Haute Complication: IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph

A stroke of genius: sometimes there is not a better way to describe a certain creation, and one of the best examples of this in the world of watches is the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. It is the brainchild of watchmaking legend Kurt Klaus, who designed a very innovative perpetual calendar module to fit on top of the ETA/Valjoux caliber 7750 automatic chronograph. His design gave new meaning to the term ingenuity as his perpetual calendar not only included the year in full as well as a moon phase that only needed to be adjusted one day every 122 years, but it can also be set just by using the crown.

With the current version of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph IWC recognizes not only the heritage of the watch but also further refined its proposition. While now fitted with a different type of lug, they are still a hat tip to the original hooded lugs. Also, the complications of the watch remain the same, yet appear in a refined format.  The moon phase has become more precise, now only off by just one day every 577.5 years, and the chronograph now also features a flyback function, and its hour and minute counters are now integrated into a single subdial.

The Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is also no longer powered by an ETA/Valjoux 7750-based movement but features manufacture caliber 89630.  As is the case with all IWC Manufacture movements is it a thing of beauty. A large rotor powers the watch, with its mainspring able to store up to 68 hours of power reserve. The movement itself has a traditional finish with a technical edge, which is highly suitable for the type of watch that the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is.

With a diameter of 43 millimeters is it a watch that commands quite the wrist presence, while its movable lugs ensure that it fits nearly any wrist with great comfort. IWC offers the Da Vinci in 18k gold, as shown here, but also in stainless steel. Priced at $29.900,- it offers an incredible bang for its buck, as you not only get a perpetual calendar with a flyback chronograph but also one powered by a manufacture movement from a very esteemed brand. No wonder that the legend lives on and shines brightly!