Comments:
A few shots of the new-to-me IW3723
Here are a few shots of a watch I'm very much smitten with.
At 44mm, it is larger than anything I've been wearing these days... and I love it!
At 16.5mm thick, it is way thicker than anything I prefer to wear... and I love it!
The case is steel but the bracelet is titanium and is very comfortable on the wrist. I bought the rubber strap and buckle for it but after installing it I immediately switched it back to the bracelet because I like it so much. This is the one exception to my rule of all watches having to be on straps which I vastly prefer in terms of aesthetics.
If I'm being honest, dive watches and pilots watches are all just cosplay, aren't they? And perhaps this is what excites me about this watch is it feels like one of most "Divery" watches out there. I don't dive and would have no idea why a Diver would need three ways to measure elapsed time (inner rotating bezel, chronograph, and split minute complication), and with only 120M WR it is decidedly not one of the most capable Dive watches out there.
So, perhaps this watch is a bit of ticking contradiction but man, every time I wear it I feel like a dive is about to happen and I really love it!
✌️🐬,
Brandon
This is the Split-Minute function
When pressing the bottom half of the pusher, you split the minute hand. In the top photo you will see a black hand with yellow lume pointing to about the 23 minute mark. This is usually hidden underneath the normal minute hand. When you press the button, the hand beneath locks into place and the top minute hand travels away from it. The time between the two hands is the time elapsed. Pressing the top half of the button will return the underneath hand perfectly under the minute hand, much like a rattrapante.
I think you are spot on re the cosplay comment, or it’s simply just fashion and style.
And that’s perfectly fine. Ones watch can be an accessory or a tool, or both. All are good.
I love this line of watches. In 2008-2011 or so I had this plan to buy the perpetuals (each dial) and tracked down and saw several. But never bought one. Then I ended up with a Portuguese Perpetual and so while completely different the GST perpetual search was sidelined.
I still think the GST are some of the coolest IWC sports watches. Many congrats.
Very very similar in design, but I don't think this watch is consider a GST.
Could be wrong!
You are right I think, it’s not a GST. But it’s definitely the “Spirit of GST” to borrow from Hublot.
Yes, not a GST. The official name of this watch was "Aquatimer Split Minute Chronograph" aka Aquatimer Minute Memory
And yes, it did have the same case and bracelet design as the GST Deep One that came before it.
Speak of the devil!
I was just naming this watch on another thread. So cool, and you're taking the words right out of my mouth about what's so great about this watch. I even share your preference for straps over bracelets, to the extent that I wouldn't buy one of these old Aquatimers *unless* I could get it with a rubber strap.... which it turns out I never use because these watches are so much better on their bracelets!
Haha, it seems our horological sensibilities are aligned in many ways
Also as fellow Sinn EZM 1 owners and more 🤜🤛
The case is steel? I don't think that's correct
The case and the bracelet are all titanium.
Yes, IWC, you are right.
I don’t remember how I got to thinking that, and I had marveled just how close in appearance the “two” metals were.
I will say the case feels somewhat heavy but that’s probably attributable to the large piece of sapphire glass.
Thanks for the correction 🙏
I will say the case feels somewhat heavy but that’s probably attributable to the large piece of sapphire glass.
Thanks for the correction 🙏
Ah there she is
A nice polar opposite for the Habrings. These are packed with so much watchmaking prowess and complication. A real full effort tool watch. Glad to see it after hearing about it! - max
Rubber strap
Have you recently acquired one? I ask because they were out of production for the longest time.
The split minute is a sweet complication. Congratulations!
I love this piece and have admired for awhile.