Ah yes that was an unfair omission

Aug 14, 2009,04:58 AM
 

which completely slipped my mind. Richard indeed needs mention, especially for his work on the tourbillon. Though he has done much else, I always associate him with that.

- SJX

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Remembering the Il Destriero Scafusia from IWC

 
 By: SJX : August 14th, 2009-03:17
At the time of its launch the IWC Il Destriero Scafusia was touted as the most complicated wristwatch in the world. It was one of several remarkable grand complication watches that emerged at the end of the eighties and early nineties, as the Swiss watch ...  

Il Destriero Scafusia photo essay (lots of images)

 
 By: SJX : August 14th, 2009-03:33
This message has been edited by SJX on 2009-08-14 03:45:30...  

WOW again! Its a pity

 
 By: ArthurSG : August 14th, 2009-21:11
they don't extend this level of craftmanship to more of their collection.

So all IWC had to do was squeeze a minute repeater, and a perpetual

 
 By: cazalea : August 20th, 2009-10:37
calendar chronograph watch into a nice gold or platinum case. And they call it a Grand Complication? Of course then cram in a rattrapante. Spin in a tourbillon. Whirr. Ding DaDing. Give it a sapphire window and carve a few hundred designs in. And actually...  

A melancholic tone SJX - you seem to feel as if the Swiss watch

 
 By: 219 : August 14th, 2009-04:13
industry, breathing again with new life, new Grande Complications which were honest, while 'Grande' were nonetheless solving the problems in the most straightforward and uncomplicated manner, and that after winning this new lease of life, have (for the mo... 

Thank you for this most refreshing perspective!

 
 By: SteveG : August 14th, 2009-04:30
and wonderful pictures of this unique watch!

Thank you so much for that hommage to a milestone timepiece!

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : August 14th, 2009-04:49
You rightly said that the Destriero (meaning "battle horse") is a design belonging to the past, but in spite of that a true classic. Since you mentioned Günter Blümlein and Kurt Klaus being part of the legend, I was, however, astonished to miss a name tha... 

Ah yes that was an unfair omission

 
 By: SJX : August 14th, 2009-04:58
which completely slipped my mind. Richard indeed needs mention, especially for his work on the tourbillon. Though he has done much else, I always associate him with that. - SJX

Doesn't the AP Tourbillon

 
 By: aaronm : August 14th, 2009-05:43
I can't remember the model name, but the 50-second hammer-wind caliber, use a Titanium cage? a

Yes, you beat me by a second NT

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : August 14th, 2009-05:55
no text

Marcus, you are right to remind us on Richard's involvement, ...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : August 14th, 2009-05:54
but if I recall correctly Audemars Piguet used Titanium for the tourbillon cage already in 1986 in the first automatic Tourbillon? Here is a pic of that watch (courtesy Foversta): For the entire discussion please click here Best, Magnus...  

You are of course correct, Magnus! So can we credit Richard to be the first ...

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : August 14th, 2009-07:17
... using a titanium cage in a flying tourbillon? Regards, Marcus

I guess so...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : August 14th, 2009-08:26
but honestly for me, these discussions on who is the first, who is the best, etc are simply tiring. How often have we seen such claims which then have to be corrected/qualified/withdrawn? Do they really intensify our appreciation of watches: "The first au... 

... says "the first Magnus ever to wear an MIH-watch"!! ...

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : August 15th, 2009-00:08
... what would life be without our ability to find ever more special categories we could be "first" in? But of course, in the matter you are right. Regards, Marcus

let's say "... living in Europe..." :-) NT

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : August 16th, 2009-04:08
no text

Thanks JX for enlightening...

 
 By: Rob : August 14th, 2009-06:42
myself and perhaps others on this masterpiece. Indeed, a testament to this wonderful piece of horology is that it is based on a workhorse Valjoux 7750. Being such, it is even more of an achievement that it has succeeded in what many others, with so much m... 

Loved seeing this at the IWC Museum in Schaffhausen

 
 By: wrb75 : August 14th, 2009-10:40
Excellent report and thanks for the reminder of the importance of this icon to the IWC tradition. It is "Probus Scafusia" to the max. Bill

Ah, to see again, so clear and close, the ram of Schaffhausen ...

 
 By: Dirk : August 14th, 2009-22:14
excellent reminder and thoroughly enjoyable write-up. I've always enjoyed that IWC incorporated the town symbol of Schaffhausen in the movement's engraving. Thanks, JX

A lovely watch

 
 By: dxboon : August 14th, 2009-23:37
SJX - Thank you for the photo essay and also for your thoughts on this timepiece. Every time I see it, I'm impressed by the unusually beautiful decoration on the movement and the friendly usable layout of its dial. Cheers, Daos

Thanks SJX for this review

 
 By: Emmanuel H : August 15th, 2009-14:25
Undoubtedly an important and historical watch in IWC's history. I saw one recently, in platinum. It looked less aged than this one. Thanks again for your post and your fantastic pictures. Emmanuel

Nice review

 
 By: iceheller 1945 ✌️ : August 16th, 2009-01:04
Nice review and it amazing how a ETA base movement can be transform to such a high end watch. By the way, when you say green liquid, are you refering to tritium gas filled tube? Cause never heard of any watch that has green liquid in it. I never heard of ... 

SJX is referring to the Concord C1 QuantumGravity

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : August 17th, 2009-23:00
press release: home.watchprosite.com...  

Thanks for the update!

 
 By: iceheller 1945 ✌️ : August 18th, 2009-07:00
Cause last time i saw the C1 is only the movement where the string is attached to the tourbillon only. Well these C1 is really full of out of watch world complication.

Hummm International Watch Company was indeed a great watch brand:!

 
 By: Dje : August 16th, 2009-03:25
Hi, I obviously would not say that it is the only brand who suffered from the last decade, but perhaps one of the old established brands who suffered the most (IMVHO)! It is smartly pointed at that International Watch Company has been replaced by the twin... 

Great article

 
 By: allegro : August 17th, 2009-12:30
Many thanks for this great article of one of the icons in horology. In spite of the many complications, IWC manages to keep the watch clear and legible, allegro

Thanks for the great read SJX

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : August 17th, 2009-23:04
I've been dying to read this article for such a long time, and I finally have some free time tonight to catch up on old posts. I would love to strap one of this bad boys on my wrist someday. And the day I'm in the market for a minute repeater, the IWC Il ... 

An impressive review

 
 By: amanico : August 18th, 2009-14:33
On an impressive watch! This one is one of the very few I never had the opportunity to see in the flesh... I was dreaming about it, when I saw the pics around 1997. It would be interesting to quote all the complications housed in this legend, to compare i...