Property of an Eclectic Asian Collector
3
IWC
Ref. 3523
Porsche Design Ocean 500
A titanium diver’s wristwatch with centre seconds, date and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$20,000 - 40,000•€2,200 - 4,400$2,600 - 5,100
HK$22,860
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- IWC
- Year
- 1987, Switzerland
- Reference No
- 3523
- Movement No
- 2’456’861
- Case No
- 2’379’033, inside caseback stamps “3502” and “3503”
- Model Name
- Porsche Design Ocean 500
- Material
- Titanium
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 37522, 21 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Titanium IWC bracelet, max length 180mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Titanium IWC deployant clasp, signed Porsche Design
- Dimensions
- 34mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed; dial and clasp further signed Porsche Design
- Accessories
- Delivered with IWC certificate of authenticity confirming production of the present timepiece on 25 June 1987.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
• The IWC Ocean 500, designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and launched in 1983, is a highly collectible diver’s watch known for its pioneering use of full titanium construction. A smaller sibling to the Ocean 2000, it offers water resistance up to 500 meters.
• The Ocean 500 was originally marketed as a ladies’ watch, as indicated by its relatively compact 34mm case diameter. The present 1987 example is fitted with an earlier dial, which bears "IWC International Watches Co. Schaffhausen" full signature on three lines in script at 12 o’clock and "PORSCHE DESIGN" writing at 6 o’clock, and is paired with a second-generation bracelet.
• The partnership between IWC and Porsche Design, which began in 1978, is regarded as one of the most iconic collaborations in watchmaking history. The Ocean 500 exemplifies this legacy, combining IWC’s technical expertise with Porsche’s design innovation. Its robust titanium case, integrated bracelet, and heavily lumed black dial reflect a perfect blend of form and function. The watch not only pushed the boundaries of material use in the 1980s but also introduced a new design language that remains influential. Today, the Ocean 500 is celebrated for its historical significance, enduring aesthetics, and its role in shaping the future of collaborative watch design.
• The Ocean 500 was originally marketed as a ladies’ watch, as indicated by its relatively compact 34mm case diameter. The present 1987 example is fitted with an earlier dial, which bears "IWC International Watches Co. Schaffhausen" full signature on three lines in script at 12 o’clock and "PORSCHE DESIGN" writing at 6 o’clock, and is paired with a second-generation bracelet.
• The partnership between IWC and Porsche Design, which began in 1978, is regarded as one of the most iconic collaborations in watchmaking history. The Ocean 500 exemplifies this legacy, combining IWC’s technical expertise with Porsche’s design innovation. Its robust titanium case, integrated bracelet, and heavily lumed black dial reflect a perfect blend of form and function. The watch not only pushed the boundaries of material use in the 1980s but also introduced a new design language that remains influential. Today, the Ocean 500 is celebrated for its historical significance, enduring aesthetics, and its role in shaping the future of collaborative watch design.
IWC
Swiss | 1868With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world's leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining high precision with masculine design. Vintage wristwatches such as the oversized Portugieser, Aquatimer, Ingenieur and the B-UHR pilots watch are especially desirable for collectors.
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