This is by far the best review I have seen!! Briliant research!! Did not know that the movement is based on an ETA. Keep up your great work! Thanks and cheers
Thanks a lot! that's because I'm kinda obsessive so when I start comparing watches (or anything for that matter), I tend to fell into this rabbit hole and focus on details that maybe don't objectively matter so much. I'm sure IWC wouldn't like this review though!
Very good review. Going into details in any angle of the watch. I just tried this watch today in AD and really satisfied what it gives me and consider to get it very soon. For me only one comment is the second hand, the silver second hand is not eye-catching for me. If it is white second hand with red at the end to pairing with the red Spitfire text would be really great. Thanks
I own IWC Spitfire on the leather strap amazing watch the movement is running at 2.55 seconds a day the hands don't jump on mine its worth the money very happy with it. I enjoyed that review.
Thanks for the feedback on the movement, I want to believe this has been fixed (if it even was widespread to begin with). I am leaning more and more toward this one too.
Thanks! Movements are what really interest me actually, but I think videos talking about movements at length would not do well and not many people focus on that (and some only like the pretty dials!). But if I had the money, oh the manufacture movements I would buy!!
@@TOKKANTEI can vouch for that … but … it’s amazing on the bracelet. The fabric strap was not great and didn’t feel premium. If you can swing it, do it.
Hello there @TOKKANTE .. This is the best review of the Spitfire you can find online. I was hoping if maybe you could do a review of the new Mark XX since IWC based the mechanism on the one used in the Spitfire . Yes the reserve is 120 which is a big jump but I've seen the same problem with the minute hand jumping. Honestly that bothers me, as I am sure that was not intended. I was really looking into buying the Spitfire but the 120 hours reserve is so tempting, as I work a physical job I am prone to not wearing the watch for more than 2 consecutive days. All the best!
Thanks for the comment!!! That review is special since I ended up buying the bronze version. Mine does not have the jumping hand issue, and I thought that was fixed by now?!! Yes, the Mark XX is tempting with the improved PR and a bracelet. I haven't seen it yet as I do not work in Central anymore, with a lot less watch stores around me now unfortunately. But I gotta go back into the ADs to handle one in the metal!
Very good video! thank you for all of the information because I wasn’t getting straight answers from my AD. You are 100% correct about the leather strap and the leather lining on the NATO in the summer definitely makes sense to go with metal. I really want to try the brushed metal on this one now!
Another great review, I think this and your Mark XVIII review helped me confirm that the latter Le Petit Prince edition was the right choice for me. It's my first IWC piece and I've really fallen in love with it over the past month. I think I like the dressier look with lots of versatility, and knowing it's a modified/improved Sellita movement without a claim to be in-house seems more appropriate hearing your comments regarding the Spitfire's movement (and hopefully will be less costly to service later on). Good to know that the Petit Prince versions won't be as widely available in the future, too, and I think I prefer less military associations with the watch. I always liked that line from the novella, "On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." Merci bien !
Glad my reviews were helpful to your decision making! And we're now both new first time IWC owners. As you probably know, I went with the bronze Spitfire partly because of the great deal I got on it but I'm also still wishing it had a bracelet. I have to say though, it's my smallest, lightest, thinnest, most legible and most comfortable watch so far and I don't regret it. I'm sure the Little Prince will make a great daily especially since you prefer a less military styling. I love the novel, it's so full of wisdom and truth...
@@TOKKANTE Ooh yes I hope you get to have the bracelet one day, that's one of my favorite parts for sure (definitely another reason the Spitfire wasn't for me).
I do believe rolex should be boycotted due to their bad customer service.I myself will no longer enter any rolex boutique anytime soon in my life due to the bad experiences I had with them. I just ordered an IWC spitfire and I can’t get anymore excited as it will arrive within a month or so. It is as good if not better than any of the rolex sport models and I am proud for it to be my first piece of my collection.
Woohoo! Thank you for confirming this from an owner's experience. I think that was an early issue with the movement because a few other recent owners have told me they don't have the issue. Lucky I didn't make a whole fuss about it and only mentioned it at the end lol.
@@TOKKANTE You're welcome! I was pretty anxious about this potential problem myself, so I made sure the watch worked properly while I was at the store. I think it's more than adequate that you mention it in the video. It could very well have been a dealbreaker for me :)
Ha! Now that they've released the rose gold version with an open caseback, I'm hoping the stainless steel version isn't too far away! That was one of my big ask; I can almost smell it...
Well done! Very thorough and honest review. I love all the detail about the movement as well. I do like the creamy markers, as they correspond to the radium lume markers on the Mark XI. I recently got the Mark XVIII Heritage with titanium case and totally colored and lumed markers. I must say I am finding the color of the markers and hands a bit overpowering. Had I done more research, and found out why IWC chooses to lume only 3, 6, 9, 12 I would likely have gone for the Spitfire. Next I will take a look at your Mark XVIII review. Thank You!
Thanks for watching! As you can see in a later video, I ended up buying the Spitfire in bronze, which interestingly has the creamy markers but NOT the hands as opposed to the steel version, and so far I thin k I like that better.
Thanks for watching it! I think we all go through a similar process but I hope it helps some people; I know it's helped me to watch others raise some points I had not thought about.
Hi @tokkante, thanks for the rabbit hole dive into the valfleurier intrigue. Speaking of in house movements, could you do a video on Blancpain? Or five? haha
I did a little bit of a follow up on the ValFleurier saga in my review of the bronze Spitfire I bought for Xmas. Ha, Blancpain!! There used to be a Blancpain boutique right under my office building and then it closed about 6 months ago.... I'll put it on the list!
@TOKKANTE I am actually buying a spitfire 39 today! it helps to know that the bracelet from the 41 chrono works with this ?! any way to find out how that looks? I would love that one as it does have a nice taper unlike the Mark xviii one. thanks
The Mark XVIII bracelet works on it, you can see the look in the video (you can also easily search for it on Instagram), but not the 41 chrono bracelet I don't think, or at least I haven't seen anything about that. It's a different end link with the easX-change system, so that may not work - tbc. Congrats on the Spitfire though, you may want to see my next video too then!
I doubt it, I haven't handled the Mark XX yet but heard the lugs have been redesigned and so the end links would need to be as well. Same style probably yes but one may not fit the other.
Thank you for your detailed review on the IWC pilot's collection. Your deep dive videos have helped me narrow down my search to either the Spitfire or the Mark XVIII as my next watch. May I check, which AD or IWC branch in Hong Kong did you visit for these videos? I also live in HK and would appreciate being able to speak with the staff to learn more about the collection. Keep up the good work! I've already subscribed.
Thank you, I actually visited the IWC HAUS boutique in Central, which has now already closed down... Not sure if they've transferred the staff to some other location, but if you want better info, I would suggest you go to a brand boutique instead of an AD, at least just to try! There's an IWC boutique at IFC too.
Oh I didn't know RubberB makes them , thanks for the info. The rubber strap for the Big Pilot 43 doesn't look very impressive though.... looks cheap to me... Watch Advisor has a rather long video on the Big Pilot 43 and talks about the, (he doesn't like them either).
I've admired the Spitfire and the 40mm Pilot for many years, but can't past the modified mvt for this price point. Thanks for the great review and hope you get the daily u want.
I know what you mean, we shouldn't focus on this but somehow it bothers us, huh... I was told since the review that ValFleurier apparently makes the parts of the 32110 and delivers them as a kit so IWC can indeed say that the calibre is BUILT in-house at their manufacture.
The only issue with an IWC as a daily wear is their use of AR coating on both sides of the glass. I’ve scratched my IWC AR coating twice. If any oil gets on the glass after AR scratches are there, you’ll get ghost spots that are distracting. It’s a ~$450 fix on a big pilot. I have scratches on my big pilot 43 already (I’ll try to hold off on the glass until service).
That's TERRIBLE! That's why I'm not a proponent of AR coating on the outside, I just prefer not to have it. I know it has benefits but to me, what's the point of unscratcable sapphire if you put a scratchable AR coating on top. I heard this can be removed; I wouldn't try it myself (don't know how) but I'd consider having it removed if/when scratched.
Oh yes that is a big favorite! But I think I wanna stay away from chronographs for a daily wearer because if I'm honest, I never actually use the chrono!
Love your detailed reviews, this makes your work very unique in the sea of generic watch RUclipsrs, keep up the good work 👍 Also I'm also a bracelet guy and love iwc pilot watches however I always put spitfire aside from my opinions due to lack of bracelet which now based on this review I will heavily consider it as its a great daily with bracelet
Thanks for your kind words! This can be a curse however because I always find something I don't like and it stops me in the end... Yes, I went back to the boutique and confirmed with them that the bracelet will fit although they can't officially recommend it as an accessory, but they said they'll be happy to order it for me and fit it to the watch. Apparently the new Pilot 41 Chrono bracelet (with polished inner links) will also fit the Spitfire chrono, although the style may be too different. Those bracelets are crazy expensive though...
Yes that's so true, I guess I should have qualified what daily wearer means to me, as a typical office worker in Central, Hong Kong. A park ranger or a police officer might have different needs. But for a Spitfire pilot, that would fit the bill perfectly also!
Wow lucky him to have a dad like you! My dad never gave me a watch, I actually gave him one! Be careful, if you poison him with watches, he will become "one of us, one of us"!!
J'arrive en retard (un intérêt soudain pour la spitfire m'a amené ici) mais wow, quelle excellente étude de la montre. Un grand merci et à bientôt sur vos vidéos 🙏🏻
To me, The tribute to mark XVI is the best modern iteration of this series, i have the heritage titanium though wich I really like also, even though it has the somewhat unpopular fauxtina and sw300.
Oh I just shot next Friday's video yesterday (on the Mark XVIII) and I mention the Tribute to Mark XI and Heritage versions as alternatives as well. The Tribute is almost as expensive as a new Mark XVIII though and doesn't even come on a bracelet + no warranty, so you gotta LOVE that dial to justify it. Heritage: yes fauxtina and also no bracelet because titanium but a worthy alternative nonetheless. Now think Big Pilot 43 and titanium... OH THE LUME!!! (yes, it's coming)
Yes, I showed in the video that the Mark XVIII bracelet fits, with screenshots from a user on Instagram who put it on. The problem is that buying the bracelet separately is really expensive...
This is by far the best review I have seen!! Briliant research!! Did not know that the movement is based on an ETA. Keep up your great work! Thanks and cheers
Thanks a lot! that's because I'm kinda obsessive so when I start comparing watches (or anything for that matter), I tend to fell into this rabbit hole and focus on details that maybe don't objectively matter so much. I'm sure IWC wouldn't like this review though!
Very good review. Going into details in any angle of the watch. I just tried this watch today in AD and really satisfied what it gives me and consider to get it very soon. For me only one comment is the second hand, the silver second hand is not eye-catching for me. If it is white second hand with red at the end to pairing with the red Spitfire text would be really great. Thanks
I own IWC Spitfire on the leather strap amazing watch the movement is running at 2.55 seconds a day the hands don't jump on mine its worth the money very happy with it. I enjoyed that review.
Thanks for the feedback on the movement, I want to believe this has been fixed (if it even was widespread to begin with). I am leaning more and more toward this one too.
Great revieuw as always. Like that you also pay attention to the movements of watches. Other YTers really have no idea.
Thanks! Movements are what really interest me actually, but I think videos talking about movements at length would not do well and not many people focus on that (and some only like the pretty dials!). But if I had the money, oh the manufacture movements I would buy!!
Great video. Informative again. The bracelet swap is brilliant.
Brilliant but not cheap!
@@TOKKANTEI can vouch for that … but … it’s amazing on the bracelet. The fabric strap was not great and didn’t feel premium. If you can swing it, do it.
Hello there @TOKKANTE .. This is the best review of the Spitfire you can find online. I was hoping if maybe you could do a review of the new Mark XX since IWC based the mechanism on the one used in the Spitfire . Yes the reserve is 120 which is a big jump but I've seen the same problem with the minute hand jumping. Honestly that bothers me, as I am sure that was not intended. I was really looking into buying the Spitfire but the 120 hours reserve is so tempting, as I work a physical job I am prone to not wearing the watch for more than 2 consecutive days. All the best!
Thanks for the comment!!! That review is special since I ended up buying the bronze version. Mine does not have the jumping hand issue, and I thought that was fixed by now?!! Yes, the Mark XX is tempting with the improved PR and a bracelet. I haven't seen it yet as I do not work in Central anymore, with a lot less watch stores around me now unfortunately. But I gotta go back into the ADs to handle one in the metal!
Very good video! thank you for all of the information because I wasn’t getting straight answers from my AD. You are 100% correct about the leather strap and the leather lining on the NATO in the summer definitely makes sense to go with metal. I really want to try the brushed metal on this one now!
Another great review, I think this and your Mark XVIII review helped me confirm that the latter Le Petit Prince edition was the right choice for me. It's my first IWC piece and I've really fallen in love with it over the past month. I think I like the dressier look with lots of versatility, and knowing it's a modified/improved Sellita movement without a claim to be in-house seems more appropriate hearing your comments regarding the Spitfire's movement (and hopefully will be less costly to service later on). Good to know that the Petit Prince versions won't be as widely available in the future, too, and I think I prefer less military associations with the watch. I always liked that line from the novella, "On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." Merci bien !
Glad my reviews were helpful to your decision making! And we're now both new first time IWC owners. As you probably know, I went with the bronze Spitfire partly because of the great deal I got on it but I'm also still wishing it had a bracelet. I have to say though, it's my smallest, lightest, thinnest, most legible and most comfortable watch so far and I don't regret it. I'm sure the Little Prince will make a great daily especially since you prefer a less military styling. I love the novel, it's so full of wisdom and truth...
@@TOKKANTE Ooh yes I hope you get to have the bracelet one day, that's one of my favorite parts for sure (definitely another reason the Spitfire wasn't for me).
I do believe rolex should be boycotted due to their bad customer service.I myself will no longer enter any rolex boutique anytime soon in my life due to the bad experiences I had with them. I just ordered an IWC spitfire and I can’t get anymore excited as it will arrive within a month or so. It is as good if not better than any of the rolex sport models and I am proud for it to be my first piece of my collection.
Thank you for this video as i'm considering purchasing the Spitfire.
I can still recommend it 5 months later! My most comfortable watch!
Great review. Do you still wear it daily two years on? I wanted an origional but I would probably never wear it.
Well done for you thorough research; dispassionate ans level-headed! Thankyou!
hahaha "dispassionate" is the word! I am driven by facts!
I just bought the bronze edition. I can happily report that the minut hand does not jump :) Thank you for an excellent and informative video!
Woohoo! Thank you for confirming this from an owner's experience. I think that was an early issue with the movement because a few other recent owners have told me they don't have the issue. Lucky I didn't make a whole fuss about it and only mentioned it at the end lol.
@@TOKKANTE You're welcome! I was pretty anxious about this potential problem myself, so I made sure the watch worked properly while I was at the store.
I think it's more than adequate that you mention it in the video. It could very well have been a dealbreaker for me :)
SeaQ 39.5 Black. Best daily driver for me!
Ha! Now that they've released the rose gold version with an open caseback, I'm hoping the stainless steel version isn't too far away! That was one of my big ask; I can almost smell it...
@@TOKKANTE They should do it but not at the expense of getting the case thicker. Now it is perfectly proportioned.
Well done! Very thorough and honest review. I love all the detail about the movement as well. I do like the creamy markers, as they correspond to the radium lume markers on the Mark XI. I recently got the Mark XVIII Heritage with titanium case and totally colored and lumed markers. I must say I am finding the color of the markers and hands a bit overpowering. Had I done more research, and found out why IWC chooses to lume only 3, 6, 9, 12 I would likely have gone for the Spitfire. Next I will take a look at your Mark XVIII review. Thank You!
Thanks for watching! As you can see in a later video, I ended up buying the Spitfire in bronze, which interestingly has the creamy markers but NOT the hands as opposed to the steel version, and so far I thin k I like that better.
I have been considering this watch...thanks so much for your in-depth review!
Thanks for watching it! I think we all go through a similar process but I hope it helps some people; I know it's helped me to watch others raise some points I had not thought about.
Hi @tokkante, thanks for the rabbit hole dive into the valfleurier intrigue. Speaking of in house movements, could you do a video on Blancpain? Or five? haha
I did a little bit of a follow up on the ValFleurier saga in my review of the bronze Spitfire I bought for Xmas. Ha, Blancpain!! There used to be a Blancpain boutique right under my office building and then it closed about 6 months ago.... I'll put it on the list!
Great review as always! Keep up going! Great channel
Thank you! Ha, this one is special, since I ended up buying it!
I have the Big Pilot Rodeo Drive Boutique edition. Awesome watch. May get a smaller one too.
Oh yes I saw one for sale at a nearby pre-owned watch dealer around my office! Cool if you have the wrist for it (which I don't)!!
Great detail!! Great video.
Well, this one's extra special, since I ended up buying it! (bronze version though)
@TOKKANTE I am actually buying a spitfire 39 today! it helps to know that the bracelet from the 41 chrono works with this ?! any way to find out how that looks? I would love that one as it does have a nice taper unlike the Mark xviii one. thanks
The Mark XVIII bracelet works on it, you can see the look in the video (you can also easily search for it on Instagram), but not the 41 chrono bracelet I don't think, or at least I haven't seen anything about that. It's a different end link with the easX-change system, so that may not work - tbc. Congrats on the Spitfire though, you may want to see my next video too then!
@@TOKKANTE I will be sure to watch it! thanks
I’m assuming the mark 18 bracelet is also the mark 20?
I doubt it, I haven't handled the Mark XX yet but heard the lugs have been redesigned and so the end links would need to be as well. Same style probably yes but one may not fit the other.
Confirmed it doesn’t fit.
Thank you for your detailed review on the IWC pilot's collection. Your deep dive videos have helped me narrow down my search to either the Spitfire or the Mark XVIII as my next watch.
May I check, which AD or IWC branch in Hong Kong did you visit for these videos? I also live in HK and would appreciate being able to speak with the staff to learn more about the collection.
Keep up the good work! I've already subscribed.
Thank you, I actually visited the IWC HAUS boutique in Central, which has now already closed down... Not sure if they've transferred the staff to some other location, but if you want better info, I would suggest you go to a brand boutique instead of an AD, at least just to try! There's an IWC boutique at IFC too.
One thing to be aware of is RubberB makes straps for IWC. Their straps are caoutchouc, and don’t develop odors if you sweat.
Oh I didn't know RubberB makes them , thanks for the info. The rubber strap for the Big Pilot 43 doesn't look very impressive though.... looks cheap to me... Watch Advisor has a rather long video on the Big Pilot 43 and talks about the, (he doesn't like them either).
Very informative!
Thanks for watching! That's the watch I ended up buying (although the bronze version).
I've admired the Spitfire and the 40mm Pilot for many years, but can't past the modified mvt for this price point. Thanks for the great review and hope you get the daily u want.
I know what you mean, we shouldn't focus on this but somehow it bothers us, huh... I was told since the review that ValFleurier apparently makes the parts of the 32110 and delivers them as a kit so IWC can indeed say that the calibre is BUILT in-house at their manufacture.
The only issue with an IWC as a daily wear is their use of AR coating on both sides of the glass. I’ve scratched my IWC AR coating twice. If any oil gets on the glass after AR scratches are there, you’ll get ghost spots that are distracting. It’s a ~$450 fix on a big pilot. I have scratches on my big pilot 43 already (I’ll try to hold off on the glass until service).
That's TERRIBLE! That's why I'm not a proponent of AR coating on the outside, I just prefer not to have it. I know it has benefits but to me, what's the point of unscratcable sapphire if you put a scratchable AR coating on top. I heard this can be removed; I wouldn't try it myself (don't know how) but I'd consider having it removed if/when scratched.
Wonderful, informative content as usual. I personally love the 371701 Pilot Chronograph.
Oh yes that is a big favorite! But I think I wanna stay away from chronographs for a daily wearer because if I'm honest, I never actually use the chrono!
Love your detailed reviews, this makes your work very unique in the sea of generic watch RUclipsrs, keep up the good work 👍
Also I'm also a bracelet guy and love iwc pilot watches however I always put spitfire aside from my opinions due to lack of bracelet which now based on this review I will heavily consider it as its a great daily with bracelet
Thanks for your kind words! This can be a curse however because I always find something I don't like and it stops me in the end... Yes, I went back to the boutique and confirmed with them that the bracelet will fit although they can't officially recommend it as an accessory, but they said they'll be happy to order it for me and fit it to the watch. Apparently the new Pilot 41 Chrono bracelet (with polished inner links) will also fit the Spitfire chrono, although the style may be too different. Those bracelets are crazy expensive though...
@@TOKKANTE cure as a buyer maybe but as a reviewer makes up for great content :)
Excellent video!
Daily wear watch, it all depends on your everyday attire.
Yes that's so true, I guess I should have qualified what daily wearer means to me, as a typical office worker in Central, Hong Kong. A park ranger or a police officer might have different needs. But for a Spitfire pilot, that would fit the bill perfectly also!
Great review Ben. I got my son the Mark XVIII and he loves it. Looking forward too that review.
Wow lucky him to have a dad like you! My dad never gave me a watch, I actually gave him one! Be careful, if you poison him with watches, he will become "one of us, one of us"!!
J'arrive en retard (un intérêt soudain pour la spitfire m'a amené ici) mais wow, quelle excellente étude de la montre. Un grand merci et à bientôt sur vos vidéos 🙏🏻
Merci, WatchFinder vient de faire une video ("The BEST Rolex Alternatives For All Budgets") ou ils disent justement que c'est une "must-have from IWC"
To me, The tribute to mark XVI is the best modern iteration of this series, i have the heritage titanium though wich I really like also, even though it has the somewhat unpopular fauxtina and sw300.
I have the big pilot titanium. The lume is out of this world for the heritage models. I don’t mind the fauxtina if I get that lume.
Oh I just shot next Friday's video yesterday (on the Mark XVIII) and I mention the Tribute to Mark XI and Heritage versions as alternatives as well. The Tribute is almost as expensive as a new Mark XVIII though and doesn't even come on a bracelet + no warranty, so you gotta LOVE that dial to justify it. Heritage: yes fauxtina and also no bracelet because titanium but a worthy alternative nonetheless. Now think Big Pilot 43 and titanium... OH THE LUME!!! (yes, it's coming)
Can I put iwc bracelet on it from mark 18?
Yes, I showed in the video that the Mark XVIII bracelet fits, with screenshots from a user on Instagram who put it on. The problem is that buying the bracelet separately is really expensive...
@@TOKKANTE thank you