“Work on this collection started about eight years ago,” IWC Creative Director Christian Knoop tells me. - There were many options, including the idea of a purely men's collection. When we decided that we would make women's Da Vinci, we clearly understood one thing: this collection was cult in the 1980s and we need to transfer it to the 2010s, to make it modern. The decision to make the collection for women personally seems to me very correct. The medium-sized Portofino and small Pilot's Watches (36mm) sell well.”
We stand on the hotel's rooftop veranda and look out over Florence from above. The theme of "da Vinci" dictated the choice of the location for the first private show of the collection, which the general public will see only in January during the days of SIHH-2017 (Geneva Salon of Fine Watchmaking).
© IWC press service
The launch of Da Vinci for IWC is quite exciting, as the previous update to the 2007 tonneau-shaped collection had little success. The previous generation of the collection inherited the shape of the case from the first Da Vinci quartz watches, introduced in 1969. It was decided to enclose the new generation in much more universal round cases (they met over the years of the collection's existence and earlier), but the form is not the only and not the main historical connection.
Firstly, IWC decided to take women's watches seriously, presenting them in almost equal numbers with men's. And then the brand began to remember its achievements in the field of female models.
© IWC press service
The history of women's Da Vinci began in the late 1970s, and the first watches addressed to the fair sex appeared at IWC even earlier. In the 1920s, the manufactory actively created pendant watches, and then women's models accounted for a quarter of production, and by the 1970s, already a third of all watches produced. Among them were quite classic models (the same miniature watches from the mid-1970s very clearly explain what Victoire de Castellane meant when she created Dior HorlogerieLa D de Dior and saying that they are "inspired by the 1970s"), and crazy jewelry experiments. They also remembered that among Da Vinci watches there were historically many complex models, the most famous is Kurt Klaus's 1985 perpetual calendar (by the way, it was sold at a very attractive price - about $ 50 thousand in modern money).
Watches from the IWC Museum Collection © IWC Press Office
The new Da Vinci is an attempt to create a watch, if not for every taste, then for every wallet: there are both entry level models and haute horlogerie works (among the latter - a men's perpetual calendar with a chronograph, homage to the same watch of 1985, and an interesting tourbillon with retrograde date). There are no such complex watches in the women's part - they decided to limit themselves to five models with an automatic movement and three with an indication of the lunar phases. Although Da Vinci women are positioned as watches for mature ladies than clients of another IWC line - Portofino - the designers decided to "spoil" a little fashion: in friendly Santonihave developed new strap colors specifically for the collection. You can buy several at once and wear it according to your mood (however, Da Vinci does not have an instant strap change yet - you will have to visit the nearest retailer or get a watch instrument).
Watches from the IWC Museum Collection © IWC Press Office
IWC 's fascination with women's watches does not mean a sharp decrease in size, cases are still quite large - 36-37 mm, such that an automatic movement can be installed. The case back of all ladies' models is decorated with Da Vinci's Flower of Life engraving.
Two more models in 40 mm cases - three-hand arms with automatic mechanisms - have no gender. Their IWC defines as "unisex watch."
Prices for new models range from 5,900 to 120 thousand Swiss francs (per tourbillon). Interestingly, all these watches will appear in selected boutiques around the world during SIHH-2017. At least, this is what Georges Kern, who has been promoted to the head of the entire watch division at Richemont during the Florentine presentation as CEO of IWC and now promoted to the head of the entire watch division at Richemont, promised so, and you can trust him.>
