ZF IWC 5009 released

[rhc22]

Except, having been a Parnis owner because of the hype on the Gen forum, I can tell you right now they aren't anywhere near as good as the reps on here. The movements are universally cheaper, the cases not as machined, and the dials often downright ugly. For example my Parnis BP was a 1mm to big in the case and the dial had mislaid, ugly, uneven markers at 4,5,6 and 9. Meanwhile my Batman GMT, while it had a nice bracelet, didn't have glidelock and the movement often lost time. Not to mention on the dial you could tell the hands and markers are cheap gilt.

While Parnis are for sure unbranded reps, they're being sold at 90-110 bucks shipping in. Which indicates to me they're probably 20 to 40 bucks at wholesale.

If we look at watchstation the cost they're paying wholesale is at least 100 bucks or more for most of th super Rep models. To be honest I suspect that's what your lower end Hamilton and the like costs, forget the Low end Seiko

Not slugging cheap watches, the Vostok Komandirskie us the best mechanical watch in the market under $100 but it doesn't stop the fact that having owned reps and Gen knockoffs, the reps are better

Moreover I deeply suspect many of the Rep parts factories provide most of the components for "Swiss" brands like Steinhart and Tissot, who are spending their real bucks on assembly and QC

I take your point on the Parnis watches, personally I have never owned one so it was an assumption and probably not a good comparison.

 

[Nebakanezzar]

mine showed up yesterday from Angus, i am simply blown away by this rep! i have handled the gen several times and this thing is spot ******* on! The movement is running great, has only lost 2 seconds in the last 24 hours!

Couple quick question:

1) does IWC make a XL big pilot strap? and if so how much is it and how dies one buy it?
2) who makes the best BP strap?

thanks.

 

[somewhat]

mine showed up yesterday from Angus, i am simply blown away by this rep! i have handled the gen several times and this thing is spot ******* on! The movement is running great, has only lost 2 seconds in the last 24 hours!

Couple quick question:

1) does IWC make a XL big pilot strap? and if so how much is it and how dies one buy it?
2) who makes the best BP strap?

thanks.

Awesome! Happy to hear it's a great rep, wear it in good health! As I said, it's hard not to pull the trigger now but I'm curious to see if/when a new version will come.

So answers:
1) Gen straps are hard to come by and the croc ones are $500+ (yes, really) in boutiques
2) I've heard good things about Orloff, but to be honest, imo, most custom makers are charging about $150+ for these straps. I'm not saying they're interchangeable, but I do feel the margin of difference between them is pretty negligible and that the difference between a $200 strap and $300 strap is diminishing returns, you're getting maybe a few percent extra for an extra 50% in price. Personally I'd buy a dark, rich royal blue because I saw it on the tswatch site and thought it looked incredible on the BP

 

[IWChina]

So...is big pilot IWC ZF 5009 reliable in time or not?..i m not understanding..

 

[somewhat]

So...is big pilot IWC ZF 5009 reliable in time or not?..i m not understanding..

It's accurate enough. It's not at the standard of most generic movements in Gen watches. Then again Gen IWC 5009 are not that accurate either.

If you want COSC you'll need to buy something else

It'll keep time though and if you're ok with it being closer to +/-30 secs a day or better with regulation you'll be fine

 

[WatchFnatic]

Use your phone to check time

 

[higginsd]

I full agree on the things about COSC "somewhat" says. +/-30 seconds is a bit too much, +/-10 seconds is very good and you can reach it with regulation.

Answers:
1) a gen 5009 strap is easy to buy, just go to any AD and order. The price is 480€, yes it's high, but you can't beat the quality of an IWC gen strap. Orloff is close, but at the end of the day he is miles away. A gen IWC strap is extreme expensive - compared to the rep watch price - but worth every penny. Feel it, wear it and you'll understand.
2) Kaufmann. This is the manufacture for IWC gen straps. If you live in Europe you can find ADs selling Kaufmann and they can order a "gen" IWC from Kaufmann for you. The same quality, the same look, 20-30% cheaper than "gen" IWC. But I'm sorry if you live outside EU, then it's difficult.

 

[somewhat]

I full agree on the things about COSC "somewhat" says. +/-30 seconds is a bit too much, +/-10 seconds is very good and you can reach it with regulation.

Answers:
1) a gen 5009 strap is easy to buy, just go to any AD and order. The price is 480€, yes it's high, but you can't beat the quality of an IWC gen strap. Orloff is close, but at the end of the day he is miles away. A gen IWC strap is extreme expensive - compared to the rep watch price - but worth every penny. Feel it, wear it and you'll understand.
2) Kaufmann. This is the manufacture for IWC gen straps. If you live in Europe you can find ADs selling Kaufmann and they can order a "gen" IWC from Kaufmann for you. The same quality, the same look, 20-30% cheaper than "gen" IWC. But I'm sorry if you live outside EU, then it's difficult.

I was bending the stick really about the 30 seconds. My point was thst it won't be COSC haha. However once you're within 10 seconds accuracy and your 80ish+ hours of PR you can see why, for $400 shipped, this watch blows the original IWC quite out of the water. That is after all 80% gen performance for 1% the cost

 

[tinson49]

To me the screw just looks strange. But overall a great watch for sure.

 

[higginsd]

The screw? Which screw? Confused...

 

[somewhat]

The screw? Which screw? Confused...

He was post whoring because he had a sketchy sale, ignore

Anybody received one recently? I can't afford one after my last Rep purchase but definitely want to see other people's as eye candy....

 

[jpohl402]

I full agree on the things about COSC "somewhat" says. +/-30 seconds is a bit too much, +/-10 seconds is very good and you can reach it with regulation.

Answers:
1) a gen 5009 strap is easy to buy, just go to any AD and order. The price is 480€, yes it's high, but you can't beat the quality of an IWC gen strap. Orloff is close, but at the end of the day he is miles away. A gen IWC strap is extreme expensive - compared to the rep watch price - but worth every penny. Feel it, wear it and you'll understand.
2) Kaufmann. This is the manufacture for IWC gen straps. If you live in Europe you can find ADs selling Kaufmann and they can order a "gen" IWC from Kaufmann for you. The same quality, the same look, 20-30% cheaper than "gen" IWC. But I'm sorry if you live outside EU, then it's difficult.

I agree with the points about regulation!
Re: number one, a question:
Soooo, since IWC has switched strap suppliers on their new Big Pilot releases - from Kaufmann to Santoni - and from the Alligator/Croc to a Calf leather from Santoni - are they going to still be able to sell/acquire the old Kaufmann alligator/croc straps?! For Gen owners for instance.
Like if I have a Gen 5004 (NOT 5009) that (obviously!) came on old style/classic Alligator w Rivets strap - and the strap gets worn out, like we all know they do!, and I walk into an IWC boutique or AD with my gen watch, a worn strap, and $600 in cash to cover the price - are they going to tell me they can ONLY Sell me the new style Calf leather strap (which, I may just hate, and want the gator one?!)

 

[higginsd]

Yes, the "old" alligator straps are still available. From Kaufmann or IWC. There are too many former customers changing their strap on a regulary base (people buying gens for $15000 or paying $2000 for a revision don't care much about $500 every year or two years for a new strap) so they have to offer the "old" line for the next 40 or 50 years I would say.

And at least not all customers like calf leather, I bet the most customers prefer gator because calf is a little bit "cheapy". BTW: you can go to an IWC AD without the old worn out strap and he'll sell you a new strap. There are no selling restrictions on straps like on other IWC watch parts.

 

[jpohl402]

Yes, the "old" alligator straps are still available. From Kaufmann or IWC. There are too many former customers changing their strap on a regulary base (people buying gens for $15000 or paying $2000 for a revision don't care much about $500 every year or two years for a new strap) so they have to offer the "old" line for the next 40 or 50 years I would say.

And at least not all customers like calf leather, I bet the most customers prefer gator because calf is a little bit "cheapy". BTW: you can go to an IWC AD without the old worn out strap and he'll sell you a new strap. There are no selling restrictions on straps like on other IWC watch parts.

Thanks for the reply!
I know you can go there without an old strap and purchase another - I was just using the "full scenario" hypothetically, as a gen customer would or could do.
Thanks!

PS. I'm in the camp that doesn't like calf leather - I prefer gator

 

[higginsd]

Yes gator is much better. But I have to say the 5009-08 BP PP looks very cool on calf. Or on kevlar. Historically calf is correct for Pilot Watches.

 

[old_man]

Yes gator is much better. But I have to say the 5009-08 BP PP looks very cool on calf. Or on kevlar. Historically calf is correct for Pilot Watches.

which is why IWC went that way with the more traditional dial design on the new 500912.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[somewhat]

I really dislike the strap on the 500912, it just looks cheap and you know they'll make a killing selling it for $500 because they can. I'm sure it'll be easier to Rep but frankly I would rather a high quality Rep Kevlar than that boring one. The gator design really classed up the original design imo no point to follow the recent trend of making things "historically accurate" because reasons. Especially when it doesn't even look like the original ultra long Luftwaffe straps....

The dial itself is nice, hope we see this model released soon so the factories make a Rep dial. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

 

[andre233]

Does anyone know any trick to fix the crooked number 1 without scratching the dial?

 

[IWChina]

Could you explain better your question please?..mine IWC 5009001 arrived on thursday..very very very nice watch and i'd say it is 90% similar to the gen one. Do you agree with me?

 

[jpohl402]

Could you explain better your question please?..mine IWC 5009001 arrived on thursday..very very very nice watch and i'd say it is 90% similar to the gen one. Do you agree with me?

Yes.....