97 IWC A limited edition to 50 Pieces and highly sophisticated, Grande Complication, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, chronograph automatic wristwatch in platinum, platinum bracelet, with box and papers, reference 3770.
Estimate: CHF 80,000 – 160,000
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| Model | Grande Complication |
|---|---|
| Reference | 3770 |
| Case Material | Platinum |
| Bracelet Material | Platinum IWC bracelet, approximate length 200mm |
| Year | 2004 |
| Movement | Automatic, cal. 79091, 75 jewels |
| Case N° | N°03/50, 3'055'871 |
| Movement N° | 2'893'970 |
| Dimensions | 42.5mm Diameter |
| Signed | Case, dial and movement |
| Accessories | Accompanied by IWC guarantee stamped Morays Jewelers, service, instruction manual, litterature, cloth, additional link, fitted presentation box and outer packaging |
The story behind the IWC “Grande Complication” begins in 1985, with the ambition to create the brand’s first grande complication wristwatch —and one of the world’s most complicated timepieces at the time. This watch, truly a horological tour de force, was designed to stand as a testament to IWC’s mastery in fine watchmaking, with production limited to just 50 pieces, making it an incredibly exclusive timepiece. Boasting 659 mechanical parts, the Grande Complication displays a perpetual calendar for the next 500 years and a moon phase complication. The minute repeater chime is exceptional, achieved by suspending the sapphire crystal on a platinum membrane, amplifying the sound of the gongs through a transmission pin. The development of this colossal project (considering its considerable size, of course) was entrusted to a team of highly skilled watchmakers and engineers, including two young talents who would later become iconic names in horology: Dominique Renaud and Giulio Papi. It took five years of intense development and 12 patents to bring this extraordinary timepiece to life, which was eventually unveiled at the Basel Fair in 1990. What we are offering today is a proud example of the reference 3770, numbered 3 in this limited edition of just 50 pieces. Housed in a 42.5mm platinum case, this timepiece incorporates an automatic movement with no fewer than 21 distinct functions. These include the moon phase, day, date, and month displays, as well as the year, decade, century, and millennium. It also features a chronograph, minute repeater, quarter repeater, hour repeater. Of particular note is the solid platinum bracelet that accompanies this watch —an exceedingly rare feature, as most of these pieces are typically found with a leather strap. In many ways, the IWC Grande Complication stands as a symbol of resilience against the flood of quartz watches that dominated the market during its time, sparking renewed interest in the fine mechanical movements that had once defined the world of watchmaking. This exceptional example is offered with its original box, warranty, and papers —an opportunity for the true connoisseur to acquire a remarkable piece of horological history.
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GENEVAEternity Gallery, Place de Longemalle 19
9 – 10 May, from 10 AM to 7 PM
LUGANO
Villa Principe Leopoldo
3 June – from 2 PM to 8 PM
4 June – from 10 AM to 8 PM