The origins of the IWC Flieger Chronograph can be found all the way back to the 1930s, a time when IWC played a key role in establishing the fundamental characteristics of what an aviation watch was supposed to do. With the development of aviation, the world became smaller and smaller, and pilots demanded better watches. All of a sudden, watches needed to be dependable, accurate, and reassuringly sturdy in addition to withstanding high temperatures, magnetic fields, and vibrations. Thus, it is impossible to consider IWC without considering its illustrious influence on sky-destined wristwatches. 
 
By most standards, the IWC Fliegerchronograph Ref. 3706 is not yet a vintage watch, but it almost certainly is. It originates from a bygone era in the watch industry, one that predates the obsession with in-house movements and the luxification of IWC as well as the return of interest in midcentury design among watchmakers. Thinking back to the years the 3706 was in production, from 1994 to 2005, makes it seem like a simpler time. These are the years that predate social media and, in the opinion of many, the creation of the modern watch enthusiast culture.
 
Nevertheless, the difference between the 3706 and the watches produced by the same brand in 2021 is rather noticeable. Naturally, over the course of about 20 years, IWC is not the only brand to have transitioned from tool watches to luxury-tool watches to what some would consider full-on luxury watches. However, understanding IWC's current position serves to highlight the understated beauty of a watch like the 3706.