Review of the IWC MARK XX
For quite some time in 2023 i was thinking i need to get a pilot's watch to make my collection more rounded out. With some quick research, i found out the first few iconic pilot's watches were the ones made for the German air force during world war 2. The very first of these fliegers were manufactured by Laco and 4 other companies followed suit, namely Stowa, Lange, Wempe, and IWC.
Of this list i wanted to get my first pilot's watch from Laco because they were the pioneers of the design and also the Laco Pro was not that expensive. The only hurdle holding me back is the inconvenience of shipping luxury goods into my home country, the Philippines, always paying 30% or more in customs taxes and the risk of having it held for weeks while they determine the paperwork, etc. I experienced this headache already when i bought a 50k php watch from gnomon in singapore only for it to get held at customs and me having to pay 38k php in taxes and customs broker fees. The next time i bought a watch overseas was through a 3rd party app to avoid customs taxes. I bought my christopher ward and shipped it to the 3rd party and they in turn shipped the watch to me, avoiding any customs taxes. This was less costly but the inconvenience and hassle was still there. Enough of a nuisance that i just put the purchase of a Laco in the back of my list and moved on.
Come 2024 where me and the family had a short trip to the capital for passport renewals for the kids. The capital had many luxury watch stores and i did not miss the opportunity to pop my head into every single one that i came across. Window shopping for watches gives me such great joy!
I ran into many watch brands and models during this time. Watches i had on my "to buy" list and watches i have now added to that list. Examples are Oris pro pilot X, longines master collection, panerai due, baume et mercier clifton, jlc master ultra thin. I have also unfortunately seen watches on my "to buy" list that i have taken off since it just doesnt spark anything when i saw them - tudor fxd, tudor 39mm, cartier tank francaise, cartier santos, breitling navitimer. Sorry for the fans of those models.😅
Anyway, i ran into an iwc AD during one of my watch window shopping spree and when i saw the spitfire, markxx, and big pilot i was immediately reminded of my pilot watch goal- the Laco i never got to purchase. The big pilot was too big and too pricey for me and the spitfire (my original pick) only came in a strap. The mark xx was the best choice for me out of the 3. It has an in-group manufactured caliber movement, a wonderful bracelet that is comfortable and has on the fly adjustment, 100m of water resistance with a screw down crown, anti magnetic features, and an impressive 5 days power reserve. The price is a bit high, but i was able to secure a 5% discount.🤣
All this wall of text to explain why i have again bought another watch and have broken my new year's resolution. Hopefully for the last time. 🤪
Review of the IWC MARK XX
Yes
No
- Awesome bracelet with on the fly sliding quick adjustment and easy push button removal for strap changes
- Great daytime and low light legibility with double AR coating and very crisp and legible numerals and hands
- Comfortable wearing experience with comfortable bracelet and thin case and manageable lug to lug
- Very good accuracy for a non cosc movement. My example loses 1 second while worn and gains 1 second when resting dial up overnight for a total deviation of 0 seconds per day in 7 days of consecutive use
- 120 hours power reserve (5 days) with 28,800 vph
- Only the hands, 12, 3, 6, and 9 markers are lumed. (By design from the original Mark 11); this renders the watch not as useful in total darkness, but legible enough in low lighting
- Not a see through caseback. Cool plane on the caseback, but i would have loved to see the movement ticking away
- It made me break my new year's resolution
- Minute hand would jump when you hack the movement, but it has so far NOT affected the impressive timekeeping of the watch
Hi, my name is Ryan and i'm addicted to watches 🫣
I love the blue dial on these
I love the blue dial on these
I had a hard time deciding which to get. I liked them both. It eventually came down to the caseback. The plane on the caseback of the black dial was lined upright while the plane on the caseback of the blue dial was pointed to the side. These were randomly screwed in of course, but thats what helped me decide on the black dial one. Plus black is more traditional to the flieger look. ☺️
Congrats and well done.
Hi
I joined the club same month as you - just over a week ago, blue dial. Loving it!
If you'd still like a Laco, their blue Augsburgs look great and are very reasonable - I got the black version for $275. Plus 7 seconds a day is not at all bad at that price point, and they're covered in lume.
Congrats and well done.
Hi
A magnificent piece. High five! 🖐
I joined the club same month as you - just over a week ago, blue dial. Loving it!
If you'd still like a Laco, their blue Augsburgs look great and are very reasonable - I got the black version for $275. Plus 7 seconds a day is not at all bad at that price point, and they're covered in lume.
Enjoy your iwc🤗
Yes what attracts me to Laco the most is the strong application of lume (at least from youtube videos i see). I may yet pull the trigger on a Laco Pro one day. ☺️
Great watch. Have you had any issues with the power reserve? I notice the Mark series runs out faster than I would think, but perhaps it's just a matter of being under-wound?
Great watch. Have you had any issues with the power reserve? I notice the Mark series runs out faster than I would think, but perhaps it's just a matter of being under-wound?
I am only 7 days into the ownership and i wore it daily so i have yet to see any power reserve issues hehe
How do you set the right time if the minute hand jumps?
How do you set the right time if the minute hand jumps?
It jumps during the hacking of the seconds hand. You then set the right time. It doesnt jump when you unhack/push the crown back in. 😄
What a beautiful watch. Now you can definitely sell me your Tudor BB lol 🤣
What a beautiful watch. Now you can definitely sell me your Tudor BB lol 🤣
I dont own a tudor black bay hehehe. I am not a fan of the blunt hour hand on those models. I may consider tudor ranger instead. One day. 😊
I dont own a tudor black bay hehehe. I am not a fan of the blunt hour hand on those models. I may consider tudor ranger instead. One day. 😊
Dang it
I really considered a Laco Pro on bracelet. I kept going back to their website and customizing my watch. The inconvenience of shipping it to the Philippines and risking it being put on hold by our Customs was the main drawback. I would have saved a lot of money if i went with Laco.😅
But very happy with iwc overall.
Thanks for commenting 🥰