Collection
Cazalea's retrospective on a decade with his IWC GST Titanium Perpetual Calendar Chronograph offers a unique long-term ownership perspective. His detailed account, complete with a photo archive, provides invaluable insights into the durability, serviceability, and enduring appeal of a specific timepiece. This post is a testament to the deep personal connection collectors can form with their watches over many years.
In 1985, the Da Vinci from IWC is the first chronograph to feature a perpetual calendar that is mechanically programmed for the next 500 years and can be set using only the crown. Another exclusive feature is the four-digit year display.
In the Fall of 1997, IWC introduced a new model line, called “GST”, which was an acronym for “gold, steel and titanium”. These models were shown at the Basel Fair in March 1998, and first in the 1998-9 catalog... One magazine, WatchTime, reports that IWC’s changes to the base movement were such that “you could almost describe it as a total revision….Nearly all critical components along the path from the escapement to the mainspring are removed from the movement and replaced with corresponding components from IWC’s own manufacture.”
How many of us can make such a post, in an era where we " eat " watches? Very interesting thoughts, my friend. I laughted a lot when I read your comments on the issue of your Watch, and the simple solution which was found by the man of the mountains. I hope you will have many other years with it! All the best, Nicolas
Cazalea, Thank you for sharing the saga of your wonderful IWC. After those 10 years, it's a beauty and a mechanical wonder. I have A LOT of respect for IWC watches and, in fact, I just added another to my meager set of watches. Another point that you made on your history was "He stared at the watch for about 8 hours pondering, then said "Someone put the hour hand 180 degrees off from where they should have!" He unscrewed the front crystal/bezel, swapped the hand around, and it's been running cor
Will it damage the watch to try to advance the century indicator to 22? Won't you need to get the watch serviced and upgraded before then? Should you order the replacement century now just to have it on hand? :-) Great watch and great post. Regards, Jon
Hi Cazalea, I enjoyed reading your post. It's a IWC time stamp on many occasion of your last decade. Your story about the inverted hour hand speaks of bloopers that can occur during the assembling of a watch. How it went undetected. That prompts me that the things that we may be alerted to as we stare closely at our watch while admiring them, especially at the turn of the day, month or year or lunar phase. I am a fan of the moon phase complication. That shot of the golden moon is impeccable. In
In response to your question, there is no leap year indicator (I think) as they felt showing the entire year was enough. It is very rare, if not unique, to show all four digits of the year in a perpetual. Cazalea
Here\'s the spare part already in the box, hermetically sealed ... Along with 3 books, warranty card, polishing cloth, spare links and so on. Cazalea
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