The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years” marks IWC’s 150th Birthday

To mark the occasion of its 150th birthday, IWC Schaffhausen will unveil an exclusive Jubilee collection at the upcoming SIHH.

 

A collection comprising a total of 27 limited edition models. From the Portugieser to the Da Vinci families, all IWC’s icons will celebrate the anniversary of the Manufacture, founded in 1868 by the American watchmaking pioneer Florentine Ariosto Jones – and, for the occasion, the collection goes with dials dressed up in white or blue.

 

It is indeed the imprinted dial in white or blue that acts as an overarching aesthetic element in the Jubilee collection. A sophisticated effect that is achieved by applying up to 12 layers of high-quality lacquer, reminiscent of heritage enamelled finishes.

These layers are then flat-polished, brushed and then imprinted several times. The watches with a blue dial have rhodium-plated hands, while those with a white dial have blue hands, in a design inspired by the first Portugieser models (Reference IW325) from 1939.

 

Among all these remarkable timepieces, our choice goes to the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years”.

 

IWC Schaffhausen launched the Da Vinci family in 1969, with its particular tonneau-shaped case and with a quartz movement, The watch immediately became a landmark timepiece.

 

 

The line was then revolutionized in 1985, with a new round case and an autonomous perpetual calendar – one of the most successful pieces ever made.

In fact, the slightly recessed inner circle on the dial, the dome-shaped crown and the circular date window at 6 o’clock are all there to confer the watch a feminine allure.

 

 

The introduction of a semi-mechanical 630-calibre chronograph movement and date and moon phase display – a complication very much appreciated by the feminine public – boosted the Da Vinci models’ sophistication, in 1988.

More beauty then came through with the addition of precious gemstones, making it a jewellery watch as in the case of the Lady Da Vinci, in yellow gold and diamonds.

 

 

In 2017, IWC relaunched the Da Vinci family by launching, among different models, the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36, thus re-establishing the tradition of creating elaborated yet exquisite timepieces for ladies.

Smaller and slimmer, with a defined feminine design, the Da Vinci Automatic 36 and the Moon Phase 36 come with gold cases, diamond-set bezels and alligator leather straps by Santoni in colours exclusively developed for IWC. All elements that go and define a strong aesthetic appeal.

 

 

With the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years” IWC Schaffhausen reaches a new level of elegance.

 

 

With its 18k red gold case, a white dial with lacquered finish, and blued hands, this commemorative timepiece will be available as a limited edition of 50 watches.

The classic “Flower of Life” usually engraved on the case backs of all Da Vinci Automatic 36 and Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase here disappears.

Representing several regular overlapping circles designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself and standing for the unflagging search for mathematical rules for beauty and proportions the engraving leaves room to the “150 Years” inscription, to mark the Manufacture’s significant anniversary.

 

 

The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years” features a moon phase display at 12 o’clock, and 206 pure white diamonds, for a total of 2.26 carats, entirely cover the case and moving lugs.

This timepiece is the sparkling jewel of IWC’s Jubilee collection, commenting which Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen explains:

“Our founder’s entrepreneurial spirit and his untiring quest for engineering excellence have left a lasting impression on IWC. To this day, our watches combine precision engineering with design that is as unusual as it is timeless. Our Jubilee collection revisits icons from the history of IWC and unifies them through a timeless design code to form a unique and impressive collection.”