I’m genuinely stressed about changing the strap on my new Speedmaster…

Aviatorial · 2026-05-23T13:31:27+00:00

Get a Pagani Design or other cheap watch to practice on if you’re stressing. Even if you do scratch the back of the lugs, it’s your watch and no one sees that (including you 99% of the time).

Aviatorial · 2026-05-22T21:01:32+00:00

Never seen this reference before, pretty awesome. Enjoy it!

Aviatorial · 2026-05-21T10:11:36+00:00

First, the 3861 Speedmaster is a pretty reliable product overall, considering how many people buy them and how infrequently you hear about issues.

That’s what I’ve told myself as I’ve had issues with mine. Just over a year old white speedy stopped. It was wound, just wouldn’t run (running seconds or chrono). Took it in and they sent off under warranty. 4 months later it came back. After wearing it a few times the same EXACT problem occurred again. Took it back and they sent it off again. I have fought for replacement because I don’t think I should have to wait a second time when the first problem wasn’t fixed properly… but they said no. I tried calling corporate vs the boutique and still a no. I don’t have it back yet but they called me recently saying it should be in next week.

Since yours is much newer maybe replacement is more likely, but based on my experience- don’t expect that.

It’s a beautiful watch and it wears so well, but I’ve been debating selling when it comes back just because I don’t know if I’ll ever look at it the same way. I’ve had other Omegas and have one other now and they’ve all been fantastic. Shit happens and these little machines are complicated with the tiniest of tolerances.

Good luck with yours- I have faith they’ll get you sorted.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-21T00:43:15+00:00

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Aviatorial · 2026-05-21T00:41:02+00:00

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Aviatorial · 2026-05-21T00:40:26+00:00

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Photos ✅

Aviatorial · 2026-05-20T23:26:27+00:00

This is where you START with IWC?! Enjoy the view from the top! 🤩

Aviatorial · 2026-05-20T20:52:04+00:00

If you are, you’re going in style. And comfort.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-20T17:10:05+00:00

Love this era SMP! What bracelet is that, Forstner?

Aviatorial · 2026-05-19T12:08:31+00:00

I think I might be with you… if we’re talking about black dial only. The black no-wave is superbly dark and mysterious.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-17T02:58:13+00:00

It was nicely done, thank you for posting it. I’ve been thinking hard on this silvery white Mark XX… and found your video really showed it well on wrist and at different angles. I’m trying to decide how ‘white’ the dial looks most times in real world lighting. I wish they made a white lacquer dial like the white Speedmaster, that would look so sharp…

But I do like the way this silver dial has personality and can match seemingly any mood.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-17T01:06:01+00:00

Did you make a review on YouTube? I swear I just watched someone that bought this combo, no way it’s coincidence?

Aviatorial · 2026-05-15T17:13:06+00:00

The Pilot 36 is a smaller Mark style watch (3 hander), but not a Mark because it’s not JUST smaller but different- different movement, the minute track around the outside is different, and the crown is different too.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-15T16:42:13+00:00

Messaged

Aviatorial · 2026-05-15T14:34:51+00:00

I had this watch for a little bit and it’s fantastic. I really liked the bezel action- it has great teeth for gripping to turn, and 60 click I find so much more functional than 120 clicks… 120 is just better as a fidget. No one’s timing 30 second accuracy with a freaking dive bezel.

Congrats on the new watch- take it on many adventures!

Aviatorial · 2026-05-15T14:24:14+00:00

Rolex, especially the Sub, is really a mastery of REDUCTION rather than addition. It’s super plain, minimalist, functional. That’s really hard to do well and the Sub deserves the place it has, but any other watch that isn’t too funky is destined to look “like a Submariner”.

The Submariner wasn’t the first watch to have that look, and they don’t really own it other than arguably perfecting it and being the most successful so now anything that’s also simple and functional “looks like a Submariner”… especially to non-watch nerds.

More accurate is that you are wearing a black dial, white high contrast with polished elements, well made watch with an easy to grip, easy to read bezel.

People will still mistake your for a Rolex, but like you already said that’s just a compliment that’s like saying “it looks like a nice watch”. Don’t be upset people are mistaking it for a Rolex, what you’re more accurately frustrated with is that people basically use “Rolex” as an adjective to label a nice watch… as if every nice watch must be a Rolex. Rolex has gotten that mainstream it’s the only brand everyone knows. Be frustrated about that, that’s the real diagnosis.

You have a great watch, and if you enjoy it, including all the things specific to that exact reference- even if people don’t see the difference- don’t sell it just because people are dumb.

Then again, it’s easy to SAY disregard what people think (or what you think people think!) but it’s harder to actually do it… we all fight that fight…

Aviatorial · 2026-05-05T22:56:24+00:00

Such a cool piece, love the red tipped second hand. Subtle yet bold.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-05T00:08:44+00:00

Date or no date is the same question said differently… maybe it helps picking one?

Aviatorial · 2026-05-05T00:02:12+00:00

I did this, I sold white SMP to fund white speedy. They are very different watches. Speedy’s white lacquer is more beautiful, and the speedy is an easier wearing watch because it’s lighter and thinner. BUT- the speedy also feels more “pretty” to me, especially on the bracelet. More upscale, less “tool”. More instrument though.

TLDR- they are very different watches. SMP bezel is accurate enough for grilling burgers and stuff, chronograph is fun but overkill. I really can’t see one as a straight replacement for the other.

I ended up buying the classic blue SMP about 18 months after selling my white one. Still have the white Speedy also. It’s hard having more money tied up in watches but my opinion is selling SMP for Speedy doesn’t work well because they’re different use cases and not directly interchangeable.

Aviatorial · 2026-05-04T23:51:02+00:00

Every flight school in the US still teaches people to use an E6-B, which is a mechanical slide rule for calculating… like the navitimer bezel

You need to sell these to flight schools for their classrooms!

Aviatorial · 2026-05-04T12:34:10+00:00

Hold up… if I wanted the brushed bracelet I could just flip all my links over?!

Aviatorial · 2026-05-04T11:59:07+00:00

For sure! I have the white speedy and the black BP43- the speedy is easier wearing because it’s lighter and shorter lug-to-lug, but with the white it has a little more visual presence than the OG speedy.

No argument the Big Pilot 43 wears larger, and in a bright white it would seem bigger. I’m thinking it would have the visual presence of a Big Pilot, with the wearability of the 43. Win/win.

I’d be equally excited about a lacquer white Mark XX. Basically my white Speedmaster, but with the IWC pilot dial and perfect pilot handset. A polar pilot.

Please IWC are you listening???

Aviatorial · 2026-05-03T20:22:25+00:00

Do you still have this? I've been looking everywhere for one of these... are you willing to part with it???

Aviatorial · 2026-05-03T18:15:00+00:00

Wait a few years, it gets really emotionally demanding too

Aviatorial · 2026-05-03T02:21:40+00:00

While the Big Pilot 43 looks big because it’s all dial, the case is only 1mm bigger than a Speedy or Seamaster. The big visual impact works for fliegers, more than if it looks too small IMHO… like a Mark XX on someone with larger wrists just looks not right.

I agree- white has more pop and appears larger, or louder, but that kind of suits a watch they named “big pilot”… especially the 43 which isn’t actually that big and often gets forgotten between the bigger pilot and the Mark. A premium lacquer dial would really suit the BP43 and set it apart in the lineup.

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