Older IWC Pilot watch - Real or Fake?? Please help.

[skifefa]

Hello everyone - I'm brand new to this forum & brand new to the watch world. I've been looking into getting an automatic watch with a certain style and I love the IWC pilots. Anyway, one of my cousins (in Hong Kong) just told me she has this IWC from her ex-bf as a gift that she doesn't want anymore and would like to give it to me. I think she must have gotten this watch maybe 6 yrs ago but I have no idea if it's a replica or real. I think she doesn't know much about watch & I don't want to offend/upset her by saying it might be a fake watch. If it is real, I would like to pay her something for it but without actually seeing it and having it examined by a jeweler it's difficult to determine. Can someone take a look and let me know what you think? Any comments would be really appreciated. Thank you!!

- pc

[heb]

Hello,
It's real; I have one just like it. The watch is a "mecaquartz" fleiger, first introduced in 1989 and discontinued sometime around 2000. It was a hybrid movement created for IWC by Jaeger LeCoultre featuring quartz time keeping with an added mechanical chronograph module. However, when the battery died, so did the chronograph feature. It was more a gimmick than anything else, kind of like today's Seiko "Spring Drive".

Enjoy your watch,

heb

[skifefa]

Thanks heb! your info is really helpful. now i can learn more about this on the web. :)

[skifefa]

here are a few more better pictures, I've also ask her to take a picture of the back of the watch, hopefully I'll have that tomorrow:

[MikeL212]

I wouldnt assume that is real just because someone has the same model. It still could be a replica of that watch. While not one of their most iconic models, it doesnt mean that it wasnt replicated. However, if it turns out to be real, its still worth a pretty penny.

Why dont you take possession of it, get it valued or sell it(USD 1,500), then decide how much money you want to give her. Lets hope the biggest looser was the guy who give her the watch.

[skifefa]

you're right, I'm going to have her send it to me & get it looked at by a AD. I talked to the AD here today and he said because of the hybrid movements, I'd have to send it to IWC for service or even just changing the battery. that's going to cost at least a couple hundred dollars .... :P

I wouldnt assume that is real just because someone has the same model. It still could be a replica of that watch. While not one of their most iconic models, it doesnt mean that it wasnt replicated. However, if it turns out to be real, its still worth a pretty penny.

Why dont you take possession of it, get it valued or sell it(USD 1,500), then decide how much money you want to give her. Lets hope the biggest looser was the guy who give her the watch.

[MikeL212]

Dont know too much about the hybrid part, but how does one service the quartz part? I kind of wonder if the "service" means battery change, gasket change and polish case and bracelet. If thats the case, can you have a local guy just change the battery and forgo the polish?

[skifefa]

yea ... i don't know. the guy @ the AD told me because of this special hybrid movements they can't just service it in the States like the other IWC's. even if it just changing the battery, I'd have to send back to the IWC in Switzerland. kinda high maintenance. :P

Dont know too much about the hybrid part, but how does one service the quartz part? I kind of wonder if the "service" means battery change, gasket change and polish case and bracelet. If thats the case, can you have a local guy just change the battery and forgo the polish?

[skifefa]

I've asked my cousin to take more pictures of the back of the watch. she said the # on the back is 2758709. I think I'm going to have the watch next Sunday. When I get it I'll take it to the AD & have them check it out & see what they say.

[Andy the Squirrel]

Looks real to me