Totally Underwhelmed

[whoami]

I went to have a look at an IWC Big Pilot on Saturday. I was really expecting to like (and buy) the piece but was left totally cold.

It had a pretty insubstantial feel for a watch of this price and I was left with an "emperor's new clothes" feeling about it.

Anyone else had this feeling or am I in a minority of one?

Cheers

[SpydieNut]

i don't think they're all hype if that's what you're asking

they are stunning watches - maybe the style of that model just didn't do it for you.

i wouldn't write off the brand on the basis of one model though

IMHO

[2 5HAN]

Local IWC dealer has one and told me that they are supposed to be very rare and hard to get hold of? Not sure if that is true or if they were just trying to raise my interest? Anybody care to throw any light on that?
Didn't really see the appeal myself i think for the money there are a lot of other alternatives that you could consider.
Having said that i am very tempted by a Pilot Chrono they have there....

[whoami]

SpydieNut said:

i don't think they're all hype if that's what you're asking

they are stunning watches - maybe the style of that model just didn't do it for you.

i wouldn't write off the brand on the basis of one model though

IMHO

I already have a couple of other IWC pieces so it's not the style that I was put off by (I wouldn't have made the journey if I hadn't been really interested in buying).

Apart from the seven day power reserve complication, it just had nothing to make it a c£7K purchase. Even the jeweller, who I've bought a number of other pieces from, was unmoved and advised against buying.

I really wanted to like this.

[whoami]

2 5HAN said:

Local IWC dealer has one and told me that they are supposed to be very rare and hard to get hold of? Not sure if that is true or if they were just trying to raise my interest? Anybody care to throw any light on that?
Didn't really see the appeal myself i think for the money there are a lot of other alternatives that you could consider.
Having said that i am very tempted by a Pilot Chrono they have there....

The dealer I was in had had 2 in stock for a number of weeks and was prepared to discount. Not rare then.

I agree with you that there are loads of better alternatives at this price point.

[Cuchillo]

I would love a BP in the collection. I think its a very nice watch and has a certain gravitas about it

My understanding was that the WG version of the BP would be easier to come by than the steel version. However, non of them are actually "unavailable".

TTFN

[JOETHETOE]

I love it, the style etc IMHO is great, JLC Master Chrono Extreme is the only other circa 7k watch I would have that is a similar-ish style, have you looked at one of these???

[JOETHETOE]

[catmatt]

From what I understand they are not easily come by. My AD has one on permanent order but very rarely has one in stock. The last one he had, I bought.

I do like it as a watch, but I think that it is important to see it for what at is, a functional workign watch. I have cheaper IWC's that I think are more aesthetic watches, but the BP has a special place in my collection. For me it is a weekend watch, rather than a a daily wear for work watch. I think it is a little more casual and quite understated, if I had wanted something more obvious I would have bought a Rolex.

[lowdrag]

When I bought my Spitfire chrono at Brent Cross last year they had one in the window and I tried it on while they took a link or two out of my bracelet. Now I'm not puny but at the same time not big boned yet this watch was way over each side of my wrist. I would say that as an IWC it will be well made and that the weight shouldn't affect your decision - my old Breitling Steelfish is much heavier although smaller than my Spitfire yet they are both good watches - but can you wear it without looking a bit stupid? I couldn't surely. Anyway, I didn't like it that much really - too bling for my taste. As regards availibility, they seem to be available pretty well everywhere including two on Ebay at the moment. Loo here for example:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IWC-Big-Pilot-7-day-Power-Re...

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 21st April 15:12