Would you buy the IWC Top Gun and how do you buy it secondhand?

[FrançoisCzapek]

IWC is making a marketing push for the Top Gun and I was thinking it's an interesting rugged/casual watch especially the ceramic versions. I'd love to have a watch with aviation or similar work heritage as an alternative to all the Aquanauts and Daytonas out there.

So would you buy the Top Gun?

1. Would you buy the Top Gun if you are already on watches in the $50-100,000 range for lack of a better way to ask? Or do people go for cheaper beater watches and higher end watches, avoiding the range in between? (People will probably say to buy what you like.)

2. Does IWC not hold value such that people are wary of buying them new? Is this true of the Top Gun models too?

3. How do you buy a Top Gun secondhand if you want to try this line but want to hedge your bets?

4. Any alternatives? Imagine people will mention Breitling and Omega.

[HMHM]

I went to the IWC boutique previously and apparently the Lake Tahoe is only made +/-1000 pieces per years I was told. Not sure if that includes the dark green ceramic ones. It’s a nice watch but it’s THICK! I wouldn’t recommend getting one second hand as I would guess it’s pretty hard to get from the boutique so expect some premium for the watch on the secondary market.

I don’t know what to recommend tbh… I think a full ceramic watch is quite expensive if it comes from a reputable brand. Omega has one DSOTM I think which is full ceramic and probably you can get one with some nice discount but other than that I struggle to think of other alternatives. Tudor BB ceramic may also be an alternative?

[Doood]

Although I have not seen one in person, I dig the SFTI chronograph and this is probably the first IWC that I have considered buying. I am not savvy enough to navigate the secondary market, so would only buy new from an AD, if I could find one, even if I would lose some value, for peace of mind.

I think it is an attractive watch, but wish there was a bracelet option. I will probably tear up the strap, and who knows wear I would find a replacement in 10 or 15 years, lol.

[brandrea]

Anyone have a picture of the watch? Is it like an IWC pilot?

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Anyone have a picture of the watch? Is it like an IWC pilot?

I had to look it up. These are from IWC’s website. Apparently there are some variations. I kind of like the ones with more on the dial but on the SFTI variation.





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[enjoythemusic]

OP, get what you love and will wear. After a few decades, the rest will seem to fade away. Jmho.

Bell&Ross makes really nice pilot-style timepieces too.

[FrançoisCzapek]

How does one navigate the different Top Gun models, and which ones are part of the actual Top Gun line and the broader pilot line?

Is this part of the Top Gun line for example? The various articles on this line confuse me to be honest!

https://www.iwc.com/sg/en/watch-coll...eratanium.html

And do the more expensive models like the perpetuals lose value more?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

I had to look it up. These are from IWC’s website. Apparently there are some variations. I kind of like the ones with more on the dial but on the SFTI variation.

Thanks so much for this Joel I quite like the first variant

[BendyBee]

I like the topgun range but they are too big for my wrist. Went for the 41mm pilot chono instead and love it.

[RolexSimon]

Just look at Chrono24 for an idea on second hand availability and deduct 10-20% for real sale price. Also look at the upcoming Sotheby's christies, phillips and antiquorum auctions to see what IWCs they have for sale too.

[beshannon]

I would rather have a 3861 Speedmaster

[shammad10]

I haven't seen top gun and have no desire to walk around with top gun marketing on my wrist, so personally I wouldn't buy it.
I'm glad they removed the top gun logo from the dial- I think that was a good move. In the same way that Omega removed 007 from the front of the new 007 seamaster.

If I was going to get one, I would get the ceratanium pilots chronograph That seems like a cool watch. Though at £12000 it is overpriced imo.

[toomuchtalk]

got a couple of rolexes, patek. iwc topgun my favourite

[codecow]

I checked out the Top Gun in person Lake Tahoe. It’s nice, but since I already have an IWC chrono it doesn’t go in my collection. Been offered the other ones too, they’re not that hard to get.

[FrançoisCzapek]

What are discounts like for Top Guns, including if you buy used?

[RolexSimon]

Originally Posted by FrançoisCzapek

What are discounts like for Top Guns, including if you buy used?

There's a Mojave Desert for sale on EWC right now.

[jed11]

Bought the ceratanium from a boutique.



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[carbon888]

Originally Posted by jed11

Bought the ceratanium from a boutique.


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Exactly what I came in here to see. Nice photo! I just started a thread on it, if I can get your opinion, that will be great!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=948393