Written by: Jessica Plumbley

If you’re a man looking for a simple, classy dress-watch, the IWC Vintage Collection Jubilee Edition of the Aquatimer Automatic Men’s Watch (IW323104) is a great pick. Elegant and practical, the IW323104 will serve you well…just try it on to be sure it fits comfortably before you buy.

The Aquatimer Automatic masters the subtle beauty of the classic look with its brown crocodile leather strap and unencumbered face. Its dial is a dark grey, its hands and case solid 18K white gold. On the side are two knobs, presumably one for the hour and minute hands (the IW323104 features a second hand, as well) and one for the date, a small number situated at 3 o’clock. The only numerical markings besides this are the 15, 30, and 45 marks on the bezel, whose rotation is unidirectional. The judicious use of numbers leaves the face clean and readable under its scratch resistant, glare-proof sapphire crystal. The case is 44 mm in diameter. The IWC Vintage Collection’s IW323104 watch has a retail value of $17,000.

The International Watch Company prides itself on making watches that resist damage and continue to tell the time precisely. Before they are approved and released to the market, new models undergo riguorous tests that simulate the battering of wear, which insures that buyers get their money’s worth out of their watch. Thus it is that the IW323104, though a luxury watch, comes with scratch-resistant and anti-reflective crystal, and thus its high water resistance. These features—so often overlooked in buying a dress watch—are huge perks,   when you can find them.

Praise aside, one potential issue with the IW323104 is its ease of wear, due to the open skeleton back. I wasn’t able to come up with any pictures of this back, but one can surmise that if the surface touching the wrist is uneven or has sharp edges, comfort will be compromised. I would recommend viewing and trying one on at the store to make sure that it doesn’t hurt. Another reason to visit the store is to make sure the strap fits your wrist—unlike many other luxury watches, the IW323104’s band isn’t sizable, and so if the 8-inch band with its deployment buckle doesn’t fit, you might want to consider looking somewhere else (or perhaps purchasing a different band).

If the IWC Vintage Collection Jubilee Edition Aquatimer Automatic Men’s Watch ¬does fit agreeably, I would recommend it for luxury model shoppers. But if it doesn’t or the model is out of your price range, look around. There still might be a good watch out there with comparable beauty.

Aquatimer Automatic Quick Facts
Brand: IWC
Collection: Vintage Collection
Gender/Size: Mens
Model #: IW323104
Movement Type: Swiss Automatic Certified (self winding)
Dial: Gray
Calendar: Date
Crystal: Sapphire Scratch Resistant & Anti-Reflective
Case Material: Solid 18K White Gold
Bezel Material: Unidirectional rotating
Case Diameter: 44 mm (1.73 in)
Case Back: Skeleton (Open)
Bracelet Material: Alligator
Strap Color: Brown
Bracelet Length: 8 in (20.3 cm)
Bracelet Sizable: No
Clasp Type: Deployment Buckle
Water Resistance: 100 meter (330 feet)