IWC Question
By: andrewG (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Hi all,
I know we do not have an IWC forum so I thought to post this here.
Can anyone tell me the difference between the IW371713 (basic pilots chrono) and the IW371431 (Portuguese Chrono-Automatic). Having seen both in an AD lately I am lead to believe that they share the same basic movement, except that the pilots chrono has day / date and an extra register (and the anti-magnetic cage).
Is this the complete difference? And if it is why is there a premium on the portuguese chrono- the pilots chrono has a beautifully finished case and bracelet and the dial quality seems similar.
I already have 3 IWCs and had thought to add another one to my collection to celebrate my wedding in August and just want to make a more informed opinion (both have different attractions to me and I am undecided which one "speaks" to me more).
Similar movements
By: boulderben (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Both based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750, but maybe you are paying for the extra jewels in the 371431 - just kidding. It may just be a Portuguese line vs. Pilot line price-point thing. The premium on the Portuguese is not that drastic is it?
I've owned both
By: SJX (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
And I am certain it is a pricing strategy to reflect the higher position of the Portuguese line in IWC's collection, as opposed to any significant intrinsic difference.
- SJX
Agree, SJX
By: amanico (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
Same movement, but not same marketting position!
Best.
Nicolas
Thanks SJX...
By: andrewG (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
...in your opinion which offered better value (difficult to define I know!)
Honestly I thought the pilots chrono had a much better case machining and the bracelet (while nothing special) was well made. In tandem with the obvious benefits of the day-date I just do not see the port' getting a look in. Of course design and attraction has a lot to do with it and I am not dismissing the port' just curious.
Indeed while the port' chrono is losing some of its attraction that 8-day is gaining more. I guess I have a point I reach where if I spend over 5K I feel I am in the 5-10k region and might as well go "full hog". It is a physcological thing in terms of value but in my mind the pilots chrono offers great value compared to the port' chrono as does the 8-day when compared to it too although they are at different price points!!!
The Fliegerchronograph is better value but...
By: SJX (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
the Portuguese is infinitely more beautiful. The biggest
drawback of the new Fliegerchronograph is firstly, the new bracelet which is not
made up of 5 individual links across like the old one; and second, the engraving
on the caseback is much smaller and more shallow than the wonderfully done
engraving on the previous generation. Both of that appear to me as attempts to
cut costs.
- SJX
Movement difference
By: Patrick (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
IWC extensively reworks all of their ETA movements, however I suspect at least some of the price difference is due to the fact that the 7750 in the Portuguese Chronograph has been modified far beyond the version in the 3717.
If you take a look at the position of the seconds sub-dial it is relocated. This allows IWC to retain the continuously running seconds feature in the bicompax (two sub-dial) arrangement.
Most other IWC models that use the 7750 (Aquatimer, Portofino) are priced similarly to the 3717.
-P
Another IWC Question
By: JediWatchFool (registered) Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
...sorry guys, but please bear with me...
The Ingenieur series,... do they contain ETA based movements or JLC based movements? Or am I confusing this with the VC Overseas? Or am I just wrong?
Inge...
By: andrewG (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008
...The inge has IWCs own in-house movement, as with sopme of the new vintage range watches- Cal 80110. I have tried to attached a pic below taken from IWC website. The older version of the Inge used to use ETA, and before that a IWC in-house pellation winding movement (similar to the new movement). A quick look through this site and you will find an interesting article on the entire evolution of the Inge through its various generations.
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The chrono is 7750 based, the automatic....?
By: SJX (registered) Thursday, May 15th, 2008
The Ingenieur chronograph uses a modified Valjoux 7750, while the Ingenieur automatic uses a movement that is designed and manufactured in-house at IWC. But the latter cal. 8000 does use the baseplate and gear train (and maybe the escapement also, I can't remember) of the Valjoux 7750 so it is not a completely new movement.
- SJX
