This year, IWC celebrates the 140th anniversary of its founding. To celebrate this milestone, the brand will unveil their Vintage Collection of timepieces. Representing significant periods of IWC history, each of six models in this retro-inspired collection will be presented in unlimited quantities in stainless steel, in addition to a limited edition in platinum (distinguished by silver dials) that will be restricted to an edition of just 500. Of this 500 piece platinum edition, the first 140 will be presented in a leather-cased complete set of six, each watch bearing the same individual number. The six models of the IWC Vintage Collection are:
1) The Portofino Hand-Wound watch. This timepiece, animated by the IWC 98800 caliber, features an extremely accurate moonphase indicator which is accurate to one day in 577 years, and is correctable via the crown. A domed sapphire crystal is fitted to the watch, and a sapphire exhibition back allows observation of the fine movement, with its characteristic elongated "Jones" index and large screw-mounted balance wheel.
2) The Pilot's Watch Hand-Wound. Inspired by 1930's era aviators pieces, this watch features a 44mm case with a knurled bezel, a rugged buffalo leather strap, and a period-style dial with luminous Arabic figures. Sapphire crystals are fitted to both front and back, the latter allowing a view of the hand-wound IWC movement, with its large screw-adjusted balance and the elongated index familiar from IWC's historical Jones pocket watch calibers.
3) The Portuguese Hand-Wound. Directly based upon the original IWC Portuguese wristwatch developed at the behest of two Portuguese businessmen in 1939, this watch has a 44mm case with recessed lugs and a grooved bezel like the first model. The dial, featuring alternating Arabic numerals and stick markers, is also a direct tribute to the first Portuguese wristwatch. Sapphire crystals are fitted to both front and back, the latter allowing a view of the IWC 98295 calibre, whose key features include a screw-adjusted balance wheel with Breguet spring, and the elongated "Jones" index, unique to historical IWC pocket watch movements. A crocodile strap completes the watch.
4) The Ingenieur Automatic. Inspired by the appearance of the original Ingenieur watch of 1955, this model has a round 42.5mm case, a 1950's style dial with dauphine hands, and a crocodile strap. The robust, automatic IWC 80000 caliber movement utilizes a modern version of the innovative Pellaton-style winding system which debuted in the original model; a sapphire crystal exhibition back allows an unobstructed view of the mechanism. A screw-down crown assures water resistance to 120 meters.
5) The Aquatimer Automatic. Based upon the original IWC dive watch from 1967, the Vintage Collection Aquatimer watch features an enlarged 44mm stainless steel case, a domed sapphire crystal, and a crocodile or rubber strap. Similar to the original model, this timepiece utilizes the characteristic internal rotating bezel, and has a sapphire exhibition back to allow a view of the IWC 80111 caliber automatic movement, with its unique Pellaton winding system.
6) The Da Vinci Automatic. This watch shares the distinctive angular shape of the original IWC Da Vinci watch of 1969. Unlike the original however, which utilized a quartz movement, this new Da Vinci tribute features the self-winding IWC 80111 caliber with the famed Pellaton winding mechanism, fully visible through the sapphire crystal back. A crocodile strap completes the watch.
Additional details and a full set of images for the IWC Vintage Watch Collection can be found at IWC's website:
https://www.iwc.com/messepopup_2008/vintage_collection/index-en.asp