Important Limited Edition & Modern Co...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Sep 25, 2002

LOT 96

International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, Da Vinci Tourbillon", Ref. 3752. Produced in a limited edition of 200 examples in 18K yel-low gold. Production of this reference started in 2000. Very fine and rare, astronomic, water-resistant to 30 meters, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, flying one minute tourbillon regulator and an 18K yellow gold IWC buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box.

USD 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: USD 25,300

C. two-body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, hooded mobile lugs, transparent caseback with sapphire crystal. D. champagne with applied yellow gold bâton indexes, auxiliary "guilloché" dials for the seconds, the 12 hours register, the days of the month, of the week, the months, apertures for the moon phases and for the year display with four digits until 2499. "Bâton" tritium-coated yellow gold hands. M. Cal. 76061, gilt brass, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 35 jewels, late-ral lever escapement, flying one minute tourbillon regulator with 3 equidistant arms, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensa- ting Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 39 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

What is a Tourbillon? A Tourbillon is a regulating mechanism in which the esca-pement of a movement is housed within a revolving carriage. It was developed in an effort to obtain better precision. When a watch is in a vertical position, the force of gravity will speed up the balance wheel as it moves in its downward (arc) direction and slow down as it moves upward, creating deviational errors in the timekeeping. By placing the balance and escapement in a carriage that revolves 360 degrees per minute, these errors become averaged and the timekeeping becomes constant and consequently adjustable. Crea-ted by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795, the tourbillon is considered a difficult and complex achievement by any watch manufacture. For more information about the IWC Tourbillon, see lot 421