By Michael Friedberg at SIHH in Geneva, Switzerland

Every year, IWC invites some of its most avid collectors to SIHH. These collectors are selected based upon their participation on IWC’s Forum and come from all over the world.

This group enjoys an enviable camaraderie, sharing a common passion for IWC.   Today is a very special day for them.  As Larry Seiden, a U.S. collector said, “For IWC fans, being present at the unveiling of new novelties, especially, the beloved Pilots, certainly ranks with an insider’s tour of the factor as one of life’s great moments”.

Of course, the proud collectors bring some of their favorite watches with them.  It’s something special to share, and serves as a symbol of bonding with their favorite watch brand.  Because this is the year of the pilot’s watch, many brought pilot’s watches.  

There are the “vintage” guys with rare historic IWC pieces. Dr. Heinz-Josef Thissen, an IWC collector for 41 years from Germany, has brought an original Mark 11 Royal Air Force pilot’s watch. So do others, including a former pilot, Antonio Gomes from Portugal, who wore a Mark 11 produced for British Overseas Airways Corporation. Several of the other collectors are also pilots, including Hans-Conrad Stamm who flies for Swiss.

Contemporary pilot’s watches are brought today by the collectors too.  Andrew Thomas, a Scotsman living in Switzerland, proudly wears his IWC Patrouille Suisse Chronograph. Larry Seiden from the United States is wearing an original Big Pilot Platinum watch, reference 5002. Alan Ross is wearing his ceramic “Carlson” Doppelchronograph. From Singapore, KS Low brought his current Big Pilot, reference 5004. The Brit, Ralph Edmonson, is wearing a rare platinum Doppelchronograph, reference 5011.

Not all the collectors wore flight watches. Skule Edvard Smørgard from Norway is wearing a beautiful rose gold Portuguese Perpetual Calendar. From Greece, Argiris Develegas brought his rare Collectors Forum DaVinci, a very limited edition made only for participants of the Forum. Roman Belov from Moscow has his Portuguese F.A. Jones on his wrist.

These twenty collectors get to “touch and feel” the novelties, meet with IWC executives and celebrate with an evening dinner. At the end of the day, they will have fully earned their bragging rights.

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