Independents

This IWC Minute Repeater has been my grail watch for many decades. Today I made a short trip to Milano to catch this beauty. Some old friends of my collection which have proved to become „(almost) safe queens“ had to go for it. And this feels so good and ...

Congratulations! That's a beautiful and rarely seen bird!

Yes, I have been hunting it for quite a time to find a piece in excellent condition for a reasonable prize. Love too look at it. 🥰 ...

Very graceful, indeed.

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I had some sleepless nights before I was able to catch it.

Great watch. I like your collection strategy core word: “purity and simple” Don’t quit get the word: “reduction” (just teasing every wallet has its limits) I fully understand what you mean with it but since I’m an eternal optimist I would perhaps use “con...

With "reduction" I referred to the amount of watches in my collection. It´s about 20 pieces at the moment. For many of us this is still a "small collection" but for me it´s burdening when I have too many things I don´t use adequately (a luxury problem - I...

My dear friend, I belief we are trying to say the same thing using different words

Sublime avatar, by the way!

Big congrats to a beautiful looking and surely sounding IWC.

Due to its very special construction (the repeater function is sandwiched between the dial and the movement) there are perhaps MRs that sound louder. But for me it has one of the best dials ever. It’s so pure and powerful at the same time. Cheers Thomas ...

Always have loved the clean look of this watch. The movement looks lovely too. Happy for you. Enjoy it! Vte

Here is a first shot o the movement: And at the moment I enjoy extremely. Feels like heaven. I know it’s just a product, a thing, not a living being. But... 😎 Best Thomas ...

Yes, it is the Platinum version in the 2nd generation with still the historic pocket watch caliber 9520 and therefore the subdial at 9 which I prefer to the actual model. The hand wound movement runs at 18.000 bph. I love to wind it. It feels rich and dee...

If I come to Italy often one day is sufficient for me to get a power pack of joie de vivre. Food for the soul...

Milano was easier to reach (1:05 hours by plane).

A very elegant piece despite its size that I’ve always admired. What an accomplishment to own a MR. enjoy!

Yes, indeed! Mission accomplished. 😊 I have to confess that there were hard and fundamental decisions to make before I was able to get this one of my grail watches. Among others also my Patek 5146G had to go. I simply didn’t feel the same as for the MR. A...

I still can hardly believe my luck! Cheers

And bravo on the consolidation efforts; not an easy thing to do but seems like you took a big step here.

Yes, my first consolidation efforts have been successful! And I have to confess that it was very easy and there are no regrets until now which is a good sign. Years ago I sold a special Reverso and this still hurts a little from time to time. I also got t...

I feel completely the same from the first moment I saw a picture of this piece of art more than 20 years ago. For me it also radiates great power and ... yes ... peace. Best Thomas ...

I have to write down all adjectives I associate with this watch and are rushing through my head when I look at it. Cheers Thomas

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Yes, these curves are ... hot! I just wish I had your or Jocke’s talent of making pics.... ...

Thank you, dear friend! 😊 ...

All the best, Alex

Here we go again. 😊 ...

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I LOVE this first generation with the old IWC logo. The curved writing fits very well to this complication and makes this MR even more ... poetic and .... romantic. It´s a pity you let it go. Even if your JLC MR in Titanium might sound better. ;-)

this grail piece. Can’t believe my luck! Best Thomas

Congratulations! I need to do more research on this beauty! I definitely would let some pieces go to fund this one.

Yes, for me it was definitely worth letting some watches go. I have read about it everything I was able to find. There isn‘t so much written about this special Portugieser. One interesting article is about the whole history of this reference (starting wit...

Very informative and now I'm doing research on this reference as well as the ref. 5240 from 1995. They seem to share the same movement(?) differing in the crystal (sapphire vs. acrylic), case material (platinum vs. white gold) and the IWC logo (new style ...

Yes, you are right. The first two generations (5240 with plexi glass and the old logo and 5242 with sapphire and the new logo) use the same movement. You see it immediately if you look at the dial where the subdial is positioned at 9 instead at 6 (like on...

I haven't been able to find a platinum 5240 either, but I did find a NOS unworn WG one. And of course, the price matches the condition 🤣 I would follow in your footsteps to get the best example as possible, but it's not going to be soon 😉I'm going to have...

Perhaps it can be faster than you would expect if you find a seller who agrees to make a trade in combined with cash as extra charge. My observation was that prices are starting to raise now. Perhaps I swirled up some dealers and they realized that there ...

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