IWC

The IWC Da Vinci perpetual calendar and chronograph was launched in 1985 under the reference 3750 and is one of the most important models in the history of the brand. At the time, this introduction marked the comeback of complicated mechanical timepieces, one year before the famous Patek Philippe 3970.

The design of the 3750 is one of the masterpieces of Hanno Burtscher who worked for IWC in the 1980's and 1990's.

At the time, the design department was only composed of him due to the difficult times of the quartz crisis. Mr. Burtscher took different sources of inspiration to design the Da Vinci, most notably the fortifications in the Port of Piombino sketched by Leonardo Da Vinci, hence the name of the model, as well as a vintage IWC watch with articulated lugs that came for service of that time.

Burtscher's painting of the watch from 1984 reveal all the distinctive details of the pieces: stepped bezel, articulated lugs, pushers with rounds head as well as its dial with the full years indication.

Amongst Hanno Burtscher's other creations, the "Giant Portofino" reference 5251 and the Portuguese models played a key role in the re-birth of the IWC brand.

This lot is a rare opportunity to acquire an example of the most famous IWC, a grande complication timepiece and an icon that marked the renaissance of the mechanical watch industry.