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The acquisition watch

The one that started it all.

By Life & Muse

July 13^th, 2019

Next to my wedding ring, this is probably the most sentimental possession I have. At minimum, it’s one of the most symbolic.

August 1st will be 6 years since the design studio that Satish and I started was acquired, marking one of the most significant and life-changing events that’s ever happened to either of us. Oddly enough, it took us 4 years and a chance visit to Las Vegas to properly commemorate the occasion together.

The trip was ripe with purpose at least, as we were celebrating the birthday of a mutual friend and probably the most outspoken watch fanatic we knew at the time. In fact, our stop in to the IWC boutique was wholly influenced by this birthday boy too.

The IWC Ingenieur Chronograph "W125" was designed in tribute to the legendary 1930s Mercedes racecar of the same name. For decades, it was known to be one of the most powerful cars on the track, featuring an engine with unprecedented fierceness.

Of course, I didn’t understand any of this at the time. As a non-car guy and being fairly new to thinking about watches beyond their fashion value, my choice of this watch back then was fairly superficial, if not a little naive. It wasn’t until after I went home with it that I started to truly understand the heritage and craftsmanship behind IWC’s brand. Undoubtedly, it was a privilege to get my feet wet with such a special timepiece, and I’ve never looked at watches the same since.

But in that moment, I simply fell in love with the crisp white dial with its sensibly balanced details. I’ve come to learn in the years since then that packing this much information into a minuscule 42mm diameter is nowhere near trivial. It’s a level of nuance that I’ve really come to appreciate in watch design.

And that strap. Oof. The soft black calfskin with quilted stitching is a standout detail that often gets the first compliment. Along with the subtle red markers in the sub-dials and hands, the homage this watch pays to vintage race culture is now obvious.

I was on the hunt for an everyday watch, and even with all the complexity and sophistication behind its (exhibition) caseback, the W125 offered the simple aesthetic I was looking for. What truly sealed the deal was when they told me it was limited to 750 pieces, sparking my still-standing tradition of only collecting limited/exclusive pieces.

As for Satish, that day he ended up picking up a beautiful IWC Portugieser Chronograph (ref IW371445) – a watch worthy of its own future dedicated post. (Satish, I’m coming for ya.)

The acquisition watch. The first serious watch. The first milestone watch. The W125 on all counts has checked a lot of boxes for me. It’s certainly been put through its paces too, collecting a fair share of battle scars over the last few years of regular wear. But I honestly love it more now with all its knicks and scratches, even if only for the simple reminder of the wild ride it celebrates.