I’ve been in
love with the IWC Aquatimer ever since I had the 3548 and one day in August
2011 when a full set 3538 showed up in the for-sale section (which is the place
where I usually hang around) at my favorite watch forum I just decided to get it because there was nothing else more fun available at the time. The
3538 and the 3548 looks pretty much the same except for the color scheme but the two biggest differences are that the 3538 is in titanium instead of
steel and also has a thicker case back since it is rated to a 2000m instead of
1000m.
The watch
was located in Copenhagen, Denmark, and was sold by the well-known watch profile Kristian
Haagen. When I received it I discovered Kristian had sent me the wrong
certificate. The serial number didn’t match. It was for another IWC watch. I
told him this and a couple of days later the correct certificate showed up and
everything was fine. The watch was in nice condition but it had some signs of
wear. Titanium isn’t the most forgiving material and it really is easily scratched
and doesn’t age nicely.
 |
| #93 - The IWC Aquatimer 3538. |
I wore it
for a while but still couldn’t stop thinking about the blue and orange IWC 3548
Cousteau edition. That was the one I really wanted. Looking back, I really
should have gotten my hands on a Cousteau back in 2011 instead of the 3538. The
price on the Cousteau edition has pretty much gone up with 100% since then
which sucks. I still want one but I ain’t going to pay $5000 for a used one. If
I have to choose between the 3538 and the 3548 and say which one of them I like
the most I would say the 3548. I prefer steel rather than titanium and I
think it wears a little better due to the thinner case back.
 |
| Blurry picture taken by my wife with an old cellphone but you can still identify the Aquatimer. |
©
All pictures by a Watch Flipper's Diary unless noted.
