Da Vinci
IWC Da Vinci: The Complete Collector's Encyclopedia
The IWC Da Vinci is the intellectual's IWC, the collection that houses Kurt Klaus's legendary perpetual calendar, the complication that single-handedly saved IWC during the Quartz Crisis and redefined what a perpetual calendar could be. In 1985, Klaus designed an 81-part perpetual calendar module that could display day, date, month, four-digit year, and moon phase: all adjustable from the crown alone, programmable until 2499. It was the last IWC movement designed entirely by hand with pencil and slide rule, and it changed the brand's trajectory forever. The Da Vinci has since become IWC's laboratory for complications: perpetual calendars, chronographs, split-seconds, tourbillons. If you want the deepest horological content IWC offers, the Da Vinci is where you'll find it. Ultimate Diamond has carried Da Vinci complications since the original Ref. 3750, these aren't fashion watches, they're instruments of time.
Last updated: 2026-04-02
Specifications
History
The Da Vinci name first appeared in IWC's catalog in 1969, initially as a simple quartz-powered calendar watch: ironic, given that the collection would later become the vehicle for IWC's greatest mechanical triumph. The real Da Vinci story begins in 1985, when master watchmaker Kurt Klaus unveiled the perpetual calendar chronograph Ref. IW3750 at BaselWorld. Klaus had designed a perpetual calendar module of just 81 parts that sat atop a modified Valjoux 7750 chronograph base (Cal. 79060). Every indication: day, date, month, four-digit year, and moon phase accurate to one day in 577.5 years: could be adjusted through the crown alone. The module was programmed to account for leap years until 2499, requiring correction only at centurial years not divisible by 400 (2100, 2200, 2300). It received over 100 orders at BaselWorld. It saved IWC. It changed the perception of what a perpetual calendar could be: not an aristocratic complication for the few, but a practical tool for the thinking collector.
Iconic References
Buying Guide
- • Collectors who want a perpetual calendar from a top-tier manufacture at an accessible price
- • Horological enthusiasts who value mechanical ingenuity over brand hype
- • Intellectuals, academics, and professionals who appreciate the 'thinking person's' watch
- • Buyers seeking a complication that will hold value better than a time-only piece
- • Anyone who wants to own a piece of watchmaking history, the Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar module
Pricing & Market Data
Retail MSRP
Pre-Owned Market
Market Trajectory
Da Vinci perpetual calendars are in a long-term appreciation trend, driven by the growing recognition of Kurt Klaus's contribution to watchmaking and the absurd value proposition of a perpetual calendar chronograph under $20,000. The 40th anniversary of the IW3750 in 2025 is a potential catalyst for a significant price jump on original references.
Investment Grade
A-tier for vintage Ref. 3750 and 3755 (historic significance, finite supply, appreciation trend). B-tier for current IW392103 (excellent value perpetual calendar). C-tier for Da Vinci Automatic (time-only, standard depreciation).
Best Value Pick
The original Ref. IW3750 in steel at $7,000-$10,000 is the single best value in perpetual calendar watchmaking. Kurt Klaus's 81-part module, accurate until 2499, with a moon phase precise to one day in 577.5 years, for the price of a mid-range Rolex. There is nothing else like this in the market.
Comparisons
Cultural Significance
Kurt Klaus (master watchmaker)
Ref. IW3750 and all subsequent perpetual calendars
Kurt Klaus is to IWC what Gerald Genta is to Audemars Piguet, the genius who saved the brand. Klaus joined IWC in 1957 and spent decades perfecting complications. His 81-part perpetual calendar module, designed entirely by hand with pencil and slide rule, was the last major watch mechanism created without computer assistance. He retired in 1999 but his module remains in production.
Collector's Lore
Kurt Klaus designed the 81-part perpetual calendar module entirely by hand: using pencil, slide rule, and paper. No computers. No CAD. It was the last major watch mechanism at IWC created this way. He finished the design in his spare time over several years, presenting it to management as a fait accompli.
The moon phase in the Da Vinci perpetual calendar deviates by one day in 577.5 years. Standard moon phases deviate by one day in 2.5 years. Klaus's accuracy is 231 times better than the industry standard.
When the Ref. 3750 debuted at BaselWorld in 1985, it received over 100 orders on the spot, an exceptional reception that convinced IWC management to bet on mechanical complications instead of surrendering to quartz. Without this moment, IWC as we know it might not exist.
The Ref. 3755 ceramic case was a decade ahead of its time. Ceramic wouldn't become mainstream in watchmaking until the 2000s. IWC used zirconium oxide ceramic in 1986: the same material Rolex would adopt for its Cerachrom bezels 20 years later.
The 'Kurt Klaus' edition of 2007 features his actual signature on the dial, one of the few times a living watchmaker's signature appears on a production watch dial. Only 3,000 steel units were made.
Frequently Asked Questions
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