Well Spent

IWC reminds us of the real reason why our time is valuable.

When my son was born, I, as a hardcore watch enthusiast, began the process of figuring out what his first watch would be. It had to be the right watch for the right reasons. Many of the moneyed choose a Rolex for this occasion because, and I quote them on this, at least it can always be pawned. A perfectly good reason you have to admit, but not one I necessarily want as prominent in my thought process.

You could also go the extreme expense route, looking at only the Pateks and Vacherons of the horological world. While that from an enthusiast view is fine, it didn’t fit well with my own vision of what I wanted the watch to say. About myself and my dreams and priorities, and about what I thought about when I looked at my son.

I ended up choosing something that spoke of history, heritage, expertise and even a bit of humor and fun. An horological stalwart with a storied past, but in a limited edition that put a smile on your face when you saw it. A steel case to say that true value came from strength IWIWC 34 inside, not shininess outside. And just to be a little lucky, an 8 as a serial number.

Now if IWC had come up with this Father and Son idea four years ago, I would have had no problem with the choice. A pair of watches? Brilliant! Based on, once again, a historic, even iconic watch that proved its value and accuracy in times when and where it meant the most. A watch with a link to the romantic world of aviation that many enthusiasts, myself included, have considered important on their wrists if not also in their lives. That the watch is so clear and readable even without reading glasses is a definite plus to this father at least, and will become one for others who have not yet crossed that threshold. The platinum case may not have been on my initial list of reasons to buy, but by rethinking a bit I could rationalize because the “son’s” model was steel it sent a good enough message. Or at least a good enough one to allow me to buy the watches.

IWC has now provided us with an opportunity if not an excuse to go buy another watch, something it seems to be doing with regularity lately. It has also presented us with a few new issues. As I write these words about the father and son watch, my four year old boy is asleep in the other room, tired after the day we spent shopping for the uniform for his first day of big school. Sitting on my lap and practicing alphabets on my computer is our latest addition, turning two next month. And she wants everything her brother has.

These Father and Son watches, or what IWC calls the Pilot’s watches for father and son, trace their stories back in both horological and historic terms. The father’s watch comes from the Big Pilot Watch descendant of the classic and important B Uhr timepieces of the German air force, the sons from the smaller Pilot’s watch Mark XVI. The father’s watch is in a 46mm platinum case with the word “PILOT” engraved on the caseback along with the requested name. The son’s watch is in steel, a slightly smaller 39mm diameter that can fit well on a growing wrist while still calling to mind the generous dimensions needed for cockpit use. On the caseback are the son’s name and the words “COPILOT.”

IMPORTANT NOTE In the images we have received from IWC, the two watches have the same dummy serial number of 1234567. We confirmed with IWC that this will NOT be the case, that each piece will have its own unique serial number. We at Calibre believe there is room for improvement on this.

Both watches have a uniquely similar look, with the rhodium-plated light-coloured dial of the pilot’s watches and the onion-shaped crown from IWC’s earlier aviation offerings. They use the same brown crocodile leather strap with the distinctive steel rivets. The father’s watch comes with a platinum folding clasp, while the son’s comes with a pin buckle though a steel folding clasp can be fitted. Both watches show the date, with the father’s at 6 o’clock and the son’s at 3 o’clock. At the father’s 3 o’clock is a subdial indicating the seven day power reserve of the long running Calibre 5111 beneath it using the automatic Pellaton winding system. The son’s watch uses the Calibre 30110 automatic movement. Both watches are water resistant to 6 bar.