BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Off-Topic Discussions Board Watches IWC or Glaschutte? I'm only getting one.

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-04-2014, 01:30 PM   #1
954Stealth
Brigadier General
954Stealth's Avatar
United_States
1543
Rep
4,512
Posts

Drives: A Car
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bacon Raton, FL

iTrader: (1)

IWC or Glaschutte? I'm only getting one.

IWC Portuguese 7-Day Power Reserve (42.3MM) or a Glaschutte Senator Observer ... Which one should I get?
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2014, 01:37 PM   #2
1MOREMOD
-
1MOREMOD's Avatar
United_States
11815
Rep
23,187
Posts

Drives: Race car->
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: check your mirrors

iTrader: (5)

That's a tough call both great looking. I like the white face iwc with blued hands slightly more because I prefer the date placement on it, but like the idea of the less common glaschutte.
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2014, 02:24 PM   #3
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

IWC - though I don't think they have their best looking Port's at present.
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2014, 02:35 PM   #4
RedlinePSI
Lieutenant
United_States
127
Rep
502
Posts

Drives: Something else
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: LI, NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD View Post
That's a tough call both great looking. I like the white face iwc with blued hands slightly more because I prefer the date placement on it, but like the idea of the less common glaschutte.
Is that the one with the blue numbers and blue band as well? I was very close to getting that but it was just a little too much blue. In retrospect, since I ended up getting something double the price, maybe buying a black band for it was not such a bad idea.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 12:45 AM   #5
bunnn
Colonel
bunnn's Avatar
86
Rep
2,266
Posts

Drives: like a grandma
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (12)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 954Stealth View Post
IWC Portuguese 7-Day Power Reserve (42.3MM) or a Glaschutte Senator Observer ... Which one should I get?
While I love my IWC, I'm very disappointed in the movement for a watch in this price segment. You should look into the movement for the Glashütte as well. That said, I love everything else about my watch.
__________________
Cheers
Ben
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 12:58 AM   #6
1MOREMOD
-
1MOREMOD's Avatar
United_States
11815
Rep
23,187
Posts

Drives: Race car->
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: check your mirrors

iTrader: (5)

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedlinePSI View Post
Is that the one with the blue numbers and blue band as well? I was very close to getting that but it was just a little too much blue. In retrospect, since I ended up getting something double the price, maybe buying a black band for it was not such a bad idea.
Does look like a blue band and not a fan of that either. Out of my price range. Got a stowa marine with white face not that long ago and like it.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 05:04 AM   #7
cogriff
Private First Class
cogriff's Avatar
Canada
69
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: 2006 Z4MC
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 Audi  [0.00]
2006 BMW Z4MC  [9.00]
1977 Honda CB750K  [0.00]
2007 Kawasaki ZX6-R  [0.00]
Senator all the way.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 07:00 AM   #8
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bunnn View Post
While I love my IWC, I'm very disappointed in the movement for a watch in this price segment. You should look into the movement for the Glashütte as well. That said, I love everything else about my watch.

Curious why your disappointed in the 50000 movement? I thought that caliber family was very good.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 08:53 AM   #9
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Both are great watches. I honest don't know which one I'd pick between the two, but right now, I'm leaning toward the GO, and that mostly because I assume it's got a smaller power reserve (PR) than 7 days. Seven days is a lot of winding to refill the PR. If you actually need the 7-day PR, I guess the IWC is the clear pic.

Construction wise, the only thing I can think of is that IIRC, the IWC uses an acrylic crystal and the GO uses a sapphire one. I happen to prefer sapphire crystals, but the crystal is hardly the "be all, end all" to a fine watch. Lots of good watches, Rolex being one, have used acrylic crystals until fairly recently.

I prefer a more "standard" sized watch, and in that regard, the IWC wins out, although at 44mm, the GO is still very wearable. Pick the one that looks and feels better on your wrist if all other factors are equal.

Styling matters are up to your own preference. I happen to like the blue markered IWC quite a lot, but I have a lot of watches too, so I don't mind choosing ones that are a bit "different;" I don't need one that will look good with everything or that have no color splash on their face.

That said, I think the GO is a bit better looking overall, particularly the one with the blue hands. On the styling front, the only reason I would not pick the GO between these two would be because I had a different GO in mind to buy later. GO stands out among high end watches in that their designers have an extremely good eye for aesthetics. Nobody implements asymmetrical balance better than GO and if I had my mind aimed toward a Panomatic Date, or even a Panomatic Counter (symmetrical), I'd hold off on the Senator Observer.

Since you've shared nothing about why you are making this particular watch purchase, it's impossible to suggest one with a mind toward which would be better for you. There's nothing about either watch that is so overwhelmingly better/worse than the other that absent your requirements I can suggest one over the other. Having no info about you or your expectations, I'd say buy the one that you can get at the lowest price or at the best discount. I can promise you that a "test drive" should make clear which you prefer and that's the one you should buy. Both are very nice.

All the best.

Edit:
I check the IWC website and the Portuguese does indeed have a sapphire crystal.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed

Last edited by tony20009; 09-05-2014 at 09:51 AM..
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 09:06 AM   #10
Alamat
Second Lieutenant
17
Rep
212
Posts

Drives: 2014 435xi Sport Line
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mt. Top, PA

iTrader: (0)

IWC baby! Don't have one yet but I'm planning on it on our next ED.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRR View Post
When you spend that much on a car it is stupid to talk about needs - nobody "needs" a 4 Series.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 09:14 AM   #11
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

Tony20009 wrote. "... IWC uses an acrylic crystal and the GO uses a sapphire one. I happen to prefer sapphire crystals, ..."

I do believe the IWC is sapphire on both sides?
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 09:50 AM   #12
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
Tony20009 wrote. "... IWC uses an acrylic crystal and the GO uses a sapphire one. I happen to prefer sapphire crystals, ..."

I do believe the IWC is sapphire on both sides?
Given your comment, I checked the IWC website and it is indeed sapphire now. I'm nearly certain (but not 100% thus why I said IIRC) that at one point it was acrylic on the front at least, but it's possible I'm confusing it with a different watch. Either way, I don't think that is that high on the list of factors to make me choose one way or the other.

TY for inspiring me to check. I'm sure the fact of the crystal material matters to some people.

All the best.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 05:07 PM   #13
bunnn
Colonel
bunnn's Avatar
86
Rep
2,266
Posts

Drives: like a grandma
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (12)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
Curious why your disappointed in the 50000 movement? I thought that caliber family was very good.
Allowable tolerence is +/- 24 seconds. Mine is about 15 seconds fast per day.
__________________
Cheers
Ben
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 10:35 PM   #14
consolidated
Lieutenant Colonel
consolidated's Avatar
205
Rep
1,864
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Texas

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
GO SO is such a beautiful watch, I'd buy it for the movement alone, the tiny details thru the back are quite nice in this price range. If you have an average to large wrist no question in my mind, 44mm is big without being gaudy, great looking dial and more discrete in grey.

I have a GO Pano Lunar XL and Senator Sixties square chrono, I enjoy them a little more than my IWC pieces. They feel quite special and I appreciate their German design and craft sensibilities, a little different from the Swiss.
__________________
F80 M3 / Mineral Grey-Silverstone / CCB
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2014, 10:40 PM   #15
1MOREMOD
-
1MOREMOD's Avatar
United_States
11815
Rep
23,187
Posts

Drives: Race car->
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: check your mirrors

iTrader: (5)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bunnn View Post
Allowable tolerence is +/- 24 seconds. Mine is about 15 seconds fast per day.
Yeah I've run into that with a few movements. It's withing spec but seems like a lot. I have an a10 that is off 20 seconds a day.
Appreciate 0
      09-06-2014, 11:58 PM   #16
Cairo Kid
Private First Class
Qatar
8
Rep
144
Posts

Drives: 2014 F10 M Sport Package
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Doha

iTrader: (0)

Glashutte. No contest.
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2014, 09:00 PM   #17
954Stealth
Brigadier General
954Stealth's Avatar
United_States
1543
Rep
4,512
Posts

Drives: A Car
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bacon Raton, FL

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to go with the IWC...perhaps the GO in next year's acquisition.

I've tried both and I just was really drawn to the IWC. It fits my wrist better, I like the smaller bezel and I find the movement right on point for this price point (I know someone said they're disappointed, but I am actually quite happy with it)
I think it was Tony who said that I didn't list my reasons/needs in the watch. I did that purposely to get some unadulterated responses that were purely the agenda of the responder and not tailored to suit my OP.
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2014, 09:46 PM   #18
consolidated
Lieutenant Colonel
consolidated's Avatar
205
Rep
1,864
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Texas

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Congrats on a very nice purchase. We need to see a pic!
__________________
F80 M3 / Mineral Grey-Silverstone / CCB
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2014, 09:52 PM   #19
1MOREMOD
-
1MOREMOD's Avatar
United_States
11815
Rep
23,187
Posts

Drives: Race car->
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: check your mirrors

iTrader: (5)

Yeah did you get the white face with blue hands?
Appreciate 0
      09-09-2014, 05:48 AM   #20
tony20009
Major General
tony20009's Avatar
United_States
1042
Rep
5,660
Posts

Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Washington, DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 954Stealth View Post
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to go with the IWC...perhaps the GO in next year's acquisition.

I've tried both and I just was really drawn to the IWC. It fits my wrist better, I like the smaller bezel and I find the movement right on point for this price point (I know someone said they're disappointed, but I am actually quite happy with it)
I think it was Tony who said that I didn't list my reasons/needs in the watch. I did that purposely to get some unadulterated responses that were purely the agenda of the responder and not tailored to suit my OP.
Nice watch. Enjoy it and wear it in good health.

It was I who said that I couldn't recommend either for you specifically seeing as I knew nothing about your objectives for the purchase.

All the best.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed
Appreciate 0
      10-10-2014, 10:46 AM   #21
Rg21044
Second Lieutenant
Rg21044's Avatar
25
Rep
238
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: East coast USA

iTrader: (0)

Glashutte. You will go a month of Sundays before you see another "in the wild".
Appreciate 0
      10-10-2014, 10:55 AM   #22
eric@helix
eric@helix's Avatar
United_States
208
Rep
1,161
Posts

Drives: 01 M Coupe, 08 135i, '12 328i
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (0)

Pics!
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:47 PM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST