The Watch Appreciation Thread (Reviews and Photos of Men's Timepieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Brei

[ruzzi]

calling iwc experts! about to pull the trigger on my first watch (mark xv) from a reputable overseas second hand dealer.



however, one minor detail someone picked up was that the crown appears to be a replacement 'probus' rather than iwc 'fish' crown. is this something to worry about or just worth enquiring about the service history?

 

[TheFoo]

The crowns switched to the "Probus Scafusia" style from the fish style later in the Mark XV's model run, so it is possible it is original. Also, if the watch has been serviced by IWC, they may have switched the crown at the factory.

 

[ruzzi]

thanks mafoofan, greatly appreciated!

 

[Kaplan]

My Mk XV has the Probus Scafusia crown (though I'd rather have the fishy one).

 

[ruzzi]

good to know kaplan! i prefer the look of the fish one too for some reason.

 

[Kaplan]

For me, it's because the Probus Scafusia text is too smal to read anyway and the fish graphic is just more clean and interesting. In the end it's a very minor detail, hardly noticeable unless you really look for it.

 

[bhall41]

I traded my 14060M for this 'transitional' 5513 (transitional because it has white gold surrounds and acrylic crystal):

 

[Cylon]

I traded my 14060M for this 'transitional' 5513 (transitional because it has white gold surrounds and acrylic crystal):

Beautiful. I cant make up my mind if I want a 5513 or 14060m

Either way, like you, I'ma go with no date + less wording

 

[kolecho]



Beautiful. I cant make up my mind if I want a 5513 or 14060m

Either way, like you, I'ma go with no date + less wording

If you want a matte dial, go with 5513. Both are good choices though, especially given the current Sub have those ill proportioned fat lugs.

 

[saysomething]

Ruzzi, always inquire about service history when buying a pre-owned watch; if the seller had the watch serviced, he should, but not always, be able to produce documentation. Although this would most likely be listed in the ad.

Ask the dealer for the serial no. of the XV; the # will give you an approximate date of production and whether the crown is original or replacement. Personally, if the latter, I'd look for another example as this would niggle at me every time I strapped it on. Since you're asking the question, I'd imagine it would bother you too. XV's are pretty rare to find in the 2nd hand market but not impossibly so - be patient and you'll come across another example.
If you don't really care and posted the question because a friend or someone else mentioned the issue, don't ask a thing, buy, wear, be happy, rinse, repeat. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[TheFoo]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about whether the crown is a replacement in this case. Nobody is making counterfeit "Probus Scafusia" crowns. If it was replaced on that watch, it was done by the factory--perhaps during a regular service. Even if it currently had the fish crown, there is a good chance IWC would change it out when you send it in for service anyway.

 

[akatsuki]



If you want a matte dial, go with 5513. Both are good choices though, especially given the current Sub have those ill proportioned fat lugs.

I like the fat lugs personally, but I like my diver to look solid like a diver and not a dress watch. Most people want their sub to do dual duty which I sort of understand and then a more elegant lug profile works better.

 

[Cylon]

I feel the same way as kolecho on the lugs issue, and I've said as much here previously. WarrenG recently bought the bigger version and for the record I think it looks great on his wrist.

But akatsuki raises another valid point: some people want a submariner as a toolwatch/diver, as a diver first and foremost, to look big and badass. I on the other hand want it as a multipurpose watch, and as expected I lean pretty much the way he says I should.

When you say the 5513 has a matte dial, are you referring to the fact the 16040m has white gold surrounds on the dial markers or something more?

 

[saysomething]

^^^ counterfeiting is not the issue but period correctness; this is jmho of course.

 

[TheFoo]



^^^ counterfeiting is not the issue but period correctness; this is jmho of course.

The Mark XV is not a rare, vintage collectible. "Period correctness" is not really an issue. Anyone who values the Mark XV for what it is will not care if the crown is one way or another, so long as it is a real IWC crown and installed by IWC. It is well known amongst IWC collectors that these crowns were switched out regularly.