One of the major introductions for IWC at this year's SIHH is the re-launch of the Da Vinci collection. Updated in styling and forward thinking in terms of complications, suiting the collection’s inventor namesake, the new Da Vinci features a tonneau shaped case with a new IWC proprietary chronograph movement, a Limited Edition Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar in honour of IWC Chief Designer Kurt Klaus and a smaller, three hand automatic.
“The old Da Vinci collection dates from the 1980s and it was key to redesign this watch, for style and technology,” explains Roland Ott, Associate Director Corporate Communications, IWC. “It's a very important family for IWC, as it's high positioned and it completes our overall product strategy - having watches starting with the Portofino (¤2,000) up to the Grand Complication at ¤200,000.”
The former Da Vinci case was round, so the tonneau shaped three-part case is a distinct departure for this collection. This signals a dramatically new direction for the IWC Da Vinci.




DA VINCI CHRONOGRAPH, DA VINCI PERPETUAL CALENDAR


The Da Vinci Chronograph
The introduction of the new chronograph, which features a display of the chronograph minutes and seconds in a sub dial at the 12 o'clock position, is almost like a second time zone, to read the elapsed time. It is a unique way of doing it, but at the same time very simple and intuitive.
The new chronograph will be available in white gold, rose gold, stainless steel and in a limited edition of 500 watches in platinum.

Limited Edition
The original Da Vinci made history in 1985 when it was introduced with a perpetual calendar and the new limited edition places the perpetual calendar in the new tonneau case, dedicated to Chief Designer Klaus, who invented the first Da Vinci perpetual calendar. Limited to 600 watches (500 in rose gold, 50 in white gold and 50 in platinum), the watch features Klaus' signature on the dial and an engraving of him on the caseback.

Three hand simplicity
Available in rose gold, white gold or stainless steel, the new three hand automatic Da Vinci is smaller (35.6 mm) to suit more wearers.
IWC is also poised to present something very interesting in the Ingenieur series, but the brand was tight lipped about what exactly is planned, preferring to wait until the show actually starts to release that information.


Source: Europa Star April-May 2007 Magazine Issue