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The 2024 Online IWC Fliegerchronograph 3706 Fake Watches UK— A Trusty Companion And Neo-Vintage Gem

We are lucky to have reached a phase in the modern industry where the standards of mass production are such that best UK replica watches can endure all sorts of conditions. The adage “they don’t make them like they used to” hasn’t entirely panned out with watchmaking, at least regarding production quality (design, aesthetics, and luxury culture certainly have changed). But there is indeed something charming about vintage. Thankfully, neo-vintage provides both modern robustness and much of the charm of vintage. Let’s take a look at IWC’s Fliegerchronograph 3706.

Yes, there is a certain mystique and romanticism to the concept of 34mm top fake watches braving Antarctica or a Certina Chronograph shooting down Mt. Everest. High quality is still there in abundance, even in approachable and affordable segments. Many of the major differences in price points are what we could call “luxury” factors. These can include the amount of work done by hand, parts and case finishing, use of certain precious materials, and so on. And yet there is something magical about the purpose of design that vintage watches often possess.

The IWC 3706 Fliegerchronograph

The combination of modern manufacturing and the charm of vintage creates an interesting prospect — neo-vintage. Today’s watch sits firmly in that realm. It may come as no surprise to some of you that it is an IWC when remembering my connection to the brand. And the era we will be looking at is the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are many great 1:1 wholesale IWC replica watches from this era, including one we recently covered here.

So, let’s get to the watch. What we are talking about today is IWC’s ref. 3706 Fliegerchronograph. The 3706 is from a time when IWC’s tool-watch designs were focused more purely on function. I think it’s fair to say the brand has moved further up the luxury ladder since these luxury copy watches were produced (from 1994 to 2005).

A neo-vintage IWC 3706 with flying roots

Why? Well, let’s start with the dial. It is a simple black with hints of gray and stark white numerals. The font is very straightforward; you could say it is almost Teutonic. It is no coincidence that the design harks back to the instrument-style dials of the IWC Mark series that served with Commonwealth airforces (as well as the British Overseas Airways Corporation, or BOAC) after WWII. The blocky hands (and “cut-off” hour hand in particular) are a wonderful signature of IWC’s military heritage. They are the same style used in the Mark 11, Mark XII, and Mark XV pilot’s replica watches for sale.

As you can see in the wrist shots above, the 39mm case sits quite well on my 15.9cm (6.25″) wrist. As an owner of the IWC Mark XV, I can attest that there are some clear design similarities between these watch dials and aircraft instrument panels, making for incredibly legible perfect super clone watches.

An ever-reliable Valjoux 7750 inside

The tri-register layout gives away the movement under the hood. It is a heavily modified version of the venerable Valjoux 7750. IWC re-worked ETA and Valjoux movements in this era, adding or removing components to create more durable, more accurate, and better-finished examples. As you can see in the image above, this also means heat-blued screws and a wonderful finish.

The modified Valjoux 7750 provides the watch with a day-date complication as well. The use of a modified but widely available movement creates easier serviceability well into the future. This is an advantage to these neo-vintage examples over newer high quality replica watches with in-house or in-group movements. My example is running within COSC specifications at between one and two seconds fast per day.

Perfect case dimensions for the modern watch world

This watch’s dimensions are another indicator of an era that respected mid-size. This is now back in fashion. Look at the popularity of Tudor’s 39- and 37mm Black Bay dive fake watches for men or the recent release of a downsized Longines Legend Diver (from 42mm to 39). The list goes on. This IWC 3706 came out with a 39mm case from the factory, making it 3mm larger than the Mark XII (36mm), its contemporary time-only sibling, and just a single millimeter larger than the Mark XV (38mm).

The 39mm stainless steel case wears its 14.6mm thickness relatively well. This is no hockey puck. The curved sapphire glass takes its shape not because it’s trying to echo vintage iterations but so that, in the case of sudden decompression, it won’t pop off. The case back is matter-of-fact, just like the rest of the key design cues of this Swiss made replica watches. A simple “IWC” and “Der Fliegerchronograph” with a serial number provide most of the information you might want. There are no engravings of planes here.

A versatile and capable timekeeping companion

A 20mm lug spacing allows a vast array of strap options if the excellent brick-style bracelet is not to your taste. Honestly, though, these IWC bracelets are incredibly well made, particularly compared to what Rolex was producing back in the early 2000s. The crown is of the screw-down variety. My example has the later “Probus Scafusia” crown. Earlier models had a small fish symbol, which has become iconic to IWC enthusiasts and collectors. This, alongside the screw-in case back, provides water resistance to 6 bar (or 60 meters).

According to IWC, any of its 60m-water-resistant watches “will have no problem with water sports or snorkeling.” This information does come with a caveat from IWC: “It should also be noted that the water resistance of a watch is not a permanent characteristic. Seals and sealing systems in particular are subject to wear and tear and natural aging. To care for your AAA top IWC fake watches, please read the operating instructions carefully. After use in or under water, your watch should be rinsed with clear, fresh, and lukewarm water and then cleaned and dried. The water resistance should be tested regularly, and at least annually.” It is great to see a watch company be so clear about its water resistance definitions. This helps the consumer make an informed decision.

Getting the IWC 3706 wet

It just so happens that I recently wanted to go free diving with a friend. Of the replica watches shop available to me for this little adventure, I decided upon the trusty IWC 3706. As part of this, of course, I needed to get the watch pressure tested.

A trip to a local watchmaker revealed that the watch passed with flying colors. Encouraged, I decided to take the plunge. Getting this neo-vintage pilot’s watch wet might seem counterintuitive. But watches are there to be worn and adventures, to be had. I am happy to report I could not be happier with the IWC 3706.

The IWC 3706 handles the ocean just fine

Diving in the Pacific Ocean, which is mere meters from my home, makes me consider how truly lucky one can be. To be surrounded by pristine nature and be able to write about taking fake watches site into the wild is a fantastic experience — one that, no doubt, some of you can share.

As part of this process, I am curious to hear whether you’ve taken any less typical watches into the ocean or your favorite pool or lake. It is a fun experience.

Final thoughts

As you can probably tell, I love the neo-vintage IWC 3706 Fliegerchronograph. It provides a no-nonsense watch design that is also incredibly charming. The case size is just about perfect, and to me, it represents some of the greatest aspects of IWC tool-watch design — something over-engineered but subtle in its execution.

Today, IWC still makes incredible best quality replica watches, and we are lucky to have so many choices. But there is something magical about these older timepieces. If you can find one that has that charm and can also handle an adventure or two, then all the more power to you.

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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.