A Watch That Reflected His Next Chapter – Why One Founder Chose IWC Over Flashier Names

🎯 A Real Story of Clarity, Craftsmanship & Quiet Confidence in Dubai and Beyond!

Some watches are bought for status.
Others are chosen for meaning.

This is the story of Zaid, a 37-year-old startup founder living between Dubai, Riyadh, and Berlin, who walked into our showroom with a very specific request:

“I don’t want a watch that screams. I want one that feels like me.”

He didn’t want hype. He didn’t care about resale value or influencer trends.
He wanted something with substance. Something that would mark a major moment in his life — the quiet transition from the grind of startup chaos to the structure of sustainable growth.

That watch?
An IWC Big Pilot.

Let’s break down why it mattered so much.

The Milestone: From Burnout to Breakthrough

Zaid had just closed a Series B funding round — $18 million raised after three years of high-stakes pitching, investor back-and-forths, and more late nights than he could count.

He told us:

“I used to think the goal was always ‘what’s next?’ But this time, I actually wanted to pause. To acknowledge that I’d built something real.”

That’s why he didn’t want a Rolex. Or a Richard Mille.
He didn’t want a flex. He wanted a marker of growth.

🛠️ Why IWC Felt Right

As we explored different collections together — from Audemars Piguet to Panerai — Zaid kept circling back to IWC.

What drew him in?

• The Big Pilot’s clean symmetry: bold without being brash
• The brand’s engineering legacy: born from function, not fashion
• The way it felt on his wrist: “like it belongs, not like I’m borrowing it from someone cooler”

For Zaid, the IWC Big Pilot 46mm, with its steel case, black dial, and iconic oversized crown, struck the perfect tone.

It was a watch that respected the past, lived in the present, and pointed toward the future.

🌍 More Than One City. One Consistent Vibe.

Zaid’s life is spread across Dubai, Riyadh, and the startup ecosystem in Berlin.

He needed a watch that fit seamlessly into:

• ⚙️ Board meetings in DIFC
• 🎤 Conferences in Lisbon
• 🧠 Quiet workdays at home in Jumeirah
• 🎉 Celebrations with family and friends in Riyadh

The IWC Big Pilot didn’t just match all those environments — it elevated them.

🧭 From Function to Philosophy

What surprised Zaid most?

“It sounds weird, but wearing the watch changed how I think. I started noticing little things — details. Design choices. Balance. Maybe that’s why I love IWC — because it’s intentional.”

That’s the real power of this brand.

Yes, it’s Swiss-made. Yes, it’s beautifully constructed. But more than anything, IWC helps you reconnect with what matters.

And for a lot of clients — from Dubai to London to LA — that’s exactly what they’re craving right now.

💬 A Few Words from Zaid

“I’m not saying everyone should buy an IWC. But if you’ve built something from scratch… if you’ve had to stay grounded when everything felt unstable… you’ll get it.

This isn’t a watch for show. It’s a watch that shows who you’ve become.”

🎁 Why This Case Study Matters for You

You might not be building a startup. But maybe you’re:

• Starting a new role
• Moving to a new country
• Buying your first piece of real luxury
• Recovering from something hard
• Marking a milestone worth remembering

In every one of those cases, IWC makes sense.

It doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to sit quietly on your wrist and remind you who you are.