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“Shark fin” lugs
The IWC ref. 521 has a case design which I find wonderful.
Its main feature is, of course, the lugs, which have been called “shark fin” lugs or sometimes “ribbon” lugs.
The characteristics of these shark fin-shaped lugs have been visually summarized excellently by Goldammer (from which the two images below are borrowed).
The example shown on the first image and below belongs to the “Classic Shark” category.
Its black gilt dial features a very nice signature.
The case profile is beautiful too.
The watch is powered by hand-wound caliber 89.
credit: Benjamin Marcello
And here's a different example with lugs which belong to the “Shark II” category (slightly longer) and with an opaline dial featuring four cardinal Arabic numbers.
credit: Goldammer
How do you like these lugs and these two examples?
The characteristics of these shark fin-shaped lugs have been visually summarized excellently by Goldammer (from which the two images below are borrowed).
They belong to the Angular + Expanding type and clearly differ from the “Teardrop”, “Triangle” and “Spider” lugs.
Furthermore, there are three slightly different variants.
Furthermore, there are three slightly different variants.
The example shown on the first image and below belongs to the “Classic Shark” category.
Its black gilt dial features a very nice signature.
The case profile is beautiful too.
The watch is powered by hand-wound caliber 89.
credit: Benjamin Marcello
And here's a different example with lugs which belong to the “Shark II” category (slightly longer) and with an opaline dial featuring four cardinal Arabic numbers.
credit: Goldammer
How do you like these lugs and these two examples?
Do you have a favorite?
Thanks for looking.
Best, Emmanuel
“Shark fin” lugs
The IWC ref. 521 has a case design which I find wonderful . Its main feature is, of course, the lugs , which have been called “ shark fin ” lugs or sometimes “ ribbon ” lugs. The characteristics of these shark fin-shaped lugs have been visually summarized...
Wonderful as usual
However as someone who has done a bit of diving I don't recognize the shape as anything on a shark...
To be honest, I also wonder why these lugs were called “shark fin”.
I've dived only very rarely and superficially, but I struggle to see the resemblance! ;-) Best, Emmanuel
Wow!
A prejudice I have is embossed as opposed to applied indices. Somehow I feel embossed is a less refined version. The black dial shark fin represents the best of vintage time only IWCs imo. Emmanuel, don't remember if you had a post on shaped IWCs, but wou...
I've done only two posts dedicated to a shaped watch from IWC:
Novecento PC: www.watchprosite.com Ref. 1536: www.watchprosite.com And I agree that embossed is less refined than applied. Best, Emmanuel
What a classy watch. It reminds me why IWC was the first brand I first fell in love with when I started collecting.
Once I purchased the 5251 and the set of Jubilee Portuguese’s in 3 metals, I fulfilled my holy grail list for the brand. But this black dial Cal. 89 is admittedly tempting! ...
Wow! Wonderful IWC quartet here!
The watches they made back then were really wonderful. Cheers, Emmanuel