IWC Mark XVIII

[Star Ferry]

Picked this up on a bracelet at the flagship NY boutique today. Went in expecting not to buy anything, but really liking this.

[JR16]

Congrats! It’s a fantastic watch and I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve almost pulled the trigger . Enjoy!


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[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by JR16

Congrats! It’s a fantastic watch and I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve almost pulled the trigger . Enjoy!


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Thanks. This is one of the nicest bracelets I've tried, with an easy micro-adjustment feature. Buying experience smooth and enjoyable -- very different than buying a Rolex these days

[Rebel]

Sweet.

[HobokenRolex]

Great looking watch. What an interesting idea to be able to walk into a store and actually buy a watch.

[Watchflair]

Congratulations! It’s such a classic piece and the bracelet is so well done.


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[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Rebel

Sweet.

thanks

Originally Posted by HobokenRolex

Great looking watch. What an interesting idea to be able to walk into a store and actually buy a watch.

since it's march 2022, even IWC doesn't have everything in stock. They said they were sold out of time-only Aquatimers, which surprised me, but they later found one (the blue dial) in their safe.

Good experience overall and nice boutique. I was shopping entry-level models and wore no watch into the store, but wasn't treated any differently than a guy buying a perpetual calendar or a minute repeater.

Originally Posted by Watchflair

Congratulations! It’s such a classic piece and the bracelet is so well done.

thanks and agreed !

[illiguy]

Great watch. Just a tad too big for my wrist.

[SoylentGreenChi]

Great watch, and terrific bracelet. Congrats and enjoy!

[Michael1968]

Nice incoming
Congrats

[Slackergirl]

Think that bracelet wears fantastic. Just so comfortable.

Congrats and great choice!

[Star Ferry]

Update: running 5 seconds slow per day. I consider that fairly accurate but YMMV. IWC clearly does work on the movement -- it winds a lot more nicely than an off-the-shelf Sellita would. Have been enjoying it a lot.

[collarcity]

Originally Posted by illiguy

Great watch. Just a tad too big for my wrist.

I wear a Pilot 36 on a 6.25" wrist.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by illiguy

Great watch. Just a tad too big for my wrist.

Same. The Mark XV at 38mm is perfect for my 6.6 inch wrist. Pyramid bracelet is one of the best too and on the strap it doubled up as a dress watch when I was younger.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by collarcity

I wear a Pilot 36 on a 6.25" wrist.

Really dig that! Is that the new version that comes on the bracelet? Just recently noticed that the black dial/bracelet has a brushed case, vs. the blue or slate dial/strap watches that come with a polished case.

[collarcity]

It's reference IW324010 that debuted at SIHH 2019. It comes on the same style bracelet as the Mark XVIII, but I prefer this on a strap. You're right that the other Pilot 36 models have polished cases (and sunray dials). This one is brushed with a matte dial. It's pretty much a shrunken XVIII. I love it. Here's a photo on the bracelet:

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by collarcity

It's reference IW324010 that debuted at SIHH 2019. It comes on the same style bracelet as the Mark XVIII, but I prefer this on a strap. You're right that the other Pilot 36 models have polished cases (and sunray dials). This one is brushed with a matte dial. It's pretty much a shrunken XVIII. I love it. Here's a photo on the bracelet:

+100 on the strap. The IWC pilot watch bracelets are beautiful pieces of engineering, but I prefer a pilot watch on a strap.

I have an old Mk XVI and have contemplated trading it towards a Pilot 36, but XVI just doesn't seem to hold value particularly well.

[Paka]

That 36 mm pilot is extremely cool!

[Cru Jones]

Very nice, congrats. I really like the bracelet - so smooth on the wrist.

[Star Ferry]

I think the 36mm comes off as a little dressier (despite being the exact same watch in a smaller case). The date placement is better, too

As for the size of the Mark XVIII, IMO it wears bigger due to (1) thin bezel and (2) long lugs. But my wrist is probably under 7" and I'm fine with it. In 2022, so many watches are massive that I'm not sweating a 40mm pilot with long lugs.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

I think the 36mm comes off as a little dressier (despite being the exact same watch in a smaller case). The date placement is better, too

As for the size of the Mark XVIII, IMO it wears bigger due to (1) thin bezel and (2) long lugs. But my wrist is probably under 7" and I'm fine with it. In 2022, so many watches are massive that I'm not sweating a 40mm pilot with long lugs.

The 36 also comes in two finishes, and the polished (currently the blue and slate dial versions) definitely appear significantly dressier. Their thinner, more lustrous, leather straps contribute to that for sure.

The 36 I love is the Rake collaboration from a few years ago, but those are few and far between these days.

Curious, did you compare yours to the spitfire at all and off so, what was your impression of that one?

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by dannyp

The 36 also comes in two finishes, and the polished (currently the blue and slate dial versions) definitely appear significantly dressier. Their thinner, more lustrous, leather straps contribute to that for sure.

The 36 I love is the Rake collaboration from a few years ago, but those are few and far between these days.

Curious, did you compare yours to the spitfire at all and off so, what was your impression of that one?

Impression was that spitfire is targeted toward enthusiasts, with the 39mm case, in-house movement, and available fabric strap. The reason I passed is the yellowed color on the hands and parts of the dial. For me that seems like a new watch trying to look vintage, sort of like paying extra for a pair of ripped jeans.

Was a nice watch, for sure. I also liked the top gun in ceramic, but 41mm was pushing it on me due to the lugs. I think 39 would be a good size for the Mark line. It worked for the Explorer line

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Impression was that spitfire is targeted toward enthusiasts, with the 39mm case, in-house movement, and available fabric strap. The reason I passed is the yellowed color on the hands and parts of the dial. For me that seems like a new watch trying to look vintage, sort of like paying extra for a pair of ripped jeans.

Was a nice watch, for sure. I also liked the top gun in ceramic, but 41mm was pushing it on me due to the lugs. I think 39 would be a good size for the Mark line. It worked for the Explorer line

Yea, all of the colors sort of turned me off as well, much like the Air King. The XVIII is sort of the natural successor to the XV, though I’d really like to see the in-house caliber in the 36mm case as an XI/XII homage. Not a huge faux patina fan for an expensive watch.

Your Explorer comment is also on the money, and explains why I love the Pilot 36: Could never get myself to love Explorer 39 proportions but bought one the moment it went back to 36. Likewise, I just find my XVI just a bit too big these days .

[tanask211]

Got mine in June 2020 from a preowned dealer at almost 40% lower than AD. This is true classic watch with plain dial but somehow considered as a beau among my collection. Bought and sold a number of watches between this period but kept this piece until now.

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[Juan_B]

Great watch, and terrific bracelet. Congrats and enjoy!