If your heart is set, the decision has been made. Unless the $$$ difference is a major factor.

 

Thanks! A couple grand is a pretty penny but it isn’t going to break me into bankruptcy. I wasn’t planning on buying it until later in the year but I hear of this out of state AD closing up shop in a couple weeks so it came out of the left field. A sunburst blue dial is on my list so that’s why I had it for the Mark XX.

 

Now that is quite a dilemma! Personally, if I were to get an XX, it'd have to be on that fantastic bracelet. I'm sure the strap is nice and all, but I'm not sure the $1500 savings would be worth it to me long run. You could see what it would cost to buy the OEM bracelet, but I suspect you'd be at or around break even at that point. I also like the blue dial, but a black dial wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me.

 

Thanks! I will inquire about the cost of the OEM bracelet. I have 9 watches in my collection and about 3-4 of them are black dials. Sunburst blue dial is something I’ve been eyeing.

 

Well for me it's always a black dial especially with the mark series.

 

I'd get the black, this deal is hard to beat

 

I tried it on at the boutique moments ago. They said it’s their best seller with the blue being a close second.

 

I have (too) many black dial watches. I very recently purchased the Mark XX Blue dial on bracelet. I thought I wanted the black, and I would absolutly be happy to own it, but the Blue dial “popped” in the sunlight at the AD’s, and the look just took me in. I had to have it.
It is really gorgeous.

 

Get the watch you like best, not the best “deal” you can get. Over the course of (long time) ownership that price difference is immaterial, but if/when you regret your decision you’ll lose money by flipping to buy what you originally wanted

 

This, unless you're a serial flipper that only has watches a year or less just buy the watch you want. Wearing something not quite right is not a good value no matter the price.

 

The IWC blue is special and in my opinion really changes the feel of the watch. The Mark series with blue sunburst dial feels like a true GADA watch to me and the color and polished hands offset some of the tool watch vibe of the dial layout. The matte black dial seems like a tool watch that at least for me makes this black version of the watch feel a bit out of place with business casual and dressier outfits. Either way, I wouldn't buy a Mark XX without getting the bracelet.

 

...I had my heart set on the blue dial on bracelet....

This is key. For you, the right decision is to purchase the watch configured the way your heart was set. For me it would be different because I would rather have the black dial on a black strap, but you should avoid the temptation; dropping ~$4k for something you don't really like or want doesn't make sense.

 

As an ex black mk XX owner I would opt for your blue dial on bracelet. I couldnt get on with the terrible IWC strap and ease X system. It’s hugely overrated if you ask me, especially when you consider how amazing the bracelet is. That said I don’t think the black dial works so well with the bracelet. The blue version on bracelet looks like a completely different watch Ie the black looks like a tool watch, the blue much more dressy and eye catching.

 

Funny, I have the Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince with blue dial and strap. Black would be okay as well but I don't care one bit for the bracelet. It is a pilot watch, and the bracelet is a misfit, albeit in outstanding IWC quality.

To the OP, I would take the black Mark XX, thank you very much!

I tried it on at the boutique moments ago. They said it’s their best seller with the blue being a close second.

As an aside, I am not one for green dials but the Mark XX in green is out of this world.

 

The difference after getting the OEM bracelet isn't enough for me to get a dial I didn't want, no matter how popular.

 

Get both if you can, then decide which one you keep and sell the other one.

 

As long as you don’t mind taking a massive hit on the resale. I sold mine privately and lost a fair bit but that’s the watch world for you. Ran it past a few dealers and their offers were shocking in comparison to other brands. I even considered a watch deal via the iwc AD that a I purchased it from on a trade in basis and they basically responded with “its Not a watch we would normally take in but we might make an exception..,I see you’re considering another wonderful IWC watch, this particular model is very popular so our offer would reflect this”. Bla bla bla. Thats another AD on my black list! To cheer myself up I needed a good laugh and approached WOS who wanted to charge me a fee for replacing the strap. A quick change strap!

 

In this day and age, good deals on higher quality watches are few and far between.......

Just sayin'.......

 

sooooooo many posts on this watch but.............................NOT one pix of the watch(es) in question!!
c'mon, guys! this is a Watch Forum -- pix are very much needed!
please show us which 2 watches are causing the dilemma.........



ok, i will try to answer my own question. is it these 2?

Sunburst blue & green looks much nicer than the black dial....................but, then, there is the wide price difference to consider....
& I agree with @precious time -- this watch looks way better on the strap than the (metal) bracelet

I am in the minority here -- i personally would never spend this kind of money on a IWC Pilot watch when there are sooooooo many other manuf that offer the exact same design for a much more affordable price.
One example is Laco which one of the 5 originals that made this watch back in the 1930s ---- (Laco, IWC, Lange & Sohn, Wempe & Stowa -- the 5 original manufs)

 

OP, have you tried on the blue and/or the black Mark XX?? ....as u said, your heart in on the blue....it is very nice...but only u can decide if the heavily discounted black variant will not give you regrets down the road....typically those buying remorses can cost u more money then u think...

 

Hi. Yep. I've tried them on multiple times at my AD and the 2 nearby IWC boutiques. They are great in their own ways. Yours looked brilliant!

 

I too made my decision on one of these, it will be a black dial version. I figure, if I am buying a pilot watch then buy a pilot watch. I guess the silvery white dial be ok, but the green & blue versions are greasy kid stuff.

 

I picked it up today and changed the strap to lizard skin I had laying around. I'm completely happy with it and as equally happy to support my AD with one of his last remaining pieces.

 

I have the green Mark XX and love it. If green is considered less fashionable over time as others have suggested then I really could not care less. I like having color variety and IWC does green very, very well. Blue is also absolutely classic for their line-up. Congratulations to OP on selecting one.

 

I'm sure Al appreciated the business before closing.

 

What about white/silver. No love for that? Lots of options with the rubber straps with the white/silver dial.