The IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750 from 1985 is a crucial look ahead to IWC and the whole Haute Horlogerie universe post-Quartz Disaster. Grasp watchmaker Kurt Klaus constructed a perpetual calendar mechanism on high of an computerized chronograph, which reignited curiosity in sophisticated horology and made folks have a look at IWC otherwise. The progressive watch introduced status to a model principally identified for its extra instrumental creations. Loads of perpetual calendar watches are within the IWC assortment, however you’ll not discover a single Da Vinci reference within the present lineup. Forty years after its conception, it’s time for a remake of the IW3750.
I wouldn’t go as far as to accuse IWC of neglecting the Da Vinci. Nonetheless, it’s unsettling to see the product household utterly gone whenever you go to the model’s web site, particularly contemplating the significance of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750 from 1985. At the moment, IWC remains to be driving the Ingenieur wave, however 2025 marks the fortieth anniversary of the legendary “QP.” In different phrases, it’s the right second to reintroduce the watch. IWC doesn’t even must undergo the difficulty of creating a very new idea to take action. Fellow Richemont model Vacheron Constantin began the rebirth watch in 2022 by releasing the 222 in gold, and this 12 months, a metal model debuted. In 2023, IWC offered the true-to-the-original Ingenieur, and final 12 months, Piaget launched the glamourous Polo 79. The recipe works with totally different substances, so to talk.
Picture: Ticking Means
The time is correct to reintroduce the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750 from 1985
The latest introduction of the Vacheron Constantin 222 in metal made me marvel if any fascinating watches are left to reintroduce. I considered two — the Rolex Oysterquartz and the IWC IW3750. The Oysterquartz debuted in 1977, and aside from the truth that solely two of the discontinued fashions will rejoice their fiftieth anniversary, Rolex presenting a watch outfitted with a quartz motion in 2027 is very unlikely. You’ll be able to dream a couple of new solar-powered Rolex quartz motion all you need — I do, to be trustworthy — but it surely’s not occurring. Seeing the IW3750 come again to life is a way more sensible thought.
Picture: Ticking Means
Swimming towards the stream
Two components distinguish the Da Vinci IW3750 — the mixture of issues and the design. Let’s give attention to the technical points first. Whereas Switzerland was being overrun by low-cost quartz watches from the East within the late Seventies, watchmaker Kurt Klaus was engaged on a motion that includes a triple calendar and moonphase module, the primary ever for the model. The person engaged on the banks of the river Rhine, near the well-known Schaffhausen waterfalls, was swimming towards the stream. However regardless of skepticism inside the firm, he continued his work. The efforts of the grasp watchmaker led to a profitable restricted run of the ref. 5500 pocket watch.
Then, it was time for Klaus to give attention to wristwatches. He set his sights on the perpetual calendar. He was not going to create the very first wristwatch outfitted with a perpetual calendar mechanism (in 1925, Patek Philippe had a world’s first with the introduction of the 97975, and since this 12 months marks that watch’s a hundredth birthday, be able to see one thing extraordinary coming at Watches and Wonders). Nonetheless, wrist-worn perpetual calendars have been uncommon on the time.
A sketch by Kurt Klaus
The Da Vinci miracle: 81 parts and a four-digit 12 months show
Klaus didn’t simply construct a QP for the wrist; he wished to assemble one thing user-friendly, not one thing related to unique and conventional Haute Horlogerie however, fairly, one thing that may match the IWC philosophy. To state that the ultimate timepiece was a instrument watch would go too far, however the perpetual calendar module on high of the dependable Valjoux 7750 motion was a groundbreaking design manufactured from simply 81 parts. Nonetheless, it displayed a four-digit 12 months correct till 2499 and a moonphase indicator correct for the following 122 years.
The motion was put in a watch designed by Hanno Burtscher. He created a baroque-like 39mm case with eye-catching and distinctive swiveling lugs. Appropriately, inspiration was present in Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus, a 12-volume sure set of writings and drawings. The drawings of rounded harbor fortifications within the codex made their manner into the watch. When the sophisticated timepiece was offered on the annual Basel watch honest in 1985, IWC instantly bought 100 examples. Not solely did that show sophisticated watchmaking was nonetheless related, but it surely additionally showcased the competence of IWC.
Picture: Ticking Means
2025: the 12 months of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar
IWC made two makes an attempt to replace the design language of the IW3750 however, sadly, by no means with nice success. A 3rd try was by no means made, inflicting the Da Vinci to vanish from the catalog. However a 3rd try may show extra profitable if IWC does what it did with the Ingenieur — keep near the unique and accept just some variations as a substitute of making a complete household.
I envision a Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW375025 in a 39mm yellow gold case. Slightly than the unique’s all-gold case again, the brand new model encompasses a show again to point out off the brand new motion. Like IWC, Vacheron Constantin, and Piaget did with their particular re-editions, the watch’s appears to be like should keep near the unique. Nonetheless, some updates are inevitable and in addition very welcome. As an example, a sapphire crystal as a substitute of an acrylic one can be good. Additionally, utilizing trendy supplies and manufacturing and ending strategies will deliver this retro watch into the fashionable period.
Picture: Filipucci
Mixing and matching will get the job accomplished
Kurt Klaus constructed his perpetual calendar, together with a moonphase indication, on the inspiration of a Valjoux 7750 motion. Within the present IWC motion lineup, there’s something comparable obtainable. It’s the 69355, which is a part of the 69000 household of self-winding chronograph calibers launched in 2018. This 4Hz motion with an influence reserve of 46 hours contains 205 parts. It’s comparable in design to caliber 79320, for example, a motion based mostly on the Valjoux 7750. And there you might have it. Like the unique, a caliber from the 69000 household is an acceptable basis for a QP motion for a future Da Vinci in a 39mm case. Moreover, IWC has a 42mm Portugieser Perpetual Calendar within the assortment. That watch is outfitted with the model’s caliber 82650, and though I’m no watchmaker, maybe its QP mechanism may very well be tailored to operate with the prevailing chronograph motion.
IW3755-03 and IW3755-05
Sure, 2026 may very well be one other Da Vinci 12 months
I believe 2026 may very well be an much more fantastic Da Vinci 12 months. Subsequent 12 months marks the fortieth anniversary of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3755-03 in black and IW3755-05 in white ceramic. These watches made historical past due to their ceramic circumstances matched with yellow gold. Like the unique IW3750, these watches nonetheless look the half and are additionally vital for IWC because the model at all times presents itself as a frontrunner in ceramic watches.
What’s fascinating is that, a while in the past, Brandon wrote in regards to the Da Vinci IW3750 within the sequence Wrist Recreation Or Crying Disgrace. The ballot outcomes left nothing to the creativeness: 83% of our readers mentioned the watch was Wrist Recreation. Watches and Wonders 2025, right here we come. Please don’t allow us to down, IWC.
Header picture: Ticking Means
