Russell Sheldrake
IWC is not the brand that many people immediately associate with the most complex forms of watchmaking. However, the brand’s lasting calendar (particularly the record-breaking eternal calendar) and tourbillon are the best in the industry, showing off the capabilities of Schaffhausen manufacturing. These pieces may be hidden by the more popular Ingenieur and Pilot’s Watches models, but they are less impressive and more remarkable than we can give today.
Thankfully, IWC has curated travel trunk shows for British watch enthusiasts of some of their most complex high-watch works, including everything from perpetual calendar chronographs to stellar timekeepers. There’s something really for everyone here, and every aspect of complex watchmaking is on display. The Trunk Show is currently on display at Brand’s London Flagship Boutique in Bond St, and will be staying until July 28th and travelling to the Battersea Power Plant from July 31st to August 4th. Next is Harrods from August 7th to 11th. The final stop in the UK will then be IWC’s latest boutique, which is about to open in Edinburgh from August 14th to 18th. Are you ready to head to Japan after this trip across the UK?
I got the chance to watch the trunk show for myself, so if you stop, get in on what you can expect. Of course, there was last year’s watch and the wonder star (not to mention GPHG): Portugieser Eternal Calendar. An unusual bird, this watch speaks for itself, and we talked a lot about it last year as it ranked one of our favorite watches of the year. That said, once again this lineup allows us to handle this watch, we put it in true context as the finest gem of IWC’s dedication to complications.
There were also a few watches that are rarely seen in the wild, like these two big pilot watch shock absorber models. The two most eye-catching pieces are created for Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff. (If you’re not already there, discover the full story about how this watch was created in a recent podcast with IWC CEO Chris Granger-Herr.) This collaborative watch was combined into another level by adding swirling tour bellons into the mix, combining this tough timer concept with the Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL, which adopts a different level.
Next, I got a permanent calendar tourbillon le Petit Prince of Blue Ceramic Big Pilot watches. The blue and gold acres here are appropriately royal, with the dial and straps matching the exciting blue ceramic case.
Without a doubt, the star of the show was this Portogiers Sidereer Scafsia. This is an exemplary piece that shows what is possible with IWC’s Siderale program, allowing clients to fully customize their watches. This incredibly complicated complication was introduced by the brand in 2014 and is now being offered to clients after something completely customised. To win this special piece you will need to travel to Schaffhausen and participate in the head of product development. Turning the clock over gives you a perspective on what your constellations look like in your chosen location: a complex, personal touch that you can’t see anywhere.
If you want to see and put these or more unusual pieces and put them into practice, consult your local SA or sign up by clicking here. It’s likely to be the last time you’ll be dealing with any of these works, so be sure to taste it. Have a great weekend!
Russell and Time + Tide Team
Watch this week’s meme: Kiss cam or wrist shot?
All you need is a watch, right?
This Week’s Wrist Shot: All That Brilliance is Not Gold
If you’re following Ben on Watch Brothers London, as I’ve had for a while, he’s got some very special pieces through his store and doesn’t seem to have stocked anything normal. This Vacheron Constantin overseas is proof of that, with its rather special diamond bezel and some great patina that shows that this watch has seen some things (and I want to imagine a good party!)
Time+Tide Shop Pick of the Week: Dennison Capsule Collection “Dunes in Salmon”
Dennison’s first capsule collection was a distinguished revival of Dennison’s first capsule collection, named “Dunes in Salmon,” reimagining the elegance of the 1960s through a modern lens. Choosing anything other than the numbers of natural stones and wood we saw previously, the dial features a bold embossed pattern inspired by changing the dunes finished in vintage salmon tones. The texture captures light in gentle movements, evoking the tranquil beauty of the desert landscape.
Check out the Dennison Capsule Collection “Dunes in Salmon” at Tide+Tide Watch Discovery Studios and Tide+Tide Shop Online. Price: $1,250
Accessories of the month: Time with cheese watch case – Old Royale
Do you know what’s called a Quarter Pounder along with cheese in Paris? I’m not either, but I know what they’ll call it in the case in time, and it’s a royal with cheese. That’s right, our favorite food-obsessed casemakers are challenging themselves with another tongue to bring another high-calorie storage option to the watch while drinking popular fast food. Open the outer hard shell that looks like a burger bread to reveal lettuce and tomato-colored foam cushion inserts and an oversized yellow abrasive cloth for a very important slice of American cheese. I’m hungry now…
The new royal with Casese Case from Cased In Time is available in both studios and online in London and Melbourne, both at The Tide+Tide Shop. Price: $54
Our Favorite Time + This Week’s Trend
Tears: The UK watch industry has grown by 65% in three years
The British Watch and Watch Maker Alliance recently released its second Hellwether Report. This time, we unveiled how the industry has grown since the beginning of 2021 and gave us great insight into the health of the industry. I was given exclusive access to the full report and wrote a complete breakdown and analysis of what it said. It’s a long read with statistics and numbers flying around, so grab your favorite drink and settle down.
PSA: Stop forcing NATO straps on dressy watches
Zack is a man of many strongly held opinions and this week let him vent another opinion. This time he will be joining people who combine dress watches with NATO straps. The juxtaposition is great in other areas of life, but on the wrist it doesn’t work when you ask him. A fake pas he can’t keep up, no matter the circumstances, I’ll let him tell you exactly in his article here.
Zero West respects World War II heroes with duo of Spitfire Escape models
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpo-0ubg8wa
Zero West is a company that is proud of its tough timer returning to the military, and two of its latest works are inspired by RAF pilots who participated in The Great Escape. The S5E and S6E Spitfire Escape Watch draws inspiration from the ‘Sandy’ gun during Alastair who flew unarmed reconnaissance missions over armed Spitfire occupying territory besides his camera. Shot down Norway and later captured, Sandy took part in the famous Mass Escape attempt to inspire the iconic Steve McQueen film. For more information about these two models, check out the video above or check out the entire review here.
