IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750: A 40-Year Legacy
The IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750 from 1985 stands as a pivotal timepiece in both IWC's history and the broader world of Haute Horlogerie after the Quartz Crisis. Created by master watchmaker Kurt Klaus, it combined a perpetual calendar mechanism with an automatic chronograph, which not only reignited interest in complicated horology but also helped elevate IWC’s reputation. The IW3750 demonstrated the brand’s ability to blend technical sophistication with its traditionally utilitarian designs, opening new doors for the brand. Today, the IWC lineup features several perpetual calendars, but the Da Vinci reference has been entirely absent from the collection—something that is long overdue for a revival.
While I wouldn't say IWC has ignored the Da Vinci collection, it’s curious to see that the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar IW3750, an iconic model, is no longer present in the current catalog. With IWC still focusing on its Ingenieur models, now might be the ideal moment to bring the Da Vinci back. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the IW3750, making it the perfect time for a re-release. IWC wouldn’t need to reinvent the wheel here—other brands have successfully revived classic models, such as Vacheron Constantin with its 222 in 2022 and the Piaget Polo 79 in 2023. This "recipe" of revisiting heritage models with subtle updates could certainly work for IWC as well.
The Case for a Revival of the IW3750
The resurgence of heritage pieces in recent years has got me thinking about which watches might be next in line for a revival. The Rolex Oysterquartz and IWC IW3750 immediately come to mind. While the Oysterquartz, introduced in 1977, likely won’t see a re-release (especially with Rolex’s strong focus on mechanical watches), the idea of a new Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar feels much more plausible. A refreshed IW3750 could easily make its way back into the modern world of watchmaking.
What Set the Da Vinci IW3750 Apart
There were two main factors that set the IW3750 apart from other watches of the era: the technical complexity of the movement and its unconventional design. While many Swiss manufacturers were reeling from the rise of inexpensive quartz movements in the late 1970s, Kurt Klaus was working on a groundbreaking complication that would combine a triple calendar and moonphase module—a first for IWC. His work ran counter to the industry’s pessimistic outlook, but he pressed on, achieving success with a limited run of the ref. 5500 pocket watch.
Eventually, Klaus’s ambitions shifted toward wristwatches, where he set his sights on creating the perpetual calendarcomplication. While Patek Philippe had already introduced the world’s first wristwatch with a perpetual calendar in 1925, wrist-worn perpetual calendars were still relatively rare at the time.
The Da Vinci's Ingenious Design
What made Klaus's Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar so remarkable was its user-friendly nature. Klaus designed the movement atop the robust Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph, which itself was revolutionary for its simplicity. The perpetual calendar module consisted of just 81 components, yet it displayed a four-digit year (accurate until 2499) and a moonphase indicator that remained precise for the next 122 years.
The Da Vinci’s case design was equally unique. Created by Hanno Burtscher, it featured a 39mm case with bold, swiveling lugs that drew inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus—a collection of Da Vinci’s sketches and writings. The rounded harbor fortifications illustrated in the Codex were translated into the case’s distinctive form, adding a layer of artistic significance. When IWC unveiled the Da Vinci at the 1985 Basel Watch Fair, the brand sold 100 pieces immediately, proving the market’s interest in sophisticated, complicated watches.
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