My first watch purchase of the year and it's an IWC.
Thu, 27 September 2012 16:26
I'm blown away by this one.
It's a 5242-04 platinum minute repeater, limited edition of 100.
Here's why I chose it:
I was always a big fan of the IWC minute repeaters. I've stated here on this forum that I like the script writing of "International Watch Co" better than the new ones that read
"IWC" on the dial, but the problem was that I couldn't find an NOS older one, and if I did, it would probably have to go right to service from sitting around unused for so long.
In the end the script writing versus the "IWC" was not a deal breaker. I also didn't want to buy a used one with problems that may not have been disclosed.
The plastic crystal on the older ones with the script is nice, but I have plastic on my two 5441's and my 5000, and this one, which is sapphire, is really nice because it's domed,
and of course more durable. For this watch I like the sapphire crystal better.
I like both the "rail" dial and the older "dot" dials about the same, so that's not an issue for me.
The size of this one is 43mm's and the case height is only 12.3 mm's versus 44mm's (which is fine) and case height of 14 mm's (slightly tall in my opinion) for the new ones.
I like the seconds at 6 o'clock better on the new ones, but like the look of the older movement much better than the new ones, so that also was not a problem for me.
The seconds at 9 o'clock works and looks just fine for me, and the older movement outweighs having the seconds at 6.
I understand/read that the sound from the rose gold/yellow gold models might be a little louder (some say better), but I really like the low key look and feel of platinum
better for this watch. I like the platinum deployant buckle better than the tang buckle too. The deployant buckle counterbalances the hefty weight of the watch head nicely.
I'm extremely pleased with the way this one sounds.I hope to get a decent recording of it to post, but don't have a good sound/video recorder at the moment.
Here are some quick; not so great pictures I just took.
I will try to get a better movement picture. This shot doesn't do it justice.
- Champthekid