When you need significant cash quickly without selling your watch outright, an IWC pawnshop loan can be an easy solution. From flagship Big Pilot and Portugieser complications to cleaner Portofino and Pilot’s Automatic pieces, the range has everything from accessible to luxury timepieces. In other words, there are IWC references that work whether you are unlocking a five‑figure sum against a halo piece or simply raising a more modest, short‑term loan on a well‑kept daily wearer.
IWC’s mix of aviation heritage, engineering‑led movements and recognisable designs makes its watches easier for brokers to value and resell, which often translates into sharper offers than you might see for less established names.
Let’s take a look at the best models to have when you want to pawn your IWC watch.
1. IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar (e.g. ref. IW505701)
The IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar is the sort of watch that luxury pawn shop owners love to see. You’re offering a full‑fat haute horlogerie complication from one of Switzerland’s most recognisable names. In other words, a perpetual calendar, moonphase and long power reserve wrapped in a large, elegant case that wears like a statement on the wrist.
For brokers, that combination of technical depth and visual drama makes it highly marketable to serious collectors who know exactly what they are looking at. For you, it means you can unlock fast collateral on your IWC Portugieser.
On the secondary market, clean examples in steel and precious metals routinely command substantial five‑figure sums in GBP. That said, much depends on dial colour, metal and completeness, such as the original box, papers, and recent service.
That leaves room for meaningful loan offers while still allowing the pawnbroker a sensible margin if the watch needs to be resold. If you want to unlock substantial cash without parting company with a truly special IWC, the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar is close to ideal collateral.
2. IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 46 mm (classic Big Pilot)
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 46 mm is one of the most recognisable pieces you can place on a pawnbroker’s desk. In the modern market, that instant recognition really matters when you are borrowing against an IWC watch. With its oversized 46 mm steel case, bold Arabic numerals, conical crown and power‑reserve display, it looks like a modern reimagining of a classic cockpit instrument.
That visual hit, combined with everyday practicality, such as automatic movement, date, solid water resistance and superb legibility, makes it highly attractive to both enthusiasts and casual buyers. And, perhaps more importantly, a great way to get a pawn shop loan on your IWC watch.
Under the hood, the in‑house calibre with a seven‑day power reserve and anti‑magnetic protection gives the watch real technical credibility. On the secondary market, clean Big Pilot references routinely sit in solid five‑figure territory in many currencies, providing scope for big money when you borrow against an IWC watch.
3. IWC Portugieser Chronograph
The IWC Portugieser Chronograph is one of those rare watches that works just as well in a boardroom as it does across the counter of an IWC pawnbroker. With its clean two‑register layout, slim bezel and large, open dial, it has become the definitive modern IWC dress chronograph that even non‑enthusiasts tend to recognise on sight. Pawnbrokers like that because it means a broad buyer pool, which tends to make a pawn shop IWC watch loan a less risky proposition.
Inside, modern references use a robust in‑house automatic movement with a display back on many versions, giving owners confidence in both reliability and serviceability.
On today’s pre‑owned market, steel Portugieser Chronograph models usually sit in the upper mid‑range for IWC, often in the high four‑ to low five‑figure band depending on dial, age, and whether you have a box and papers. That pricing sweet spot makes it excellent collateral and meaningful loan values if you decide to pawn your IWC Portugieser.
4. IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX is a near‑perfect example of a “core” luxury watch that pawnbrokers actually like seeing day in, day out. It is a clean, three‑hand pilot’s piece with date, sharp legibility and a no‑nonsense 40 mm case that works on almost any wrist, which keeps demand pleasantly broad. Because it is the modern descendant of IWC’s historic Mark series, it also has enough aviation pedigree to interest enthusiasts rather than just casual buyers, and more importantly, it is a great way to get a loan for an IWC watch.
Under the skin, you get an in‑house automatic movement, sensible water resistance and a modern bracelet and strap system. What this means is that most examples are bought to be worn regularly rather than left in a safe. This fact means pristine examples can fetch solid watch loans.
On the secondary market, the Mark XX tends to fall in the mid‑range of IWC pricing, high enough to justify a useful loan but not so lofty as to make resale tricky. That balance of liquidity, heritage and everyday practicality is precisely why it works so well when you need to generate collateral on your IWC.
5. IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 is one of the most pawn‑friendly modern IWC references because it hits a nice point between price, demand and practicality. With its 41 mm steel case, day‑date display and classic tri‑compax layout, it wears like a proper tool watch but still looks refined enough for office or weekend use. Powered by the in‑house 69385 calibre, it offers modern reliability, 100 m water resistance and an easy strap‑change system, so most examples are actually worn, which can affect pawn shop IWC loan offers.
On the UK secondary market, standard steel Pilot’s Chronograph 41 models like the IW388101 typically change hands at around £4,000–£5,000 depending on age, condition and whether they are full‑set.
6. IWC Portofino Chronograph 39
The IWC Portofino Chronograph 39 is an excellent option if you want something dressier than a pilot’s watch but still easy to move on for IWC pawnbrokers. With its 39 mm case, clean applied markers and discreet chronograph registers, it has a classic, almost vintage feel that works in formal settings yet never looks fussy. Many examples come on leather straps, which keep the look elegant and the overall package relatively slim on the wrist.
Inside, the watch uses a reliable automatic chronograph movement and offers enough everyday practicality, such as decent water resistance, to be a genuine daily wearer rather than a pure dress piece.
On the pre‑owned side, Portofino Chronograph models generally sit in the mid‑range of IWC pricing, often undercutting comparable Portugieser chronographs, which makes them attractive to buyers looking for value. For a pawnbroker, that mix of accessible price, timeless styling and solid brand recognition adds up to very usable collateral and a typically straightforward IWC Portofino loan for you.
7. IWC Ingenieur
The modern IWC Ingenieur is an excellent example of a watch that blends horological credibility with the kind of contemporary sports‑luxury look that moves quickly on the secondary market, making it an ideal candidate for a loan against an IWC. Initially conceived in the 1950s as an engineer’s antimagnetic tool watch, the line has evolved into a family of integrated‑bracelet and sporty pieces that still carry that engineered DNA. The current Ingenieur Automatic 40 models, in particular, channel the Gerald Genta‑era design with a modern case size and sharp finishing that collectors have really warmed to.
In the UK, pre‑owned Ingenieur prices cover a wide range, but a sensible ballpark for mainstream automatic references is often around £4,000–£7,000, with much depending on age, material, and whether it is a newer integrated‑bracelet 40 mm piece or an older variant. Limited editions, titanium or F1‑linked models can climb higher, while more basic steel pieces sit toward the lower end of that spectrum. Either way, when you want to pawn your IWC, you can expect steady sums.
8. IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36 is one of the most approachable ways into the brand and a very practical piece to pawn if you want to raise a sensible four‑figure sum without tying up a heavy hitter. With its 36 mm steel case, clear Arabic numerals and date window, it delivers the full pilot‑watch look in a smaller, very wearable package that suits slimmer wrists and more discreet tastes. That “everyday luxury” positioning keeps demand broad among both enthusiasts and buyers seeking a high‑quality, versatile IWC.
On the UK secondary market, recent listings for the Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36 (refs such as IW324008 and IW324010) tend to fall roughly in the £2,000–£3,200 range, depending on age, condition and whether the watch is a complete set with box and papers. That price band makes it attractive collateral for luxury pawn shops, even if the sums involved are more modest than a Big Pilot, because the Automatic 36 is easy to value and relatively quick to resell if required.
9. IWC Portofino Automatic 40
The IWC Portofino Automatic 40 is one of the most approachable “classic dress” IWCs you can use as collateral, and that is precisely why luxury pawn shops see it so often. With its 40 mm round steel case, slim baton markers and simple date window at 3 o’clock, it delivers the kind of clean, timeless look that appeals to buyers across a wide age range. It is also versatile, because on a leather strap, it works perfectly with tailoring, but it also does not look out of place as a smart‑casual daily wearer.
On the UK secondary market, mainstream references like the Portofino Automatic IW356501 and IW356502 typically change hands in the region of £2,200–£3,000, depending on age, condition, and whether you have the box and papers. That keeps it at the lower end of possible IWC pawn shop loans, but still more than workable, especially for well‑kept full‑set examples.
10. IWC Da Vinci Automatic
The modern IWC Da Vinci Automatic is a slightly left‑field but exciting choice if you want to pawn something that is quality IWC through and through, yet not as ubiquitous as a Pilot or Portugieser. With its rounded case, sculpted lugs, and often more classical dial designs, it sits in a niche between dress and contemporary, appealing to buyers who want something a bit different from the usual sports‑watch crowd. However, it’s worth noting that models from 2017 onward are the best bet for an IWC watch loan.
Prices vary widely across the Da Vinci range, but for straightforward three‑hand automatic references such as IW356601 or IW356602, UK pre‑owned asking prices commonly fall in the £2,500–£3,500 range. Complicated or precious‑metal versions can sit far higher, but for standard automatics, that mid‑range pricing is common.
