IWC Galapagos Aquatimer poorly constructed

[Robertus]

Each to their own I guess. I've been collecting Omega for a while and compared to my Omega's I find the IWC better quality. I can imagine a $30,000 IWC will be better then a $5000 one, but comparing with other brands similar price, I still believe IWC are good quality. I can't see any defects on my 3717, even when I look hard with a loop. I can see more [very minor] defects on my Omega Planet Ocean which retails for around the same price.

As for the 7750 movement, once again, everyone has their own opinion and I really like the movement. It is accurate and runs very well. Good power reserve. Mine keep going beyond the quoted specifications.

I guess I am bias, as I own one, but I did do my research before buying so I knew full well about the 7750 movement. The other watch on the cards was the older style Pilot with the JLC movement but the 3717 won out in the end.

And yes, I realise we are paying a premium for the brand name. But isn't everyone? Lets say you bought the best quality IWC for around $70,000. Your still paying for the brand name.

Regarding the reliability and sturdiness the 7750 ranks very high: according to first class watchmakers I know of the swiss luxury brands they ALL say that the in-house chronograph calibers of even the highest grade all have fall-out rates (I mean reliability and not deviation, but deviation can also be set to a very high grade) higher than the 7750, for the relatively small price. Brands I'm talking about are JLC, Breitling, PP, Rolex, and yes, IWC. I understand that others have opinions highly differing from the above mentioned but what I've written about is based on relatively long-time service experience. So I'm very happy with my cca. 10 watches driven by the 7750-s, and I do not miss the column wheel, the Breguet hairspring and all the other "high-end" features. In turn I get a caliber with almost 40 years of past and development which does not depend on the manufacturer and in emergency can be overhauled by the watchmaker down the corner, payable spare parts that will be widely available till the day I die and has all the features I need in everyday life - chronograph and day-date. That said, of course I appreciate different opinions too.
Now my cheapest TOP grade 7750 is a Sinn 103 St Sa, now cca. 1.400 Euro, while the most expensive one is my IWC Aquatimer Chrono Cousteau 2010 ref. 376706 with an added steel bracelet, together well above 6.000 Euro retail - my daily wearer now. Where else can you get this feeling for this amount of money? The Chronomat B01 does not have the weekday and the strap change system, a few others have 60 minutes chrono counter which is completely invisible for my 50 year old eyes, Rolex has no date, no day and no turning bezel - should I go on?
Best: Robert

[tpetra87]

Each to their own I guess. I've been collecting Omega for a while and compared to my Omega's I find the IWC better quality. I can imagine a $30,000 IWC will be better then a $5000 one, but comparing with other brands similar price, I still believe IWC are good quality. I can't see any defects on my 3717, even when I look hard with a loop. I can see more [very minor] defects on my Omega Planet Ocean which retails for around the same price.

As for the 7750 movement, once again, everyone has their own opinion and I really like the movement. It is accurate and runs very well. Good power reserve. Mine keep going beyond the quoted specifications.

I guess I am bias, as I own one, but I did do my research before buying so I knew full well about the 7750 movement. The other watch on the cards was the older style Pilot with the JLC movement but the 3717 won out in the end.

And yes, I realise we are paying a premium for the brand name. But isn't everyone? Lets say you bought the best quality IWC for around $70,000. Your still paying for the brand name.

2 Thumbs up! I am totally agreed.

[tpetra87]

However im still waiting for the actual photo.

[toph]

have you decided to draw a picture instead?

[diosrl]

My Top Gun chrono's hand looked like it was painted by a 4 years old kid. On my Galapagos you could see the glue underneath the white part of the bezel from 12 'o clock till 3 'o clock. I mean...it's a 6K and plus price tag of watches we're talking about here. My dad's Vintage Pilot watch has been barely used in 2 months of ownership and the crown had stopped winding,it just keep on going and after a couple of full spins it catches on the hands and drags them. Sent now to IWC and the thing they said in first place was " ok,we will cover the warranty only if will be a manufacturing defect,if you caused it you will have to pay for it". Wich of course sounds right,the thing is tho they could care less about me telling them the watch has been used for about 2 weeks out of 2 months.8K Euro worth of watch,good going IWC,point proven.
And not to mention the useless 7750,but that's another story,if one buys a watch just for it's look then IWC may be ok,even with a lousy 7750. It's amazing how IWC have to think watch design and cases around that useless caliber..
So long IWC.

Pics or it didn't happen. We need to see all that details, PLEASE! It's not about trust, but we need to see, it's an important matter, and you're helping the entire community with those pictures! So, please, upload some as soon as you can!

[Broleo]

agree with all the guys here. Can we have some pics? It take 1 minute to upload only.

cheers

[martin_blank]

something seems fishy about this thread...

most people start threads with pics..

[gettocard]

Pics or it didn't happen. We need to see all that details, PLEASE! It's not about trust, but we need to see, it's an important matter, and you're helping the entire community with those pictures! So, please, upload some as soon as you can!

You obviously did not read the whole story of mine...
Both my Top Gun and Galapagos are now gone and forgotten. The Top Gun turned cash for a Sub LV,the Galapagos just turned in cold cash and some presents for wife.

I agree tho,the OP should post some pics. But even without them it's just a rubber watch we're talking here,it will fall apart,period.

[diosrl]

You are right, but the first thing I do (beside getting rid of the item) is taking a pic of the problem :D

So you did right, it would be foolish to start such a thread and still have the watch :) Sell it first then complain.. But you should took some pics, for your records, for our information&help, etc...

That's all about this story I think.. I am curious what the warranty card is saying (if anything) about the rubber coating.

I really can't judge until I've seen the picture, but sometimes you can scratch or damage something without knowing how, where or when it happened.

I am 100% agree with this, to draw my own conclusion I need at least some visuals to sustain the story..

[gettocard]

That's all about this story I think.. I am curious what the warranty card is saying (if anything) about the rubber coating.

That's another good point. IWC does not provide any reliable informations on the papers about coating mainteinance or care. I've heard rumors that IWC is able to completely overhaul the damn rubber when times will call for that,but it's just a rumor,nothing officially on paper about this matter.
It's obvious that IWC is taking an unbelivable shot of luck with this watch. The Galapagos has been out since 2009,it's really way too soon now but give it a couple of more years and I bet a lot of disgruntled owners will pop out on the forums with their half melted/half ripped apart Galapagos's cases..

AFAIC,I precisely remember how I've managed to rip my Galapagos bezel :
I was in the garage working on my bikes,I had to pick up a tool from the tool box but I had to keep my eyes on what I was doing on the bike and using the right hand to keep a wire under tension,so I used my left hand to open the tool box and kept the lid open with one finger while grabbing the needed tool with the other fingers. At some point I was no able to keep the box's lid open and I've let that go. It landed on the bezel. Did not pay any attention to it,it was a very light and flimsy piece of plastic,why should I be bothered ?? Here we go..bezel ripped...

From that day on I treated the Galapagos with a lot of care and attention,and that's when I became fed up about it