[timefinder]

So I was at some ADs today, that admittedly, were out of my living/working area (I was on the road). There were Tags, Movados, ESQs, Bullovas, and other watches, that some would consider high end, and some would not. When I inquired if they had any Rolexes, they replied no. When I inquired about IWC, not one AD heard of it. Some would ask, "Who makes them?" "What does it stand for?" "What company makes them?" "Are they Swiss or digital?" And stuff like that.

So then when I get back here, I find that there is only one AD within 150 miles of where I live. BTW, they had not heard of Ball Watches either.

Has anyone else experienced this? And is IWC that rare?

 

[Slife]

I think it depends on where you live. I find that they are well known in Euorpe and Asia, but not as known in America.

 

[shimside11]

In my city I can get Rolex, Patek, Ball, Ulysse Nardin and even Panerai and Corum, but nobody carries IWC currently. We had a dealer, but they discontinued them about two years ago. The closest dealer now is about 300 miles away.

 

[boscoe]

IWC is well respected in watch circles. It's a tip-top brand.
However, people who sell watches are generally not into watches, per se.
I have had store employees who sell IWC, Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, Corum, Patek (Hamilton jewelers) not recognize Clerc and Bedat (or Invicta for that matter). I have had another high end store that sells Bedat, Chopard, Omega and that Cuban resurrection brand S&D not know IWC.
I think it all depends on the store/salesman.
Truly, outside Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Patek, Bulova, TAG, Movada, Seiko and Citizen everything else is way below the average person's radar.

 

[timefinder]

I am looking at everyone's comments, and I am surprised that the dealers are so rare. There is only one listed in my state, and that happens to be a chain.

To Slife's point: I heard quite a bit about IWC overseas; but, back home, nothing.

 

[toddb]

Iwc

REEL good stuff just look around these watch forums, you'll see...

 

[Scott D]

I agree with Boscoe. The salesman nowadays are just that. Salesman. They only care about getting something from the store onto your wrist and if they don't carry it they don't care about it. Sure, there are exceptions, but that seems to be the rule. I am surprised a Rolex dealer wouldn't know who IWC is though. But then again maybe I shouldn't be..

Personally, a watch salesman should know there competition to be successful. At least learn the brands that compete with yours. Just my opinion...

IWC is a different brand. They are somewhat like Breitling where they are very cautious in their AD's, they don't want too many around. They are also very low key. Even in the Atlanta metro with just over 5 million people there's only 2 AD's for all north Ga. You'll see print ads in some magazines (not very often), almost always a watch or 'high end guy' mag. They don't discount very much, the AD's have very little room to wiggle, and the limited number of the AD"s means they don't have to. They make a very well respected brand, and most of their sales I'm sure comes from either 1) repeat business or 2) word of mouth. I also agree they're a much more well known brand in Europe.

But hey - that's OK.. The less people that know about them, the more for all of us!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[bullosa]

IWC is sold in most fine watch boutique over here. In fact you could pick up one at the KL International Airport here in Malaysia. They are some of the finest watches around. Their only downside is their cost. (That is of course my personal opinion, my wife agrees!) :tongue_smilie:

 

[boscoe]

On the flip side, the people I encountered at Tourneau were very aware of all brands.
So I guess it's just a matter of where you shop

 

[Scott D]

On the flip side, the people I encountered at Tourneau were very aware of all brands.
So I guess it's just a matter of where you shop

Thats probably because there are so few brands they don't sell! :thumbup1:

 

[muttley]

There are 2 AD's for the whole country here (4 million people). Even Breitling has 4 AD's :sad:

 

[timefinder]

Muttley: What country do you reside in?

 

[muttley]

Muttley: What country do you reside in?

New Zealand - home of the hobbits, next stop Antarctica, Maori name: Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud).

Official Flag (I know, boring)

Three islands (North, South & Stewart) to the south east of Australia's east coast.

Here endeth today's geography lesson :001_smile:

 

[timefinder]

BTW, Muttley, the flag is very similar to Australia's flag. As I recall, they have six stars due to their six provinces.

I understand that the two countries go head to head in sports, much like the Sox / Yankees; Pats / Jets; or Cowboys / Redskins; but, I also understand the two countries get along quite well together and with us here in the States.

BTW, for the record, your flag is not boring. Very nice!!! :thumbup:

 

[muttley]

Thanks timefinder, yeah there's a long history of rivalry between Aust & NZ, especially in sports:biggrin: But we have an even longer history of working together since so many of us died together in the mud and blood of Gallipoli in WW1, where both countries forged our own unique identities beyond just being colonies of Britain. Strangely enough, a New Zealander has just been appointed the head coach of the Australian National Rugby Union side, the first foreigner to coach Australian Rugby in history. It's going to be very interesting when the two countries clash on the field next time :thumbup:
But I digress.....
Here's the Australian Flag:

you can see why there's a movement here to change our flag - it looks too much like Aust's flag (and Fiji's and a couple of others as well).


I like this alternative:

but I think we'll stay with the old one for a long while yet.....

P.s. you were **** close - there's 7 points on the Australian flag's stars to represent the 7 states. The Cluster of small stars is the Southern Cross constellation (same as the New Zealand flag, but Australia put a tiny little star in as well - showoffs just wanted to be one better.... :001_tt2

BTW, Muttley, the flag is very similar to Australia's flag. As I recall, they have six stars due to their six provinces.

I understand that the two countries go head to head in sports, much like the Sox / Yankees; Pats / Jets; or Cowboys / Redskins; but, I also understand the two countries get along quite well together and with us here in the States.

BTW, for the record, your flag is not boring. Very nice!!! :thumbup:

 

[timefinder]

BTW, the plant in the flag, what does it represent? And was this submitted by citizens, or proposed by the government?

That flag is nice as well.

Thanks for the history lesson!!!!

 

[muttley]

Sorry, I should have explained a bit more (but didn't want to rabbit on...)
The plant is the silver fern, our national plant, and used by nearly all our national sports teams, and is probably 2nd most known image of New Zealand after the Kiwi (the bird, not the fuzzy fruit!! :biggrin: ) Trouble is, one of the most popular flags used as an alternative to the official flag, has a silver fern on a black background (you will see it at all our rugby games where the NZ team, the All Blacks, are playing) - many people say it just looks like the white feather of surrender.... not a good look if it ever were adopted as the national flag.
The flag I posted was the winner of a competition to find an alternative flag.
Thanks for your interest.

BTW, the plant in the flag, what does it represent? And was this submitted by citizens, or proposed by the government?

That flag is nice as well.

Thanks for the history lesson!!!!

 

[jdp87]

I think IWC is very well known, at least to people who have some interest in watches, I see them around a lot and their popularity is only growing, recently I spotted a big pilot on the wrist of a Ralph Lauren model in an add. The brand is certainly gaining more and more deserved attention.

 

[smalltime3]

IWC must be rare.

I was on a cruise ship a couple of years ago, and I found a really nice IWC watch in a watch bin that had a lot of cheap brands of watches in it, and I picked it up for $25.00. Someone must not of had any clue of what they were doing when they put that watch in the bin for $25.00. It must of cost at least 250.00. Made a nice gift to my son. I tried to find another one for myself, but it was the only one.

 

[timefinder]

IWC for $25?!?!?! Are you sure? Do you have pictures?