First released in 1969, the IWC Da Vinci began life as an integral part of IWC’s attempt to maintain relevance in the rapidly evolving world of horology following the launch of the world’s first quartz timepiece, Seiko’s Astron model. With its integrated bracelet and thin hexagonal-shaped case, it also foreshadowed the future of luxury watchmaking whereby the AP Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, and Vacheron Constantin 222 would become intensely popular. However, the Da Vinci quickly evolved and became IWC’s medium to demonstrate their highest level of watchmaking excellence, a vehicle to showcase their innovation. As such, in 1985 IWC decided to challenge the quartz movement’s dominance and release a movement that flew in the face of what was ‘in’ and it was Kurt Klaus’ ingenious perpetual calendar movement, the IWC cal. 79261 based on the iconic Valjoux cal. 7750 chronograph movement. With that movement in hand, IWC wanted to create a special watch for their very special movement, and so they created the IWC Da Vince ref. 3755-01 that we have here. The first watch to feature a ceramic case, it is boasts a two-tone construction made of black ceramic and 18kt yellow gold, which is then contrasted again by a white dial. Featuring articulating lugs that house a black leather strap with an 18kt yellow gold buckle, the ref. 3755 is a special watch that wears unlike anything to ever emerge from the vintage quartz-dominated era that it originally resided within.

With its incredibly complex movement and space-age construction, the ceramic ref. 3755 has come to define the turning point during the quartz crisis when mechanical watches finally turned the tide and put the spotlight back on themselves. While AP makes an excellent ceramic perpetual, IWC is the only brand that can lay claim to being the first to make one.