Watches & Thoughts: My IWC Big Pilot, a Personal Story

/ Philadephia, PA/

Ever since IWC announced the new Big Pilot 5009-12 during SIHH 2016, it quickly went to the top of my must-have list.  While I performed an unboxing and thoughts video on my YouTube VLOG below, there's a personal story associated with this acquisition that I would like to share.

By June 2016, I had 19 watches, nineteen!  I didn't really wear several of them, so I thought about potentially downsizing or maybe, how about trading some in for the Big Pilot?  Having worked with Govberg Jewelers, from Philadelphia, before on other pieces, I knew they were an IWC authorized dealer and they also deal quite a bit with trade-ins.  

So I reached out to my contact there and after a few emails and phone calls, we worked out a fair deal.

Gone but never forgotten.

The red eye flight from LA to Philly.

On 6/10/2016, I boarded a red eye flight from LA to Philly with a carry-on full of watches, boxes and papers. This was arguably the craziest thing I've ever done!

I landed at 6AM ET, rented a car shortly there after and drove out to Walnut St.  Since I arrived a few hours before opening, I hung out at the Starbucks around the corner until 10AM.

Mission accomplished!

Having tried on the Big Pilot, albeit the previous generation, at the IWC Boutique in Beverly Hills, several times, I knew what to expect.  It's a massive, disgustingly huge watch and it's perfect in every way possible.

The new Big Pilot fixes all of the relatively minor design issues of the previous generation - the most obvious is that the "9" is back on the dial, the two dots / triangle symbol is moved back down below the 12 o'clock index markers, the font used for the numerals are slightly enlarged and bolded and they replaced the alligator strap with a high quality Santoni strap, that better compliments the original toolwatch design of the Big Pilot.

Now with the Big Pilot on my wrist and my return flight later in the day, it's time to explore the City of Brotherly Love - visited Rocky, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and enjoyed a good Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

First flight.

Thank you Michele, Govberg and Philly for the hospitality!

So beautiful and perfect!

Now better with the buffalo strap from the original BP-5002.

/ TOMMY

Watches & Thoughts: Tudor Black Bay 79230B with In-House Movement

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Here's an unboxing and a few thoughts on the Tudor Black Bay 79230B with in-house movement.

The new Tudor Black Bay features about 70 hours of power reserve, represents a substantial value proposition.  Unlike most other brands and watches, going in-house for Tudor did not mean an 50% price increase.  In fact, the price increase is less than 10% and essentially nominal.

So far, the only downside is a slight increase in thickness, which seems to be the biggest knock on it thus far.  With the old one at about 12.7mm and the new ones at 14.7mm, an increase of 2mm, is significant.

Nonetheless, there's still plenty to like - from the heritage design to the updated rivet bracelet.  Most of all, its relatively affordable, in the world of luxury watches.

/ TOMMY