What time do you wear?

A little customer service story, if you don't mind:
I sent my Aquatimer into the watch dealer Tourneau (NYC), who then sent it to IWC (Switzerland) for service. It had a few dings in the case, and one nasty scratch. They said they would completely disassemble the watch, clean and oil it, and then polish the case. They said they could not promise that all of the blemishes could be removed.

Six weeks later--that's two weeks AHEAD of schedule--it arrived back at Tourneau. Tourneau then overnighted it to me. The watch had been re-packaged in a new suede bag, protected in plastic, with not a scratch or ding on it. I often complain about the lack of good customer service in today's "your call is very important to us" world. This experience assured that the next watch I buy will be another IWC. Maybe a Portugesier in rose gold.

Howard, it seems like IWC still practices old world service, and that type of treatment makes customers for life. I can only imagine the pride and skill of their craftsmen as well.

Swiss Army, Officer's 1884 all SS, white dial, bought over 12 years ago.

'I have come unstuck in time.'

Dean,
A few years ago, we had the opportunity to meet the head of IWC at a jewelers in Seattle. Because of his visit, they had brought along with them virtually every model in the line-up. We were able to closely examine the Grande Complications watch, in which nearly every part is made of gold, as well as made by hand. It was an extraordinary piece, the second most impressive wristwatch I've seen to date. First honors goes to the Girard-Perregaux Three Bridges, which we saw in a watch museum in Switzerland. I sat over the display case like a surgeon over a patient, examining that thing for over half an hour.

A friend who is a big watch collector--he has the IWC Destriero Scafusia--once loaned me a Lange 1, a $20K watch made by Lange & Sohne. Some loaner, huh? You could get the chills simply by feeling the movement of the watch. Smoothest winding I've ever felt. I had several nice watches at the time, and they all felt gritty in comparison.

One day, I intend to get to CES. And also to the Basel Watch Fair.

An omega seamaster chrono. which I`ll be selling in the near future to fund a killer cdp. :0)