems like they are falling behind..

    Reply
  4. Debashish

    I am a subscriber of Watchtime Magazine, apart from that I visit your website at least once daily as your articles are very well written with a lot of useful information.

    Unfortunately, photographs that you upload are not very good, in fact, there are some watch-related websites that provide us with outstanding photographs of timepieces.

    So, please upload better photographs of timepieces for us.

    You see there are many timepieces, which many watch-lovers and I can never afford to buy, so, all we can do is enjoy those watch photographs.

    Reply
  5. Robin Henry

    Any of the IWC watches would be nice to own, I especially like the Aquatimer. If I win the lottery any time soon, I’ll buy one.

    Reply
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