The Cheap AAA Fake IWC GST Aquatimer 2000 Watches, The Epitome Of 1990s Cool Dive Watches UK

A lot has been written about neo-vintage dress watches. It certainly makes sense – in the 1980s and 1990s, many watch manufactures embarked on a journey to relearn and rediscover the art and science of the complicated wristwatch. These top replica watches were generally slim, cased in precious metals, and elegant. In looking at this segment of neo-vintage watches, however, I feel many collectors overlook the other end of the spectrum: the inventive and amazing sports fake watches online UK that were launched during this time. In the inaugural article in The Collector’s Corner, I wrote about the IWC Doppelchronograph reference 3711. Let’s revisit 1990s IWC in this article and take a look at a watch that gives the Rolex Sea-Dweller a run for its money. Enter the IWC GST Aquatimer 2000. Water resistant down to 2,000 meters? Check. Integrated bracelet? Check. Instant coolness? Oh yes, check indeed! 

IWC is best known for its aviation-themed perfect copy watches – so I think it’s worth taking a closer look at the Schaffhausen company’s less publicized foray underwater. IWC’s first plunged into the world of dive watches with the ref. 812 Aquatimer in 1966, a reference which became the namesake for all luxury replica IWC’s aquatic watches. The ref. 812 was equipped with two crowns and an internal diving bezel, and achieved a 200m water-resistance rating thanks to a super-compressor case construction. In a super-compressor case, the caseback is spring-loaded, which means it has some give and doesn’t sit completely pressed against the gasket inside. As external pressure increases, however, the caseback is pressed further into the gasket (compressing it), thereby achieving what can be described as dynamic water resistance. 

The next step in the Aquatimer’s history came with the ref. 3504, the Porsche Design Ocean 2000, whose civilian version was produced between 1982 and 1986. The Ocean 2000 was a radical break from the styling cues established in the ref. 1812 – crafted entirely out of bead-blasted titanium, the Ocean 2000 was flowing and round, with an organic bracelet that seamlessly integrated the case. Despite its soft curves, the Ocean 2000 was extremely capable, being the first dive watch capable of withstanding depths up to 2000 meters. In the typically overengineered fashion of late-20th century IWC, the bezel featured a safety mechanism: it needed to be depressed on two points on opposite sides of the bezel to be turned.

When Porsche terminated their agreement with IWC in March 1998, it was clear that IWC needed a replacement. After all, Porsche Design fake watches for men are estimated to have made up to 20% of IWC’s sales toward the end of the relationship. The importance of the Porsche Design era to IWC’s heritage can’t be exaggerated. The designs were bold and, more importantly, the Porsche Design range established IWC as a true player in incorporating advanced materials science in watchmaking. Case in point, the 1986 IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar 3755 which was the world’s first wristwatch with a black zirconium oxide case – IWC’s way of saying “Hey, we can do it in a dress watch too!” 

So, coming back to the need for a replacement, IWC presented the GST line in Vicenza in September 1997. The GST collection was so named, rather unimaginatively if you ask me, for the three metals the collection was offered in gold, steel, and titanium. Adding the “G” in the name of the collection was a bit of an oversight, it turned out, as only the first-generation GST Chronograph and the GST Alarm were offered in an 18k gold case and bracelet. 

The GST replica watches site featured a strong, angular case, and an integrated bracelet. They were masculine and outright sporty. That brings me to what is probably the sportiest of the lot – the GST Aquatimer 2000.

The IWC GST Aquatimer 2000 – The Basics

The high quality replica IWC ref. 3536 Aquatimer watches was presented in three variations: titanium with black dial (ref. 3536-001), steel with black dial (ref. 3536-002), and steel with silver dial and gold-plated hands and indices (ref. 3536-003). Regardless of the case material and dial, the basic measurements are the same: 42mm diameter, 14.5mm thickness, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 49.5mm (watch only). Due to the flare of the bracelet’s first integrated links, the latter measurement balloons to close to 57mm when the watch is worn on its bracelet. The canister-shaped case gives way to sharp, well-defined lugs that jut out from the case flank. The big-crown look is completed with a very prominent crown at 3, signed with the traditional IWC fish logo, and no crown guards.

Despite the extreme capabilities of the Aquatimer 2000 (again, 2000 meters!), you’ll notice the absence of a helium escape valve. I suppose that’s what happens when the watch is built so robustly that no helium can even enter the case. Grand Seiko did something similar in the Hi-Beat 36000 Professional 600m Diver’s from 2017.

The case finishing depends on the case material. In titanium, the watch gains a look that can be best described as tactical. The case and bracelet are entirely bead-blasted – not even the flanks of the bracelet links are polished. Though some may lament the lack of refinements in the finishing department, we need to understand that this watch isn’t trying to be refined. It’s trying to be the best tool it can. On the steel models, the case is primarily linearly brushed, with some polished accents, such as on the case flanks and on the intermediary bracelet links. The caseback of all IWC ref. 3536 Aquatimer super clone watches shop is adorned with the “International Watch Co. Schaffhausen” script and the image of a German U-Boot.

The no-frills aesthetic continues to the dial, which is printed white on a matte black base. In keeping with the uniform design, the date wheel, too, is white print on a black base. I like date displays that don’t call undue attention to themselves – the date is there when you need it, but it doesn’t scream for attention.

There is a wonderfully unique double index at 12 o’clock for orientation. At 6 o’clock, you have the signature – as the Aquatimer can be found in both tritium or Luminova variants, you’ll see both “T SWISS MADE T” and “SWISS MADE” signatures. A note on the tritium versions: IWC wanted to achieve colour differentiation for easier identification of the orientation of the watch and of the hands versus other markings. In order to do that, the hands, the index at 12 o’clock, and the bezel pearl all used tritium markings, whereas the dial markers except at 12 used Luminova. The switch to full Super-Luminova came after roughly 2000.

The hands are pencil-shaped, matte white lacquered, and have the same granular texture you think of when you picture a Speedmaster’s handset. Note: the steel models feature applied indices, with polished hour and minutes hands.

Coming to the bezel next, the calibrations are done in relief in what is possibly the only element of the watch you could consider slightly embellished. There is a slight asymmetry to the bezel insert, as you’ll see that it flares out at 12 o’clock, becoming wider to accommodate a large lume plot. Yes, this is a dive watch so it’s a unidirectional bezel, of course, and has 60 clicks.

The bezel has three quirks: First, it’s machined from a solid piece of the respective metal to match the case – no inserts here! The base of the bezel is black chrome-plated for a high-contrast look against the numerals in relief. Second, there are actually four screws holding the bezel in place so it cannot accidentally pop off. This kind of bezel is known as a captive bezel. Incidentally, the 1:1 fake watches was originally shipped with a screwdriver that could be used to remove the bezel for thorough cleaning. Finally, much like the Ocean 2000’s bezel, the Aquatimer 2000’s bezel needs to be pushed down before it can be turned.

Now, let’s come to the bracelet. It is a two-link bracelet, with H-shaped primary links and rectangular intermediaries. The bracelet is an integrated affair, with the first primary link after the junction with the case matching the width of the lugs, before tapering down to 18mm. IWC was way ahead of its time, equipping the bracelet with a quick-release system to add and remove links quickly. It was such a good system that IWC still uses it to this day! The bracelet ends in a single-trigger deployant clasp, which is nicely circular-grained inside.

The bracelet has two downsides. The first is the large flare due to the rigid outcropping of the lugs, making the Swiss made replica watches a difficult fit for those of us with small wrists. The second is that there are few replacement strap options because of the proprietary lug junction. An optional velcro strap in black or grey was offered – these straps attached to the first male link of the bracelet. Luckily, the fabric strap from the IW3715-36 and the alternate rubber strap from the IW3548 fit the Aquatimer!

The best quality replica IWC Aquatimer 2000 watches is powered by an ETA calibre 2892-A2 (calibre 37524 in IWC parlance), which underwent a thorough upgrade by IWC, including the use of a 21k gold rotor mass. The early models are entirely gilded, later Aquatimers’s calibres get a nickel-plated treatment. Other features of this tried-and-tested movement include a beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour, bidirectional winding, a power reserve of 42 hours, features 5-position adjustment, a quickset date, and hacking seconds.

Why should you consider the IWC GST Aquatimer?

If you’re feeling a bit of integrated bracelet fatigue, I don’t blame you. Looking at the designs of the last few years, some stylistic choices look a little too familiar, and many of the new entrants are just a tad derivative. But to those of you who have not entirely given up on the genre, I say: let’s look to the past! The IWC GST Aquatimer is a fantastic example of a watch that firmly fits into this genre while looking nothing like the usual suspects. I mean, how many other integrated bracelet hardcore divers can you name off the top of your head? 

So, the first reason why you should consider this watch is functionality. The Aquatimer does not yield an inch to the Rolex Sea-Dweller when it comes to being an epically overengineered dive watch. And it’s thinner to boot! I consider the bracelet to be one of the many strengths of the watch, with a solidity and feeling of quality that would feel at home on modern Swiss top fake watches, let alone one made over thirty years ago. There are so many additional features built in to make the watch tank-tough, it’s really a testament to the incredible build quality IWC had achieved even back then. Look at the quick link removal system or the captive bezel construction – to the technical-minded watch collector looking for a luxury diver, this is now at the top of my recommended list!

Second, price. There seems to be quite a spread on Chrono24, depending on condition and accessories. An example will run you between EUR 4,000 and 7,000. Let’s split the difference and call it EUR 5,500. I have seen some great offers around the 3,000 mark not too long ago, so it doesn’t hurt to keep looking. Even though the steel replica watches for sale were likely produced in fewer numbers than those in titanium, there doesn’t seem to be much of a premium. Of course, the rarest and most collectable of the Aquatimers is the ref. 3536-003 in stainless steel with silver dial and yellow gold-plated hands and indices. All told, only 600-800 were produced. There aren’t too many comps or recent sales that I can find, but those that I did land squarely in the same range described earlier. No matter how you slice it, you’re getting an incredible package. I mean, you could even pick up a Tudor Ranger and have some cash to spare compared to the Sea-Dweller!

Given a choice, I would go for the version in titanium. I feel it better represents the ethos of IWC in the last years before the company was acquired by Richemont. Additionally, the titanium version best carries forward the legacy of the Porsche Design era of the company and of IWC’s history-making dive replica watches wholesale as a whole.

Dear IWC, Bring Back The Glorious High Quality Replica IWC Aquatimer Ref. 812 Watches UK

I have written about IWC before in this series. In a previous installment, I expressed my love for the classic IWC Ingenieur that Gérald Genta designed. It’s a watch that I have a stronger personal connection with than most Swiss made replica watches. But IWC has more great classics that deserve a glorious comeback. One of them is the first Aquatimer that the brand ever produced. The IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 was introduced in the late 1960s as the brand’s first diver. Over five decades later, the watch hasn’t lost its attractiveness. It’s time for a new Aquatimer ref. 812.

When IWC introduced the first Aquatimer ref. 812, the brand was pretty late to the diving game. As most of you will know, the brands that pioneered the genre introduced their first dive fake watches for sale over a decade earlier, and various brands introduced their takes in the years that followed. With the rise in popularity of professional and recreational scuba diving, we saw many designs and techniques incorporated into this then-new category of timepieces. It has led to a great variety of great vintage dive watches, and the IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 is certainly one of them.

The IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 — one of the Super Compressor divers

As soon as you see the first Aquatimer, you know that the brand used the now-famous Super Compressor case for the watch. Nowadays, when people think about dive replica watches wholesale, it’s all about a unidirectional ratcheting bezel with a large diving scale and accompanying markers. But the Super Compressor case, with its characteristic two crowns and internal rotating bezel, represents a different concept and aesthetic that many watch fans love.

The Super Compressor case was patented in 1956 by Ervin Piquerez SA, or EPSA as most people know it. The Swiss company produced the Super Compressor cases for roughly two decades before going out of business in 1975. During that time, many famous brands used the Super Compressor cases in their standard execution. Some brands used modified versions of the case as well. Among them were brands like Universal Genève, Enicar, Hamilton, Longines, Vulcain, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. But the list is a lot longer than that.

Only 2,000 pieces of the first Aquatimer were produced

When IWC introduced the Aquatimer ref. 812, the brand opted for a 37mm Super Compressor case. Just as a little side step, in addition to the ref. 812, you will also see the later ref. 812 AD. In essence, it was the same watch, with the AD referring to “automatic” and the date function. In 1972, when IWC changed its reference system to four-digit model numbers, the watch got reference number 1812. All three are the same AAA UK copy watches that stayed in production until 1982 when it was discontinued. Over 25 years, IWC produced only around 2,000 pieces of the first-generation Aquatimer.

But let’s get back to the watch itself. As I mentioned, the brand chose a 37mm Super Compressor case. It featured the two characteristic crowns embossed with the IWC fish at 2 and 4 o’clock and was water resistant to 200 meters. Most of you will know that the upper of the two screw-down crowns operates the internal diving bezel, while the lower crown is in charge of the time and date. Overall, I love the look of the case, which combines a round shape and straight lugs with the two crowns, giving it lots of character.

Four different dial variations define the Aquanaut’s presence

Speaking of character, IWC produced four different dials for the Aquanaut ref. 812 that make it into the stunner that I adore so much. The first came with a black dial and a black inner bezel, and the second featured a black dial with a silver bezel. The third model came with a white dial and a silver bezel, and the last of the four came with a white dial and a black bezel. The white/silver model is a very rare one, but you can find the other three variations without any problems. Out of the four dials, the two with the combination of black and white or black and silver are my favorite. They give the best replica watches a distinct character and make it into a watch I love.

The prototype that IWC produced actually featured a white dial and a white inner bezel. This one also had the image of a fish on the lower part of the dial. It’s a rather strange thing to see, but the all-white aesthetic made it look good. However, despite its good looks, IWC decided not to go forward with that version. On every production variant, the dials are graced by the applied hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock. The baton hour and minute hands added an even more modern style to the luxury super clone watches, but the most characterful element is the thin paddle-neck seconds hand with its lume-filled tip. The dials all had a simple but incredibly effective design accompanied by big, straightforward bezel markings with numerals for 15, 30, and 45 minutes. It’s hard to fault the design in any of its executions.

The IWC caliber 8541 powered the Aquatimer 812

Inside the 37mm Super Compressor case, you will find cheap IWC fake watches’ caliber 8541. This self-winding movement featured IWC’s Pellaton winding system. It operated at 19,800vph, had 23 jewels, and provided a 44-hour power reserve. IWC also used the same movement for its Ingenieur ref. 866 models from that same era.

The brand actually made some improvements to the movement and introduced the caliber 8541B just before 1970. This new version featured hacking seconds and used a Grenier-type hairspring collet. IWC used both movements for the Ingenieur and this Aquatimer without distinguishing between them in its archives. It’s a rather curious detail, although it’s not really surprising in the watch world of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Would you like the IWC logo on the dial?

Another curious detail is the branding on the dial. You will find first-generation Aquatimers with and without an applied IWC logo. And the Aquatimer was not the only watch that “suffered” from that detail. IWC introduced the applied logo above the script name somewhere in the late ’60s or early ’70s. This is why you will see top replica watches from the same model range with and without it.

The remarkable thing is that IWC had models with and without the applied logo in the same collection, even the same model range. There are examples of the Ingenieur in the same catalog with different dials that do and do not have the applied logo. Generally, it’s hard to say what option you will see more often. In terms of aesthetics, I have a slight preference for the dial without the applied logo. It just looks a bit cleaner. That said, I would not let the presence of the applied logo stop me if I were seriously considering buying one.

There was a reissue of the IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 before

Overall, I love the story and looks and the first Aquatimer. As it is the first dive watch that IWC produced, it holds a special place in the history of the brand. This is also why the Aquatimer is still part of the current collection. While there are definitely still elements of the first China fake IWC Aquatimer watches to be found in the current range, the modern versions lack the charm of the vintage models. IWC did, however, produce a modern reissue of the ref. 812. In 2008, the brand released the Vintage Collection that featured the modern IWC ref. 3231.

This modern interpretation of the original ref. 812 saw a dramatic increase in size from 37mm to 44mm wide. The case had a lug-to-lug of 50mm and was 14.5mm thick. If you ask me, this reissue did capture the spirit of the original, but it was too big. Additionally, it came on a rubber/leather strap, whereas the original looks best with a nice beads-of-rice bracelet. It came in a stainless steel version with a black dial and a platinum version with a crisp white dial. Inside the case, IWC chose to equip the piece with the in-house caliber 80111.

Time for a return of the classic IWC ref. 812

While I like the efforts that IWC put into the Vintage Collection, it would be great to see the return of a proper homage to the original. If you would like to get your hands on one of the original IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 models, expect to see asking prices between roughly €10K–20K. These classics certainly do not come cheap, despite being widely overlooked. And frankly, I am not surprised because they are simply great 1:1 fake watches. That’s why the return of this classic in modern form would be something to look forward to.

But the reality of that happening seems slim. While IWC honors the names from the past, the brand sometimes dismisses the designs that made the classics from the ’60s and ’70s such great timepieces. I have said it in my article about the Genta Ingenieur SL1832 “Jumbo,” and the same goes for this Aquatimer; the history is there to make some amazing new versions of some great IWC classics. Until that happens, there is always room to hope that this wish will come true because the perfect replica IWC Aquatimer ref. 812 watches really is that good.

UK Best Replica IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Cousteau Tribute to Calypso ref. IW3782-01

As I just mentioned, Swiss made fake IWC introduced the new Aquatimer collection in 2004. Previously, the Aquatimer name had been part of the GST collection. In 2004, however, IWC decided to make it a separate collection of dive watches. The cheap replica IWC Aquatimer name was first introduced in 1967. The first Aquatimer was created to address the increasing popularity of recreational scuba diving.

If you look at the first luxury fake IWC Aquatimer ref. 812AD and compare it to the 2004 Aquatimers, you will see similarities. In particular, the regular automatic Aquatimer ref. 3548 takes design cues from the original watch with its internal diving bezel and dual crowns. In the years that followed, IWC replica for sale UK released a great variety of different models in different colors.

The IWC Aquatimer replica watches Paypal that have always had a special place in my heart are the Cousteau divers. In 2006, IWC released a very special limited-edition Cousteau diver. The super clone IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Cousteau Tribute to Calypso ref. IW3782-01 is still a beauty to this day. The one reason is that the watch has a wooden inlay on the case back, and it is wood from Jacques Cousteau’s famous research vessel, the Calypso. It was a brilliant opportunity to own a piece of history.

Swiss movement fake IWC produced 2,500 pieces of the watch, and it has become a collector’s favorite. It’s also one of my favorite IWC copy watches ever. Like so many of us, when I was younger, I was fascinated by Cousteau’s films. I still remember as if it were yesterday that every Saturday afternoon when I was a teenager, there would be a Cousteau documentary on Dutch television.

Owning a piece of history
To be able to wear a watch that contains a part of the famous Calypso was therefore mind-blowing when best 1:1 fake IWC’s ‘Tribute to Calypso’ came out. The watch is a diver’s chronograph that was part of a series of Cousteau divers that IWC released. The first was an automatic version in 2004 with a beautiful blue dial and orange accents. Mike actually wrote about it for one of his Wrist Game, Crying Shame articles. This 2006 Tribute to Calypso also features a blue dial but with contrasting white details. The AAA replica IWC online only features a few hints of orange in the form of the name Cousteau Divers, the sub-register hands, and the tip of the central chronograph hand. I love that the orange is not as prominent as on the other Cousteau divers.

The high quality fake IWC features a round 44mm case that is 15mm thick and 51mm lug-to-lug. However, the sharply angled lugs ensure that the watch really hugs your wrist. The watch is water-resistant to 120 meters, and inside the case, you will find the IWC caliber 79320. Like so many of wholesale super clone IWC’s calibers in those days, it was based on the Valjoux 7750. It ticks at 28,800vph and has 31 jewels with a 44-hour power reserve.

You will find most of the watches on a rubber strap. Some, however, feature the steel bracelet like the pictured model. You can always find one of these replica watches for sale somewhere, although you might have to search a bit. Expect to pay between €4.5K and €5.5K for one.