IWC  Da Vinci  Watches

IWC Da Vinci: Watches with Exquisite Designs and Complications

IWC Schaffhausen is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturing company that has created a lot of iconic watch collections, which are highly loved by their loyal customers and connoisseurs alike. One of their collections is the IWC Da Vinci, which exudes both elegance and sophistication with their innovative designs and accompanying complications. 

One of its iconic models is the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph from the ‘80s with its round-shaped casing and additional functionality. It gained a lot of popularity for its complex design and mechanism, and this particular watch model would soon be the inspiration for the recent IWC Da Vinci collection. 

They expanded and even included a few IWC women’s watch models for a wider variety of designs. Hence, for this collection, the brand took a more serious and elegant approach to producing a reimagined Da Vinci collection, offering watches with more complicated features like the tourbillon, flyback chronographs, moon phase, and perpetual calendars. 

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular IWC Da Vinci Watches

How much does an IWC Da Vinci watch cost?

Based on the IWC watch price list, we see that a typical IWC Da Vinci watch would cost from $5,000 USD to $100,000 USD, depending on the kind of model and added complications. This IWC watch collection is definitely on the pricier side since most of their watches feature IWC’s in-house caliber movements and complications like the perpetual calendar, tourbillon, and moonphase display. 

Prices for the IWC Da Vinci Automatic and Moonphase Watches 

First in the collection are the IWC Da Vinci Automatic and Moonphase watches. This series showcases simple time- and date-only designs to grander designs involving a moonphase watch feature. If you are interested in a minimal and high quality IWC automatic watch, then you can get the IWC Da Vinci Automatic Ref. IW356601. 

This particular model has a small window date display at the 6 o’clock position. Its stainless steel casing and black alligator leather strap contrasts well with the golden Arabic numeral indexes and fouille hands. Aside from that, this watch is also the most affordable and cheapest IWC watch in the Da Vinci collection, priced at about $5,400 USD. There is also an alternative design available, which is the IWC Da Vinci Automatic Ref. IW356605. It has the same technical features, but is a bit pricier than the previous model (priced at around $6,400 USD) since both the casing and bracelet are stainless steel with silver-colored indices and hands. 

Lastly, the more elegant and expensive models in this series are part of IWC women’s watch collections. This is the Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Ref. IW459308, which has the extremely precise and aesthetic moon phase display at the 12 o’clock position. Its silver-plated dial also has that engraved center ring that adds depth to the dial’s design. This specific IWC moonphase watch model costs around $17,300 USD since it has an 18K gold casing with a bronze alligator leather strap. 

Prices for the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watches

Next in the collection is one of IWC’s most iconic models, the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, which is available in a 43mm stainless steel, platinum, or gold casing. Its general features include: a perpetual calendar displaying the date, day, month, year in four digits, a perpetual moon phase, chronograph function, flyback function, and an hour and minute counter at the 12 o’clock position. 

The prices vary depending on what type of casing you will buy. For instance, the slate-colored dial Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. IW392103 is the least expensive one in this series since it has a stainless steel casing. It costs around $29,900 USD. Meanwhile, the most expensive watch in the series is the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. IW392101, which costs around $40,200 USD. It features a beautiful 18K gold casing that blends with its silver-plated dial, and golden indices and hands. 

Prices for the IWC Da Vinci Digital Date-Month Watch

For these specific IWC watch models, the Da Vinci Digital Date-Month series is actually part of IWC’s past Da Vinci watch collections. It was released in 2011, and it featured original designs from their earlier Da Vinci models. For instance, it had that angular and tonneau-shaped casing, and combined two complications — calendar and chronograph — which was considered a phenomenal design in 1985. Its intricate dial design features two disks at the 12 and 6 o’clock position, with a large date-month display. 

The most popular watch model was the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Ref. IW376107,which had a hefty rose gold casing and a brown leather strap. It was also available in a platinum casing with a black leather strap. Both watches had all the features of a typical Digital Date-Month model, and it was an impressive IWC watch that cost around $44,300 USD. However, given its rarity, the price may be subjected to an even higher value from a reseller. 

Prices for the IWC Da Vinci Tourbillon Watch

Lastly, the most expensive watch in the collection is the Da Vinci Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Ref. IW393101, which costs about $103,000 USD. This watch model has an ‘open-heart’ flying tourbillon hacking mechanism feature at the 6 o’clock position, a chronograph function, flyback function, and a retrograde date display. 

What is interesting about this watch is the in-house caliber hacking tourbillon mechanism, which makes it possible to stop the entire gear movement of the tourbillon. It is innovative since tourbillons, in general, are complicated arrangements that are too delicate to be “hacked” or stopped abruptly. However, IWC managed to design a tourbillon movement that can help the user easily set up their watch settings by pulling on the crown. As a result, it gives a more accurate and smooth watch adjustment with the ability to stop and adjust the tourbillon anytime. 

Investing in a Vintage IWC Da Vinci Watch: Is It Worth It?

Any pre-owned or vintage IWC watches from the Da Vinci collection are particularly sought after, especially those models from their earlier Da Vinci collections from the ‘60s and ‘80s. Their original and earlier models serve as a representation of IWC’s innovativeness. For instance, the first IWC quartz watch in the Da Vinci collection was the Da Vinci Quartz Electronic Ref. IW3501, which featured  the first ever Swiss quartz movement, Beta 21. It was launched in 1969 and garnered attention from the public since it had eye-catching features. Its hexagonal tonneau-shaped design gives emphasis to its overall white, gold, or stainless steel appearance. 

During its time, this particular model was the ultimate must-have watch for enthusiasts since its overall bold design deviated from the norm. This revolutionary watch model came in three variations (white, gold or stainless steel), and each is a rarity of its own. A stainless steel model would be around $2,800 USD, while the white or yellow gold models would cost around $9,900 USD to $13,500 USD in mint condition. 

Thus, for avid vintage watch collectors, the Da Vinci Quartz Electronic Ref. IW3501 is truly a classic and luxurious watch to acquire since its revolutionary design paved the way for IWC’s future Da Vinci models. It represents their movement towards more daring and experimental designs. 

History Behind the IWC Da Vinci Collection

From the name of the collection itself, we can truly say that these luxury watches embody Da Vinci’s innovative spirit. His works were considered as ahead of their time, just like the IWC Da Vinci collection, which draws its inspiration from Da Vinci’s genius. The release of their first IWC Da Vinci quartz watch released in 1969 was only the beginning of the collection’s guaranteed success. 

IWC continued to launch brand new designs and mechanisms for the Da Vinci collection which eventually led to their next famous watch model in 1985 — the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. IW3750. This particular watch model inspired the new perpetual calendar chronograph watches in the recent collection. It has that iconic four-digit year display, which is a unique feature for this specific model. The recent collection also has the same design as their earlier models with the sub-dials positioned symmetrically in north, south, east and west of the dial. Unlike the old model, however, the recent watch models use Arabic numeral indices for a more elegant finish. 

Accompanying this particular model’s success is the  $12,700 USD IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport For Good Foundation” Ref. IW393402, which is the highlight of IWC’s annual limited special edition series. This watch model is an exclusive model for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation that advocates for socially disadvantaged individuals with difficult family circumstances, or mental or physical disabilities. Its features include a chronograph feature, flyback function, and a date display with an in-house caliber movement. 

In 2018, IWC also released another special edition series to celebrate their company’s 150th anniversary. These models were the Da Vinci Automatic Edition “150 Years”,  featuring a small seconds sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position and Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 Edition “150 Years”, which has a diamond encrusted bezel with a moon phase display at the 12 o’clock position. The brand only released a total of 250 pieces thus becoming part of IWC’s collectors’ items. From the models they produced throughout the years, it is evident that the Da Vinci collection has become a pivotal moment for IWC in developing more intricate and elegant dress watches. 

Reasons to Buy an IWC Da Vinci Watch

With IWC Schaffhausen’s reputation within the watch industry, you can expect that their high quality watches have their own distinguishing personalities. The Da Vinci Collection is one of IWC’s collections that continuously feature exquisite designs and complications that are always adored by the many.  Here are some reasons why you should buy an IWC watch from the Da Vinci collection. 

First, most of the watches in the collection have IWC’s in-house calibers, which are unique on their own. This means that they carefully curate these in-house movements to power the added complications of their watches like the perpetual calendar and tourbillon, among other things. Hence, when you buy an IWC Da Vinci watch, you are also recognizing the brand’s craftsmanship in making their own powered mechanisms. Moreover, these said functions also have the added element of great design which elevates the watch style.

On top of its function and style, it is also a great investment piece. Vintage IWC watches are highly coveted by watch connoisseurs and enthusiasts of the brand. These Da Vinci watches are considered valuable collectors’ items since it is guaranteed that the prices will increase in value overtime. 

IWC Da Vinci: Innovative Dress Watches

The IWC Da Vinci collection showcases exquisite and functional luxury dress watches for both men and women. Ever since its first quartz watch was released in the ‘60s, the IWC Da Vinci has expanded and created a wide range of innovative automatic watches with accompanying in-house caliber features like a tourbillon, chronograph, date-month display, and perpetual calendar. From its technical aspects to its overall elegant and minimal appearance, the IWC Da Vinci continues to prove their expertise in turning art into horological timepieces.