Buying Guide to New and Used IWC Da Vinci Watches
Since its debut in 1969, the IWC Da Vinci watch has gone through many evolutions in design, case shape, materials, calibers and more. But it remains a beloved collection for IWC Schaffhausen thanks to its elegant appeal and added complications.
IWC Da Vinci History and Significance
It is difficult to imagine that today’s IWC Da Vinci watches evolved from the first one unveiled in 1969. That first Da Vinci had a revolutionary hexagonal case with a square dial and was powered by the first Swiss-made quartz electronic movement, the Beta 21. Multiple Swiss brands, including IWC, developed and funded this movement.
Because the movement was so expensive, IWC created the first watches that rolled out in 1970 in 18-karat yellow gold or platinum and renamed the movement as Caliber 2001 by IWC. Those watches featured long black stick markers against a gold dial and had a gold bracelet. The brand was called Da Vinci because, like the famed painter, sculptor and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci, it was ahead of its time.
In the early 1970s, the Da Vinci became larger in size — indicative of that period — and bolder. The angles became softer, and the case became more rectangular than hexagonal. The brand also improved the integrated bracelet. These versions came to be called the IWC Da Vinci SL iterations. It is unclear exactly when or if IWC stopped making the Da Vinci hexagonal versions. Spotting a late 1970s or early 1980s version is difficult.
IWC Da Vinci Reboot 1985
The first real evolution of the Da Vinci came in 1985 when the brand unveiled the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar (Reference 3750). The watch’s movement, created by long-time IWC watchmaker Kurt Klaus, was a mechanical caliber with advanced features and functions. No longer hexagonal, the round watch featured articulated lugs designed by Hanno Burtshcer, and the complete package — from inside out — signaled a return to complicated mechanical movements.
The module developed by Klaus enabled all the settings for the calendar to be operated via the crown. It was attached to the workhorse movement Valjoux 7750, becoming the IWC Caliber 79261. The watch was an immediate success and had collectors clamoring. Even today, this watch remains one of the most-searched-for IWC Da Vinci watches on vintage watch sites. From there, the watch continued to evolve and has been a staple collection for the brand. In 1986, a ceramic-cased Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar made its debut in black and later in white.
IWC Da Vinci Variations
Following the reintroduction of the Da Vinci watch in 1985, many iterations were created. The first important one — the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Rattrapante — came 10 years after the launch of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar. The automatic Reference 3751 watch was a split-seconds chronograph with 10 hands on the dial that track everything from leap years to day of week, date, month and more.
In 2009, the brand released a vintage-inspired tribute watch that was hexagonally shaped to honor the first piece. Subsequent hexagonal Da Vinci watches were introduced in the 2010s, but watch collectors haven’t embraced them.
In 2017, IWC Schaffhausen revamped the Da Vinci yet again. It launched a 40mm classical watch, a chronograph and a tourbillon chronograph. Those were followed by women’s versions and larger- and smaller-sized Da Vinci watches. Today, the IWC Da Vinci comes in nearly 20 different versions that include women’s pieces, simple three-hand and date automatics, moon phases and chronographs, as well as those coveted complications of the perpetual calendar and the tourbillon.
IWC Da Vinci Price, Value and Collectibility
Prices for new Da Vinci watches range depending on the style. In February 2021, the prices were $5,400 for a stainless steel three-hand with date, $29,900 to $103,000 for steel and gold complications, $10,800 for a steel diamond-set version and $37,900 for a diamond-set gold version.
IWC Da Vinci watches tend to lose a little value on the secondhand and certified pre-owned markets, depending on the model. The simple steel watches of the 1990s can be found for less than $5,000 if you want that small, simple look. In February 2021 a steel hexagonal Da Vinci was going for $3,399 on eBay and a platinum one for $15,000. There is some supply of Da Vinci perpetual calendars, but the complicated watches naturally cost more. Still, buying used may be a better bet for the collector with a thin wallet. A stainless steel Da Vinci perpetual calendar watch was selling for $10,422 on eBay in February 2021.
IWC’s siblings — the Pilot, Portugieser and even the Aquatimer — may be more collectible than the Da Vinci, but this classic is still an excellent investment. It’s all about personal preferences.