002 IWC 18ct White Gold DaVinci Beta 21 with archive report and service documentation

Launched in 1970, the DaVinci was made in an edition of only 600 pieces in 18k gold, the majority of them yellow gold; neither I nor the IWC archives know the breakdown, but it seems that there are three or four yellow ones for every white one.

IWC, really threw their weight behind the Beta 21, perhaps only Omega were more committed; for example IWC made three different styles of watch using the movement, the DaVinci, the rectangular International and bizarre “Disco Volante”, they also even made a pocket watch using the movement. But the DaVinci was definitely the flagship, it had an unusual hexagonal case, in a horizontal – TV screen – shaped case with an integrated bracelet. The bracelet was stunning, looking like a flattened Rolex President, it is incredibly flexible, has an almost sensual feel to it; and, like the rest of the watch it has a matt brushed finish with no visible polished surfaces.

The watch weighs a not insubstantial 200g (or about a quarter pound) and has two excellent attributes, a security lock – it can only be opened by lifting the raised IWC on its surface and it is easily adjustable for length by moving the end link bar to any of the seven holes in the buckle.

I believe this to be IWC’s first gent’s watch with a sapphire glass and it might have been their first with an integrated bracelet; but notice the outline of a fish on the crown, which was IWC’s indication that the watch was waterproof. So, we have a styled case with an integrated bracelet, sapphire glass waterproof watch – so, was this the first luxury sports watch – 4 years before the Royal Oak?

It was delivered in 1971 to IWC’s Danish distributor, it was serviced by IWC in Schaffhausen a few years ago and the watch has the correspondence and paperwork for this work and an excerpt from the archives.