IWC Mark XX thoughts

Surprised there was not yet a new post on this recent update to the Mark series. I love the improvements that were made (increased water resistance, adoption of the IWC strap changing system, in-house movement, subtle changes to the date wheel and font, shorter lugs). I definitely want to go try this one on. 
 

Interesting that this watch came out right after the Tudor Ranger. I know some people consider the Mark series to basically be a field watch.  I want to check out both of these but lean toward the Ranger as a field watch. However, I love blue dials and would consider the blue dial Mark XX in the future and get the rubber strap as well to wear that one In the water. Unfortunately, I can’t really afford to buy more than one luxury watch a year right now due to other expenses. 
 

What do others think about the new IWC Mark XX?

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I think it looks much better than the mark xviii.  But I can never justify the price compared to a Sinn or Hamilton 

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Timetodial

I think it looks much better than the mark xviii.  But I can never justify the price compared to a Sinn or Hamilton 

Have you seen one in person?  i don’t think you can fully appreciate IWC until you try one on. They are stunning in person. The quality is top notch. You definitely pay for it though. 
 

I prefer a field watch style to the pilot style. Some consider the IWC sort of a hybrid. I must admit that I prefer an Arabic at 12 as opposed to the triangle. Seriously considering the new Tudor Ranger, but Hamilton is a great affordable option. I think the automatic are nicer than the mechanicals in person. Sinn is a step up in quality over Hamilton, but I just never liked the design. 
 

For a very affordable option, the Seiko 5 military is a good option. 

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This very well could be a future watch. The slightly smaller lug to lug will make a difference the mark xviii was a hair to big for me. I shrug at the date wheel everyone has opinions about ‘em, like cyclopses I friggin hate them. I think they legitimately make a watch unreadable from many angles.

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Yowham

This very well could be a future watch. The slightly smaller lug to lug will make a difference the mark xviii was a hair to big for me. I shrug at the date wheel everyone has opinions about ‘em, like cyclopses I friggin hate them. I think they legitimately make a watch unreadable from many angles.

I didn’t like the way the Mark XVIII fit on my 6.75 inch wrist. It laid kind of flat and the lugs were too long. It didn’t feel or look right. Hoping this one will look better but still not sure a pilot watch is right for me. Still want to try this one on though. 

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RandyC

I didn’t like the way the Mark XVIII fit on my 6.75 inch wrist. It laid kind of flat and the lugs were too long. It didn’t feel or look right. Hoping this one will look better but still not sure a pilot watch is right for me. Still want to try this one on though. 

I’m in about the same exact boat as you. I dig the vibe of the watch though especially with the bracelet. Iwc bracelets seem like the nicest out of every other brand in its range.

I ended up getting a Omega Railmaster, it’s a great field watch and has a lot less length on it. 

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RandyC

Have you seen one in person?  i don’t think you can fully appreciate IWC until you try one on. They are stunning in person. The quality is top notch. You definitely pay for it though. 
 

I prefer a field watch style to the pilot style. Some consider the IWC sort of a hybrid. I must admit that I prefer an Arabic at 12 as opposed to the triangle. Seriously considering the new Tudor Ranger, but Hamilton is a great affordable option. I think the automatic are nicer than the mechanicals in person. Sinn is a step up in quality over Hamilton, but I just never liked the design. 
 

For a very affordable option, the Seiko 5 military is a good option. 

totaly agree with this comment, you just need to see and try it in person to fully "get it"
as for the mark XX, cool offering just not sure about the white datewheel, not that i need another pilot watch.

sticking with my baby pilot 36

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fadingbooks

totaly agree with this comment, you just need to see and try it in person to fully "get it"
as for the mark XX, cool offering just not sure about the white datewheel, not that i need another pilot watch.

sticking with my baby pilot 36

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I thought about the 36 myself. Looks good. 

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The difference between the XVIII and XX is honestly very subtle.

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https://youtu.be/hBAXxcMtZLo

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Yowham

I’m in about the same exact boat as you. I dig the vibe of the watch though especially with the bracelet. Iwc bracelets seem like the nicest out of every other brand in its range.

I ended up getting a Omega Railmaster, it’s a great field watch and has a lot less length on it. 

The bracelet on my IWC Ingenieur is amazing and one of the main reasons I bought the watch. incredibly comfortable with a great micro-adjust system on the clasp. The bracelets are part of why IWC watches cost so much. I believe they charge around $1500 or more just for the bracelet if you were to buy it separately. The Ingenieur was the last watch I tried on after a full day of trying on watches at multiple ADs. The difference in quality was noticeable immediately. Made other bracelets I tried on that day seem like a joke. The execution of the dial and indices on the Ingénieur were also far superior to what I found on other watches. 

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Just an fyi, I was told by my IWC boutique that the Mark XX's movement isn't a true in-house, but a shared movement Richemont is pushing on all of their watch brands

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marinaboi

Just an fyi, I was told by my IWC boutique that the Mark XX's movement isn't a true in-house, but a shared movement Richemont is pushing on all of their watch brands

Richemont owns Valfleurier, a movement manufacturer that was created to end reliance on Swatch Group’s ETA movements and other third party movements from the likes of Sellita. IWC used to use a lot of ébauche movements from third parties. Richement doesn’t want brands to have to rely on third parties anymore and also wants to tout its brands as having manufacture movements. I don’t know the full details of how much the brands like IWC work with Valfleurier on the movement development. 

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Not sure if anyone will see this post, but I ultimately went with the Ranger. I just didn't connect with the Mark XX when I tried it on. The fit was better though than on the old Mark XVIII.