Comments:
The Bronze Aquatimer is a watch that I was super excited to own. The bezel system is a very cool feature. The different colors of lume are neat to behold. And I really enjoyed the patina that could be easily reversed with a little ketchup rub. I also really like the fly back movement. But the watch had one flaw in design that made the watch a failure for me. The quick release strap system with fixed bars was horrible. It was prone to releasing during wear. I once lost the watch overboard as it bumped the windshield while docking. Thankfully we were in shallow water so I was able to retrieve it, but the idea that a dive watch could easily be unsecured made me completely lose faith in this watch.
Bronze Aquatimer Charles Darwin
The Bronze Aquatimer is a watch that I was super excited to own. The bezel system is a very cool feature. The different colors of lume are neat to behold. And I really enjoyed the patina that could be easily reversed with a little ketchup rub. I also really like the fly back movement. But the watch had one flaw in design that made the watch a failure for me. The quick release strap system with fixed bars was horrible. It was prone to releasing during wear. I once lost the watch overboard as it bumped the windshield while docking. Thankfully we were in shallow water so I was able to retrieve it, but the idea that a dive watch could easily be unsecured made me completely lose faith in this watch.
Super scary story with watch overboard even in shallow mud it can get lost. [nt]
No message body
You are right, alas. The same happened to me with a Tribute to Polaris on aftermarket " presto " strap. [nt]
No message body
The incident with the strap you describe is scary - and this isn't the first time I've heard of accidental detachment with the Aquatimer quick-change system.
I used to own the Charles Darwin Edition myself, and while I never had the strap detach on me, I was often nervous. What I never could figure out is why IWC implemented the quick-change strap on the Aquatimer to begin with, since to my knowledge. they've never offered an alternative OEM option. I tried the Charles Darwin on a NATO strap a couple of times, but the design and placement of the bars/lugs made the watch look awkward on the NATO. My main beef with the Charles Darwin Edition, and the reason that I ultimately gave it up, was that I found the chronograph seconds almost impossible to read against the dial. (A major design flaw, in my estimation. 🤨)
I occasionally miss my Aquatimer as a knockabout/beater watch, but not enough that I regret trading it away.
Can you show us the buckle where it detaches? I am curious as I have not seen this. [nt]
No message body
Sorry
I no longer have the watch, but where the strap attaches at the lugs there is a hook that cli-s to the fixed bar. If the strap is struck near the lugs, it releases. I had it happened to me a few times before it happened on the water.
Did you figure out what failed?
Was anything broken on the strap, or did it just release? I shopped the Darwin, but ended up with the steel Cousteau version. I haven’t experienced a failure, but have read a few accounts of the strap coming off.
