139
IWC
Ref. 3770-25
Grande Complication
A fine and very rare limited edition oversized pink gold automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, numbered 49 out of a limited edition of 50 pieces
Estimate
CHF30,000–60,000
€32,900–65,800
$37,800–75,600
Live 10 May, 2 PM Switzerland Time
Manufacturer
IWC
Year
2008
Reference No
3770-25
Case No
49/50 and 3'414'724
Model Name
Grande Complication
Material
18k pink gold
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 79091, 71 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Leather
Clasp/Buckle
18k pink gold IWC pin buckle
Dimensions
42.5mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by IWC blank guarantee.
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
- Automatic, minute repeater, chronograph, perpetual calendar set via the crown, moonphases
- This model is IWC's first Grande Complication wristwatch, and one of the very first Grande Complication wristwatches made in series from any brand
- Offered in excellent condition
In 1985, during the midst of the quartz crisis, IWC set out to create what would be its first grande complication wristwatch: a timepiece featuring a perpetual calendar, a chronograph, and the king of complications, a minute repeater. A team of watchmakers and engineers was commissioned, and along with two young wunderkinds of complicated horology, Dominic Renaud and Giulio Papi (today behind some of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille’s most intricate movements), were tasked with creating IWC’s grande complication. After five years of painstaking development and 12 patents, this horological masterpiece was officially presented at the Basel fair in 1990.
The project was documented in the book The Grande Complication from IWC by Manfred Fritz, published in 1991. The 42.5 mm case of the present lot houses an automatic calibre with no less than 568 components, bringing to life 18 functions: hour, minute, and seconds displays; moon phase; month, day, and date displays; perpetual calendar; indication of year, decade, century, and millennium; chronograph seconds, minutes, and hours counters; and minute, quarter, and hour repeaters.
Released in several different case materials and dial iterations over the following two decades, with limited examples produced each year. This pristine example from 2008.
- Automatic, minute repeater, chronograph, perpetual calendar set via the crown, moonphases
- This model is IWC's first Grande Complication wristwatch, and one of the very first Grande Complication wristwatches made in series from any brand
- Offered in excellent condition
In 1985, during the midst of the quartz crisis, IWC set out to create what would be its first grande complication wristwatch: a timepiece featuring a perpetual calendar, a chronograph, and the king of complications, a minute repeater. A team of watchmakers and engineers was commissioned, and along with two young wunderkinds of complicated horology, Dominic Renaud and Giulio Papi (today behind some of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille’s most intricate movements), were tasked with creating IWC’s grande complication. After five years of painstaking development and 12 patents, this horological masterpiece was officially presented at the Basel fair in 1990.
The project was documented in the book The Grande Complication from IWC by Manfred Fritz, published in 1991. The 42.5 mm case of the present lot houses an automatic calibre with no less than 568 components, bringing to life 18 functions: hour, minute, and seconds displays; moon phase; month, day, and date displays; perpetual calendar; indication of year, decade, century, and millennium; chronograph seconds, minutes, and hours counters; and minute, quarter, and hour repeaters.
Released in several different case materials and dial iterations over the following two decades, with limited examples produced each year. This pristine example from 2008.
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.