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IWC Celebrates 50 Years of the Aquatimer with New Case Material, Limited-Edition Replica Watches

With the release this month of the IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50 Years Aquatimer fake watches,” limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, the Schaffhausen-based IWC brand not only commemorates the 50th anniversary of its Aquatimer divers’ watch in grand style, but also punches its ticket to the exclusive (but steadily growing) club of watch companies that have introduced new materials into watchmaking.

IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50Yrs Aquatimer” – reclining

The new material in question is called Ceratanium, and it is — as one might glean from its name — a composite of ceramic and titanium, boasting the hardness and scratch-resistance of the former while also retaining the latter’s lightness and unbreakability; its distinctive matte-black surface also scores high for skin tolerance and corrosion resistance. IWC’s materials experts spent five years developing this alloy, and the desired result was achieved in time to debut it on this special edition celebrating the half-century mark for the Aquatimer, a pioneer among dive watches when it debuted in 1967 with its 200-meter water resistance and internal rotating bezel. The combination of ceramic and titanium in a new composite material is also apt, as IWC played a major role in bringing both materials to watchmaking in the 1980s.

The watch’s matte-black Ceratanium case is 49 mm in diameter and 19.5 mm thick, with a convex sapphire crystal over the dial that has been treated with nonreflective coating on both sides. Like all models in the Aquatimer collection since its revamp in 2014, it features an external/internal rotating bezel for setting dive times, paired with IWC’s proprietary SafeDive system, which ensures that the internal bezel can only be adjusted once the external bezel is rotated counterclockwise, thus preventing accidental movement of the dive scale and adding an extra layer of protection for a diver keeping track of his air supply underwater. The black rubber strap is outfitted with a quick-change system that enables the wearer to easily swap it out with another strap.

IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50 Yrs” – back

The dial, which is also predominantly black, with white and red highlights, displays this timepiece’s array of complications. The date and month are indicated in large numerals in the style of a digital watch, and because the watch is a perpetual calendar, it automatically recognizes the different lengths of months and even leap years, so no adjustments will need to be made to the date until 2100, provided the watch is kept running. In addition to the perpetual calendar, the watch is equipped with a flyback chronograph function, with elapsed hours and minutes tallied in a single subdial at 12 o’clock.

IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition “50 Yrs” copy watches with black buckle

The movement that drives all of these functions is IWC’s manufacture Caliber 89802, which for this timepiece has had several of its components — including its winding rotor — finished with black coating to harmonize with the overall matte black look. Visible behind a sapphire exhibition caseback, this self-winding movement has 51 jewels, a 28,800-vph frequency, and a 68-hour power reserve.

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On the Wrist Review: IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph 3865 Replica Watches

It is quite amazing how one person can have such an enduring impact on an industry. It is unparalleled to be so influential that the DNA of their designs are embedded in so many different watches, from a wide array of brands. I, of course, am referring to Gerald Genta. In 1976, after having already penned the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, Gerald Genta re-designed the Ingenieur for IWC, dubbed the Ingenieur SL.

This was at the height of the “quartz crisis”, however, and the Ingenieur SL was a flop with just about 550 pieces sold.

Evolution of the Ingenieur

Over the years to come, IWC introduced various references of the Ingenieur with quartz and mecha-quartz movements until, finally, the model was again refreshed with an in-house automatic movement in 2005. The evolution continued when in 2013, to mark their partnership with Formula 1 team Mercedes AMG, IWC introduced several models with racing inspired designs and high-tech materials.

These watches ranged from a simple time-only sports watch to serious haute horology with a constant-force tourbillon. It was at this time that IWC also debuted the calendar Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium copy watches, reference 3865. This watch was true to the Formula 1 design ethos with a titanium case and functional bezel screws made from ceramic. However, the standout of this piece, is the double chronograph movement allowing you to time intervals with the press of a rubber-clad pusher.

Powering the Double Chronograph

The movement inside the Ingenieur Double Chronograph is a unique modification of the Valjoux 7750 that is protected by an anti-magnetic soft-iron cage. In 1992 Richard Habring invented a module that would bring the split-second chronograph complication to a much more attainable price level and integrated it to the 7750 calibre. What all this means is you get a reliable, tried and true base movement, that has been through the wringer in countless watches for over 40 years, and a high-end complication to boot. Hard to beat the horological bang-for-your-buck offered here.

If you’re not familiar with the split-second chronograph function, here is an explanation from IWC:

Unlike a standard chronograph, the split-seconds chronograph has two hands that start simultaneously. The rattrapante or split-seconds hand, which is superimposed on the stopwatch hand, can be stopped independently using a third button at “10 o’clock”, while the stopwatch hand continues to run. This permits the user to record two separate times, precisely to the second, within any given minute. If the third button is pushed again, the split-seconds hand instantaneously catches up and is synchronized with the other hand. The process can be repeated as often as desired.

IWC’s design of the chronograph pushers is great in this execution. They are low-profile and shaped to mimic the outline of the case so they are very unobtrusive. In many rattrapante watches the pushers can be a bit gaudy.

The unidirectional winding automatic rotor in the Valjoux 7750 is notorious for it’s characteristic “wobble” and loud clicks as it spins the mainspring up to 44 hours of power reserve. Some collectors find this trait endearing, while others find it quite annoying. Regardless of your point of view on that issue, IWC has somehow managed to eliminate the wobble and almost completely silence the spinning of the rotor, resulting in a smooth and unnoticeable winding operation.

Case Design

After IWC finishes their modifications, the movement is placed inside a 45mm wide, 16mm high case rated to be water resistant to 120 meters. There is no doubt that this is a large sport oriented watch but, fortunately, because of the titanium construction it doesn’t feel oversized and is actually comfortable to wear all day. If the case was steel, you’d certainly need a break at some point. The tapered rubber strap is integrated into the case at an angle that allows it to conform to your wrist with almost no pressure points. I would have preferred a deployant clasp to the tang buckle that comes on the watch but, that is certainly not a show-stopper.

Wearing the Ingenieur

In daily-wear, this really is a fun watch. The silvered three-dimensional dial is far from boring; with black applied indexes that create a stark contrast making it very easy to read the time at a glance. This is further enhanced by the sapphire crystal treated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. In addition to the split-second function, the chronograph keeps track of time for up to 12 hours via two sub dials, and there is a quick-change day and date indication for good measure. As I alluded to earlier, the chrono pushers, screw-down crown, and crown guards are all clad in rubber, making them easy to grip and use. The  luminescent hands IWC fake wacthes will totally change your life.

I’ve been doing hands-on reviews for a few years now but, I experienced something for the very first time with this watch: I didn’t wear any other watches while I had it. From the moment I received it, to the painful departure when I sent it back, I was obsessed with this watch. IWC has built a surefire winner with this one. A few years ago IWC had the marketing slogan, “Engineered for Men.”

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Special Edition IWC Schaffhausen Replica Watches For Mercedes-AMG

TUNED TO PERFECTION. Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen apparently enjoys a close partnership with Mercedes-AMG, the sports car arm of Mercedes Benz

This year IWC Schaffhausen celebrates its partner’s 50th anniversary with a special limited edition model from the Ingenieur family. The white dial of the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition “50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG” copy watch  is a clear nod to the classic red-white-and-black color combinations typically found at racetracks.

The 44mm titanium case IWC fake watches also seems quite fitting for such a sporty timepiece, while the flyback chronograph perfectly illustrates the shared passion between the two companies for precision engineering.

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IWC Pilots Chronograph Of Switzerland 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Replica Watches

Watches of Switzerland is an Australian retailer of luxury watches established in 1997 and an official retailer for a number of brands. They were also the original distributor for IWC in Australia up until 2000 when Richemont acquired the brand. So, to celebrate its 20 years in business (see our interview with Watches of Switzerland here), they have teamed up with IWC to produce the Arabic numerals  IWC Pilots Chronograph Watches Of Switzerland 20th Anniversary Limited Edition watch.

This isn’t the first time that Watches of Switzerland has teamed up with IWC to produce a special limited edition watch. They did the same for their 10th anniversary too, which culminated in the Watches of Switzerland Limited Edition Portuguese Chronograph. It was popular thanks to its unique chocolate brown dial, and it helped that it was exclusive to Watches of Switzerland with only 25 pieces produced.

They wanted something similar for their 20th anniversary, and they worked with IWC to create the model you see here. Recognizing the trend of vintage-inspired watches as well as the popularity of IWC’s Pilot’s watches in Australia, they decided to combine the two to create the Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph watch.

The brown alligator strasps IWC fake Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph watch is based on the popular IWC Pilots Chronograph ref. 3777. Case dimensions are identical, so it comes in a 43mm stainless steel case that measures 15mm thick. Prominent pushers and crown help make operation easy. Water resistance is also unchanged at 60m.

What has changed, however, is the dial. In place of the white hands and markings on the ref. 3777, the Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph has patina-colored hands and markers instead. Along with a vintage-looking brown Santoni leather strap, this gives the Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph watch an aged look that so many watch lovers and collectors seem to like these days.

Otherwise, the layout and configuration haven’t changed. The main hour and minute hands are still centrally located, as is the chronograph seconds hand, and you still have the 30 and 12-hour chronograph registers at 12 and 6 o’clock respectively. At 9 o’clock, you still have the running seconds in white.

Inside, the Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph is powered by the same IWC 79320 Caliber found in the ref. 3777. It is a robust, reliable self-winding chronograph movement that is based on the common Valjoux 7750. It beats at 4Hz and offers around 44 hours of power reserve.

To commemorate this special watch, the Watches of Switzerland 20th Anniversary IWC Pilots Chronograph comes with a commemorative case back that shows the watch’s number in the limited edition series. The case back also has the Watches of Switzerland logo and a special design that celebrates its 20th anniversary.

These charming replica watches that I think a lot of IWC fans, especially those who are also fans of the current vintage-inspired watch trend, will enjoy. They haven’t messed about with the classic good looks of the ref. 3777 and whatever little changes there are have been tastefully implemented. The only problem, however, is that there are only going to be 50 of them.