Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 01, 2004

LOT 310

International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, "Il Destriero Scafusia", No. 67/125. Produced in a limited edition of 125 examples in 1993. Extremely fine and rare, oversized, astronomic, minute-repeating, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with square button split-seconds chronograph, registers, secular perpetual calendar and moon phases, flying one-minute tourbillon regulator and an 18K pink gold International Watch Co. buckle. Accompanied by an original fitted box and certificate.

USD 160,000 - 220,000

EUR 120,000 - 170,000

Sold: USD 171,250

C. Three-body, solid, polished, transparent case back with six screws and peripheral engraving, curved lugs, onyx-set winding crown, sapphire crystals. D. Satiné silver with painted radial Roman numerals, sunk guilloché subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, the date, days of the week, the months, apertures for the moon phases and the four-digit year. Blued steel "feuille" hands. M. Cal. 1868, hand-engraved, gilt brass, 76 jewels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute flying tourbillon regulator with titanium cage and three equidistant arms, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, and six positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, repeating on gongs through activating slide on the band.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 42 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

A true work of art, the "Destriero" was especially developed to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the International Watch Co. in Schaffhausen in 1993. Produced in a limited edition of 125 examples only in yellow gold, rose gold and platinum, roughly 107 pieces of this edition had been finished by mid-2000, with the remaining to be produced at a maximum rate of 6 each year until 2004. The Cal. 1868 contains no fewer than 750 parts, individually manufactured, hand finished and adjusted in order to ensure minimal friction and the harmonious interaction of its 22 complex functions and displays. Like the "Da Vinci", it is a perpetual calendar watch with a four-digit display for the year, an IWC exclusive. IWC also holds a patent on the minute-repeater slide mechanism, built to protect the movement from moisture and dust, a problem sometimes associated with less sophisticated slides. For the tourbillon mechanism alone, almost 100 tiny parts had to be made, of a total weight of merely 0.296 rams. The innovative use of non-magnetic and lightweight titanium for the cage ensures an unrivaled standard of accuracy. A true masterpiece, the "Destriero" is assembled and regulated with utmost care, as one would expect from this reputable maker.