Comments:
Thanks to its robustness and dependability, the diver’s watch remains the sports watch of choice to this day and doubles as a reliable reserve as the indispensable underwater back up system, even if the dive computer now relieves the underwater sportsman of most of the necessary calculations. Once again, IWC Schaffhausen has extensively re vised, both technically and aesthetically, its family of diver’s watches, first introduced in 1967 under the name Aquatimer and since then further developed on a number of occasions. This step coincides with a new partnership in support of environmental and marine conservation, which IWC has entered into with the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos to mark the Darwin bicentennial year in 2009. One of the new Aquatimer models, the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, is dedicated specifically to this commitment.
This new environmental commitment by IWC will start in the Darwin anniversary year – 2009 in which the scientific world will celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the great British biologist and behavioural scientist, Charles Darwin.
He made his fundamental observations on the origin of species mainly on Galapagos, the unique archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, which was never in contact with the mainland at anytime in the history of evolution.
Specific animal and plant species not to be found anywhere else on earth evolved here through natural selection as a result of the differences in living conditions – even from one island to the next.
This is also true of the marine life. Yet this “laboratory of evolution” is massively endangered by settlement, by illegal fishing and by the introduction of animals that are destroying the basis of existence of the indigenous species.
The non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has more than 100 interns actively engaged in the conservation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is on the “Red List”. IWC not only backs this cause in non-material ways, but also through a considerable financial contribution to support the CDF in this worthy endeavour.
The Aquatimer family will include the following watches from 2009 onwards:
– Aquatimer Deep Two
– Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands
– Aquatimer Chronograph
– Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
– Aquatimer Automatic 2000
All have the following features in common: the case dimensions have increased slightly to 44 mm, and in one particular instance even to 46 mm. Another immediately obvious feature shared by the revised family is the rotating diving bezel, now located externally once again. IWC has always incorporated two possibilities for measuring dive times in its diver’s watches.
The first Aquatimer was equipped initially with a rotating inner bezel, which was operated via the second crown. The system is particularly secure as far as unintentional adjustment is concerned, although it is not so user-friendly when the diver is wearing gloves.
The OCEAN 2000 watch model dating from 1982 – a result of the collaboration with Porsche Design – had already adopted an external rotating bezel, which the GST Aquatimer from 1997 also retained.
The Aquatimer generation of 2009 embraces this technology once again in the form of an external rotating bezel of an entirely new design. This can be rotated even when wearing gloves – and for safety reasons only in the anti-clockwise direction.
In this case, a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring lies above a thick layer of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment applied in six coats. This means that the luminescence and legibility are optimal under all conditions of visibility. The revised family picks up the yellow-black and blue-orange signature colours of the previous Aquatimer family in a number of models, but it also introduces new and interesting colour combinations for the dial, hands and indicators.
A further characteristic element of the new family of diver’s watches is the innovative bracelet replacement system**. The new Aquatimer is equally suitable as a sporting all-rounder and for professional underwater use. For example, a lightweight hook-and-loop strap is appropriate when diving to allow the watch to be worn over the neoprene diving suit. Wearing such a strap out of the water would be unusual, to say the least. Some prefer this lightweight material to a solid steel bracelet, but would like to change from time to time. To bring together all these preferences under a single hat, all Aquatimer models have been equipped with a new bracelet quick-change system**.
In response to finger pressure on the underside of the bracelet/strap lug, a lever disengages the locking mechanism and separates the bracelet or strap from the case. When being worn on the wrist, however, the watch cannot be separated from its bracelet or strap, even inadvertently. The replacement bracelet or strap (whether synthetic, rubber or steel) is then introduced into the bracelet/strap lug and engages there. This simple operation can be performed without tools in a few seconds.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2009-01-21 11:46:47
The Aquatimer Deep Two, the diver’s watch with a mechanical depth gauge is once again on board. It has everything a diver needs for his safety.
Divers not only immerse themselves in a fascinating foreign element, but also place themselves in the hands of technology. Dive depth, dive duration, rate of ascent and descent, decompression stops – everything must be exactly right to ensure that a breathtakingly beautiful adventure does not turn into a nightmare. Fortunately, there are now computers to relieve the diver of most of the calculations. Yet divers, like parachutists, encounter a similar situation: If one could be quite certain that the system would always function under all circumstances, there would be no need for a reserve parachute. As far as diving is concerned, this is where the built-in safeguard of the Aquatimer Deep Two takes over, the second diver’s watch from IWC with a mechanical depth gauge and a maximum dive depth indicator. It offers a complete backup system if the electronics of the dive computer were ever to fail.
Both technically and in terms of its dimensions,the Aquatimer Deep Two diver’s watch is the hero product of the new Aquatimer generation from IWC. It acts as a reliable reserve, which permits the dive time to be read off the distinctive external rotating bezel. This is true under all conditions of visibility, incidentally, because the bezel conceals a highly concentrated dose of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment beneath the 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring. This functionally very important detail also gives the entire Aquatimer family its new face. The new external rotating bezel was also developed to provide increased user convenience.
Yet the Aquatimer Deep Two only becomes a complete backup safety system with the second important parameter when diving, namely the dive depth, and in particular the greatest depth reached during a specific dive. With these two values, an experienced diver can plan the essential decompression stops at any time during the ascent and remain at the correct depth in order to complete the dive unscathed. The maximum rate of ascent of 10 metres per minute can also be accurately controlled with the help of the seconds hand and depth gauge. Safety counts.
Housed inside the stainless steel case of the Aquatimer Deep Two with a diameter of 46mm and a height of 15.5 mm is a reliable 30110 calibre automatic movement with central seconds hand, date and a 40 hour power reserve. Its true speciality – measuring dive depths – is functionally completely separate from and unaffected by the movement. In plain language: the depth gauge itself would continue to function even if the movement were to stop. In the technical realization of the mechanical depth gauge, the engineers drew on knowledge gained from the construction of the GST Deep One diver’s watch precisely ten years ago, although they explored new avenues with regard to the depth-gauge sensor for detecting the underwater pressure.
The GST Deep One was equipped with a measuring tube arranged internally around the movement, which filled with water via micro bores in a crown during the dive, was caused to deflect as the water pressure increased and in so doing transmitted the ambient pressure via a lever mechanism to a flyback hand. The arbors of the measurement hands passed centrally through the movement in this design. It was capable of measuring depths of up to 45 metres.
In the Aquatimer Deep Two, on the other hand, the engineers at IWC have opted for an entirely new approach. The watch has a semi-circular indicator for water depths on the left half of the dial. The actual dive depth and the maximum depth are indicated by two hand tips in blue and red. The pressure measurement system of the Aquatimer Deep Two is contained in a second crown provided with a cover, which is also located on the left – the protected – side of the case. When out of the water, the pressure transducer is set to “Depth zero”, that is to say normal atmospheric pressure. The water pressure acts via micro bores in the cover of the crown against a sprung and mechanically guided membrane and forces a pin into the interior of the case. This precisely defined movement actuates a lever mechanism situated just beneath the rotor, directly behind the case back, and causes the two measurement hands to deflect via a train of gears.
The largest part of the two depth measurement hands remains invisible from the outside, however. Only the raised tips of the hands at the level of the dial look out from a semi-circular slot in the dial and move over the indicator scale. The hands in this case are led around the movement. This is an ingenious solution, which avoids the need for the path of the arbors to pass centrally through the movement. The depth indicator (blue) moves over the white measuring field depending on the actual depth of water at the time. The maximum depth indicator (red) always remains at the greatest depth reached. It is, in fact, mounted on a wheel with special teeth,into which a pawl engages and arrests the wheel after every additional partial movement (in the direction of greater depth). The pawl can only be released by a button underneath the depth gauge sensor crown on the left side of the case. The maximum depth indicator then returns to the position of the depth indicator by spring force. This is a very reliable system. The spring-assisted pressure transducer comes up against its stop when a depth of 50 metres is indicated. Purely theoretically, it would be possible to dive even deeper with this watch, which is pressure-resistant to 12 bar, although the actual depth is then no longer shown. The recommended maximum depth for scuba divers should not exceed 40 metres in any case. The crown with the depth-gauge sensor has an additional function: it can be rotated to permit accurate calibration of the two hands of the depth gauge. The cover over the sensor crown, which is secured to a hinge and snapped into engagement, can be flipped open to clean the system if the need arises.
Features
Diver’s watch with automatic movement and newly developed mechanical depth gauge for the actual depth at any time and the maximum depth reached down to 50 m; newly developed external rotating diving bezel, new bracelet quick-change system**; relief engraving of a diver’s helmet on the case back.
Movement
Calibre 30110
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 21
Power reserve 40 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 46 mm
Height 15.5 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 135 g
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 205 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands is the star attraction to mark a new partnership by IWC Schaffhausen in aid of the environment.
It comes from the laboratory of horological evolution in Schaffhausen. And it is the bearer of a remarkable message: the new Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands not only represents the harmonious further development of the family of professional diver’s watches from the manufactory. It is also the programmatic statement of a new partnership in aid of the environment, which IWC Schaffhausen has entered into with the Charles Darwin Foundation with a presence on Galapagos. This non-profit organization was established fifty years ago and has set itself the objective of conserving the island group, situated a thousand kilometres west of Ecuador, as a world heritage site.
It is a well-known fact that the Galapagos Islands were the location where the British naturalist Charles Darwin, who was born 200 years ago, carried out his most important field research for what was, at the time, his pioneering theory of evolution on the origin of species through natural selection and adaptation. Nowhere else is this illustrated as vividly as in the animal and plant species that are peculiar to the Galapagos Islands – both above and below the water. The Charles Darwin Foundation, which takes its name from the father of modern biology, researches, works and teaches in this laboratory of evolution and champions the fight to maintain the balance between the ecological uniqueness of the island group with economic and touristic challenges.
Galapagos needs help. IWC has given a commitment, starting in the Darwin bicentenary year of 2009, to make a significant contribution in support of the Foundation generated by the proceeds from the sale of the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands. At the same time, the result of the continuing development of its family of diver’s watches – the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands – is an attractive, useful and extremely sporting symbol of this collaboration: black like the lava of the volcanic islands born from the ocean, and white like the clouds floating by above them. An intricate relief engraving of a giant tortoise on the back of the case, surrounded by the inscription “Tribute to the Charles Darwin Foundation – Galapagos Islands”, represents the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Islands.
Speaking of volcanos: The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands features a matt black rubber coating, produced by a complex vulcanization process, turning the 44-mm diameter stainless steel case into a visual experience. Every individual case is permanently bonded to this warm-to-the touch, yet at the same time impact-resistant and non-slip material under pressure and heat in a special mould. A similarly black rubber strap is attached to the case with the new bracelet quick-change system** of the new Aquatimer family.
The new Aquatimer watch family as a whole has undergone an eye-catching transformation with the newly developed external rotating diving bezel with its indexing in steps of one minute, which can be adjusted only in an anti-clockwise direction. In contrast to the mechanics of the inner rotating bezel, which is adjustable via a crown, the non-slip external bezel offers two advantages: it can be operated more easily when wearing gloves immediately before the dive. And it affords a far better opportunity to highlight the brilliance and luminosity of this important diving parameter (in combination with the minute hand). This external rotating bezel is a new design and will now be a component part of all the Aquatimer models. Its measurement scale comprises of a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring, printed underneath, which fits accurately with the surface of the bezel. The underside of the sapphire crystal ring is coated with a thick layer of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment, which shines through the non-printed surfaces or numerals of the sapphire crystal ring as the light fails. This “evolutionary” innovation contributes to safety.
The second advantage: the innovative bracelet quick-change system** permits the bracelet or strap to be removed from the watch and replaced by another by the manual release of a mechanical locking mechanism within the lug. No tool is required for this purpose. And only a few seconds are needed for this “flying” exchange, in which the rubber strap can be exchanged for a longer hook-and-loop strap, for example, which also enables the watch to be worn over the diving suit.
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, as a chronograph with a pressure-resistance that has been tested to 12 bar, is equivalent in technical terms to its proven predecessor, the Aquatimer Chrono-Automatic, with a power reserve of 44 hours when fully wound and aggregate time recording up to 12 hours. The lettering on the dial and the rotating bezel is still in a highly contrasting white against the black background. Only the small seconds hand features yellow as an indicator used for checking the function.
Features
Diver’s watch in a stainless steel case with a special coating of vulcanized rubber, with an external, newly developed rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small seconds hand with stop function, new bracelet quick-change system**; relief engraving of a giant tortoise on the case back
Movement
Calibre 79320
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 25
Power reserve 44 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel, completely coated
with vulcanized rubber
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 140 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
The Aquatimer Chronograph of the 2009 generation of diver’s watches also has a new face – and the familiar colours.
Black and signal yellow – even ten years ago, these were the signature colours of the GST Deep One and later the Aquatimer family. The distinctive combination of deep blue and coral red has also adorned many a special edition of the diver’s watches from Schaffhausen. A glance at the dial of the Aquatimer Chronograph in stainless steel immediately makes it clear that this new generation of the Aquatimer is a harmonious further development.
Admittedly, its diameter of 44 mm means that is has increased a little in girth – but also in legibility. This is primarily attributable to the newly developed external diving bezel. It is characteristic of this genre of watches, and it also gives the new Aquatimer its face. As well as its particular luminous power: the multi-component construction of the rotating bezel provides space for a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring to which a concentrated coating of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment is applied to its underside.The rotating bezel with “background lighting”, with its indicator arrow set to the colour-highlighted minute hand, indicates the elapsed dive time – under all conditions of visibility. Including during night dives.
Apropos colours: in the model with a black dial, the minute hand, the small seconds hand and the quarter segment for the first 15 minutes on the rotating bezel remain in signal yellow – as in the previous Aquatimer watch models. In the variant with a blue dial, these indicators are coral red – a very attractive, maritime combination.
In both cases, however, the colour scheme was also selected with functionality in mind: yellow and orange are filtered out under water only at a great depth. The rhodium-plated inner dials of the chronograph’s minutes and hours counters add a touch more elegance.
The Aquatimer Chronograph is also a good friend in the technical sense: proven technology is on board in the form of the self-winding 79320 calibre chronograph movement. The chronograph of the watch, which is water-resistant to 12 bar, is also capable – in addition to the rotating diving bezel – of being used to measure times under water. The lighter-coloured inner dials make it easier to read aggregate times –including in normal use.
The following bracelets and straps are available for both models: the practical and rugged IWC bracelet system in stainless steel, or a black (depending on the model also blue) rubber strap with a pin buckle. An innovative bracelet quickchange system** has been used for the new Aquatimer family: a locking catch – located directly within the bracelet or strap lug on the inner, protected side of the bracelet or strap – can be released by finger pressure, and the bracelet or strap can be exchanged in a matter of seconds.
An optional hook-and-loop strap allowing the watch to be worn over the diving suit, can also be fitted in this way.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Features
Diver’s watch in a stainless steel case with an external, newly developed rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small seconds hand with stop function, new bracelet quick-change system**
Movement
Calibre 79320
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 25
Power reserve 44 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 210 g
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 146 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
The Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold is the watch that lets you change directly from your wetsuit into your dinner jacket. It is a sporting timepiece at the very top of the range. The new Aquatimer generation demonstrates once again that elegance is not at variance with a highly functional sports watch.
The new Aquatimer Chronograph in its 44-millimetre case made of red gold 5N guarantees in a quite unique way that the timepiece can be attractive and exclusive in spite of its extremely rugged nature. This is a genuine diver’s chronograph, water-resistant to 12 bar. A particularly thick coating of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment beneath the sapphire crystal ring of the new external rotating bezel, adjustable only in the safe direction, ensures super-clear legibility. Including during night dives.
The new Aquatimer Chronograph possesses a precision mechanical heart in a class of its own with the exclusive IWC-manufactured 89360 calibre movement. Incorporating the efficient, IWC double-pawl winding system and designed to resist shocks and vibrations, this is the proper power unit for a watch that is worn not only with an evening suit. But also under water, on a boat or wherever the going gets tougher.
The first chronograph movement developed by IWC is equipped with a so-called flyback function. A running stop sequence can be ended simply by depressing the reset button, without the need for any intermediate step, and the chronograph will begin a new measurement instantaneously. It also has applications when diving – for example in order to measure the rate of ascent, which should not exceed ten metres per minute.
The exclusive 89360 calibre –with small seconds hand and date functions – can do even more: it displays the long stop times on an inner dial by means of two hands like a second analogue time display. This is also not unpractical when diving: for example, this feature can be used to time the absolutely essential rest period at the surface after the first dive before making the next descent. Furthermore, the chronograph of the 89360 calibre does not overload the energy balance of the movement.
The watch in the red gold case is equipped with black dials and bold luminous indices. Red lettering on a white ground (for the first 15 minutes of the measurement) contrasts with white lettering on a black ground on the rotating diving bezel. The ring, which is only adjustable in a single, anti-clockwise direction and engages at intervals of a minute, can of course also be used – in addition to the chronograph – for any other form of time recording or as a “knot in the handkerchief” as a reminder of a particular appointment. The Aquatimer Chronograph has not only a spherical sapphire glass with an anti reflective coating on both sides, but also a sapphire glass back, which allows an unobstructed view of the movement.
The Aquatimer Chronograph is equipped as standard with a rubber strap. Using a new bracelet quick-change system**, however, it can also be replaced by a longer hook-and-loop strap, so that the watch can be worn over the diving suit.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Features
Diver’s watch in a red gold case with a flyback chronograph and analogue display of longer stop times on an inner dial; IWC manufactured movement with double pawl winding system and integral shock absorption system, date display and small seconds hand with stop function; newly developed external rotating bezel, new bracelet quick-change system**
Movement
Calibre 89360
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 40
Power reserve 68 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material red gold 5N
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Back see-through sapphire glass back
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15.5 mm
Weight
Watch in red gold with rubber strap 185 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
The diver’s watch from Schaffhausen has found a new form – and a new peak form at that. In a manner of speaking, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 is still the “nec plus aqua” of the family. It is pressure-resistant to 200 bar.
When first introduced by IWC Schaffhausen in 1967, the Aquatimer caused a sensation with its water-resistance of up to 20 bar. Even then, its name was already a buzzword for this still-young sporting activity. Nothing has changed in this respect.
Remaining underwater with scuba equipment is an adventure of limited duration. Safe diving demands the precise observation of specific rules. To slightly adapt the old, familiar saying: time is not money, but life or health. It is reassuring to know that there are now handy dive computers, which relieve the diver of the need to calculate the depth, dive duration and even decompression times. But never without the reliable reserve of a dependable diver’s watch!
With the new Aquatimer Automatic 2000 as its basic model, the diver’s watch from Schaffhausen has found a new form – and a new peak form at that. This relates not only to its pressure resistance of up to 200 bar, but also to the increased case diameter of 44 mm. Because underwater, greater size also always means greater clarity. The newly developed external rotating diving bezel, which has taken the place of the previous inner bezel, is primarily responsible for the new face of the 2009 Aquatimer generation. There are good reasons to support these new design amendments and IWC, has extensive experience of case manufacture. Now, for reasons of functionality, it has opted for the “external” variant of this crucial component part of a diver’s watch. This was an almost “evolutionary” step was facilitated by new materials. Functionality ranked foremost in all the associated considerations: the rotating bezel had to be easy to operate under water, even when wearing gloves– of course only in the anti-clockwise direction for safety’s sake – and capable of indexing in steps of one minute. It also had to make a further significant improvement to the legibility of the recorded dive time, even under the poorest lighting conditions.
The engineers at IWC came up with a compelling idea: a rotating diving bezel with “background lighting”. Pressed into the multi-component bezel is a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring, to which a concentrated coating of Super-Lumi-Nova®* luminous pigment is applied to its underside. The system is thus particularly suited to night dives.
The minute hand corresponding to the marker triangle of the rotating bezel is strongly highlighted in colour in order to eliminate any possibility of confusion. The Aquatimer Automatic 2000 is available in two different dial variants: in black, with a signal yellow quarter segment for the first 15minutes on the rotating bezel, and with a yellow minute hand and a yellow arrow tip for the central seconds hand. Its kinship with the previous Aquatimer family is immediately obvious in this colour combination. Signal yellow also has a functional significance – it is filtered out under water only at a very great depth. A second variant of the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 has a white dial, the quarter segment on the rotating bezel is white and has orange numerals, and the hour hand and the tip of the seconds hand are also orange. The family name “Aquatimer” also appears in the “small print” on the dial.
From a technical point of view, the new Aquatimer Automatic 2000 – like its predecessor – is equipped with the reliable 30110 calibre automatic movement. It has a date display, and the seconds hand can be stopped for adjustment of the watch by pulling out the crown (screwed-in in normal operation).
Two bracelets and straps are available for both models: the practical and rugged IWC bracelet system in stainless steel, or a black (depending on the model also blue) rubber strap with a pin buckle. An innovative bracelet quick-change system** is also used for the completely new Aquatimer family: a locking catch – located directly within the bracelet or strap lug on the inner, protected side of the bracelet or strap –can be released by finger pressure, and the bracelet or strap can be exchanged in a matter of seconds. An optional, extended hook-and loop strap, allowing the watch to be worn over the diving suit, can also be fitted conveniently in this way.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Features
Diver’s watch, pressure-resistant to 200 bar, with a mechanical movement and automatic winding, with a newly developed external rotating bezel for optimal legibility and the new bracelet quick-change system**, date display, central seconds hand.
Movement
Calibre 30110
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 21
Power reserve 40 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, convex, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 200 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 14 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 211 g
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 147 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
SIHH 2009 : IWC Aquatimer Watch Family
Fresh from the laboratory of progress
Overview of the Aquatimer watch family 2009
Overview of the Aquatimer watch family 2009
Thanks to its robustness and dependability, the diver’s watch remains the sports watch of choice to this day and doubles as a reliable reserve as the indispensable underwater back up system, even if the dive computer now relieves the underwater sportsman of most of the necessary calculations. Once again, IWC Schaffhausen has extensively re vised, both technically and aesthetically, its family of diver’s watches, first introduced in 1967 under the name Aquatimer and since then further developed on a number of occasions. This step coincides with a new partnership in support of environmental and marine conservation, which IWC has entered into with the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos to mark the Darwin bicentennial year in 2009. One of the new Aquatimer models, the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, is dedicated specifically to this commitment.
This new environmental commitment by IWC will start in the Darwin anniversary year – 2009 in which the scientific world will celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the great British biologist and behavioural scientist, Charles Darwin.
He made his fundamental observations on the origin of species mainly on Galapagos, the unique archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, which was never in contact with the mainland at anytime in the history of evolution.
Specific animal and plant species not to be found anywhere else on earth evolved here through natural selection as a result of the differences in living conditions – even from one island to the next.
This is also true of the marine life. Yet this “laboratory of evolution” is massively endangered by settlement, by illegal fishing and by the introduction of animals that are destroying the basis of existence of the indigenous species.
The non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has more than 100 interns actively engaged in the conservation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is on the “Red List”. IWC not only backs this cause in non-material ways, but also through a considerable financial contribution to support the CDF in this worthy endeavour.
New watch models in the Aquatimer family
The Aquatimer family will include the following watches from 2009 onwards:
– Aquatimer Deep Two
– Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands
– Aquatimer Chronograph
– Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
– Aquatimer Automatic 2000
All have the following features in common: the case dimensions have increased slightly to 44 mm, and in one particular instance even to 46 mm. Another immediately obvious feature shared by the revised family is the rotating diving bezel, now located externally once again. IWC has always incorporated two possibilities for measuring dive times in its diver’s watches.
The first Aquatimer was equipped initially with a rotating inner bezel, which was operated via the second crown. The system is particularly secure as far as unintentional adjustment is concerned, although it is not so user-friendly when the diver is wearing gloves.
The OCEAN 2000 watch model dating from 1982 – a result of the collaboration with Porsche Design – had already adopted an external rotating bezel, which the GST Aquatimer from 1997 also retained.
The Aquatimer generation of 2009 embraces this technology once again in the form of an external rotating bezel of an entirely new design. This can be rotated even when wearing gloves – and for safety reasons only in the anti-clockwise direction.
In this case, a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring lies above a thick layer of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment applied in six coats. This means that the luminescence and legibility are optimal under all conditions of visibility. The revised family picks up the yellow-black and blue-orange signature colours of the previous Aquatimer family in a number of models, but it also introduces new and interesting colour combinations for the dial, hands and indicators.
A further characteristic element of the new family of diver’s watches is the innovative bracelet replacement system**. The new Aquatimer is equally suitable as a sporting all-rounder and for professional underwater use. For example, a lightweight hook-and-loop strap is appropriate when diving to allow the watch to be worn over the neoprene diving suit. Wearing such a strap out of the water would be unusual, to say the least. Some prefer this lightweight material to a solid steel bracelet, but would like to change from time to time. To bring together all these preferences under a single hat, all Aquatimer models have been equipped with a new bracelet quick-change system**.
In response to finger pressure on the underside of the bracelet/strap lug, a lever disengages the locking mechanism and separates the bracelet or strap from the case. When being worn on the wrist, however, the watch cannot be separated from its bracelet or strap, even inadvertently. The replacement bracelet or strap (whether synthetic, rubber or steel) is then introduced into the bracelet/strap lug and engages there. This simple operation can be performed without tools in a few seconds.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2009-01-21 11:46:47
Aquatimer Deep Two Ref. IW3547
Safety counts
Aquatimer Deep Two
Aquatimer Deep Two
The Aquatimer Deep Two, the diver’s watch with a mechanical depth gauge is once again on board. It has everything a diver needs for his safety.
Divers not only immerse themselves in a fascinating foreign element, but also place themselves in the hands of technology. Dive depth, dive duration, rate of ascent and descent, decompression stops – everything must be exactly right to ensure that a breathtakingly beautiful adventure does not turn into a nightmare. Fortunately, there are now computers to relieve the diver of most of the calculations. Yet divers, like parachutists, encounter a similar situation: If one could be quite certain that the system would always function under all circumstances, there would be no need for a reserve parachute. As far as diving is concerned, this is where the built-in safeguard of the Aquatimer Deep Two takes over, the second diver’s watch from IWC with a mechanical depth gauge and a maximum dive depth indicator. It offers a complete backup system if the electronics of the dive computer were ever to fail.
Both technically and in terms of its dimensions,the Aquatimer Deep Two diver’s watch is the hero product of the new Aquatimer generation from IWC. It acts as a reliable reserve, which permits the dive time to be read off the distinctive external rotating bezel. This is true under all conditions of visibility, incidentally, because the bezel conceals a highly concentrated dose of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment beneath the 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring. This functionally very important detail also gives the entire Aquatimer family its new face. The new external rotating bezel was also developed to provide increased user convenience.
Yet the Aquatimer Deep Two only becomes a complete backup safety system with the second important parameter when diving, namely the dive depth, and in particular the greatest depth reached during a specific dive. With these two values, an experienced diver can plan the essential decompression stops at any time during the ascent and remain at the correct depth in order to complete the dive unscathed. The maximum rate of ascent of 10 metres per minute can also be accurately controlled with the help of the seconds hand and depth gauge. Safety counts.
Housed inside the stainless steel case of the Aquatimer Deep Two with a diameter of 46mm and a height of 15.5 mm is a reliable 30110 calibre automatic movement with central seconds hand, date and a 40 hour power reserve. Its true speciality – measuring dive depths – is functionally completely separate from and unaffected by the movement. In plain language: the depth gauge itself would continue to function even if the movement were to stop. In the technical realization of the mechanical depth gauge, the engineers drew on knowledge gained from the construction of the GST Deep One diver’s watch precisely ten years ago, although they explored new avenues with regard to the depth-gauge sensor for detecting the underwater pressure.
The GST Deep One was equipped with a measuring tube arranged internally around the movement, which filled with water via micro bores in a crown during the dive, was caused to deflect as the water pressure increased and in so doing transmitted the ambient pressure via a lever mechanism to a flyback hand. The arbors of the measurement hands passed centrally through the movement in this design. It was capable of measuring depths of up to 45 metres.
In the Aquatimer Deep Two, on the other hand, the engineers at IWC have opted for an entirely new approach. The watch has a semi-circular indicator for water depths on the left half of the dial. The actual dive depth and the maximum depth are indicated by two hand tips in blue and red. The pressure measurement system of the Aquatimer Deep Two is contained in a second crown provided with a cover, which is also located on the left – the protected – side of the case. When out of the water, the pressure transducer is set to “Depth zero”, that is to say normal atmospheric pressure. The water pressure acts via micro bores in the cover of the crown against a sprung and mechanically guided membrane and forces a pin into the interior of the case. This precisely defined movement actuates a lever mechanism situated just beneath the rotor, directly behind the case back, and causes the two measurement hands to deflect via a train of gears.
The largest part of the two depth measurement hands remains invisible from the outside, however. Only the raised tips of the hands at the level of the dial look out from a semi-circular slot in the dial and move over the indicator scale. The hands in this case are led around the movement. This is an ingenious solution, which avoids the need for the path of the arbors to pass centrally through the movement. The depth indicator (blue) moves over the white measuring field depending on the actual depth of water at the time. The maximum depth indicator (red) always remains at the greatest depth reached. It is, in fact, mounted on a wheel with special teeth,into which a pawl engages and arrests the wheel after every additional partial movement (in the direction of greater depth). The pawl can only be released by a button underneath the depth gauge sensor crown on the left side of the case. The maximum depth indicator then returns to the position of the depth indicator by spring force. This is a very reliable system. The spring-assisted pressure transducer comes up against its stop when a depth of 50 metres is indicated. Purely theoretically, it would be possible to dive even deeper with this watch, which is pressure-resistant to 12 bar, although the actual depth is then no longer shown. The recommended maximum depth for scuba divers should not exceed 40 metres in any case. The crown with the depth-gauge sensor has an additional function: it can be rotated to permit accurate calibration of the two hands of the depth gauge. The cover over the sensor crown, which is secured to a hinge and snapped into engagement, can be flipped open to clean the system if the need arises.
Aquatimer Deep Two
Ref. IW3547
Ref. IW3547
Features
Diver’s watch with automatic movement and newly developed mechanical depth gauge for the actual depth at any time and the maximum depth reached down to 50 m; newly developed external rotating diving bezel, new bracelet quick-change system**; relief engraving of a diver’s helmet on the case back.
Movement
Calibre 30110
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 21
Power reserve 40 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 46 mm
Height 15.5 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 135 g
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 205 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands Ref. IW3767
From the laboratory of horological evolution
Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands
Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands is the star attraction to mark a new partnership by IWC Schaffhausen in aid of the environment.
It comes from the laboratory of horological evolution in Schaffhausen. And it is the bearer of a remarkable message: the new Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands not only represents the harmonious further development of the family of professional diver’s watches from the manufactory. It is also the programmatic statement of a new partnership in aid of the environment, which IWC Schaffhausen has entered into with the Charles Darwin Foundation with a presence on Galapagos. This non-profit organization was established fifty years ago and has set itself the objective of conserving the island group, situated a thousand kilometres west of Ecuador, as a world heritage site.
It is a well-known fact that the Galapagos Islands were the location where the British naturalist Charles Darwin, who was born 200 years ago, carried out his most important field research for what was, at the time, his pioneering theory of evolution on the origin of species through natural selection and adaptation. Nowhere else is this illustrated as vividly as in the animal and plant species that are peculiar to the Galapagos Islands – both above and below the water. The Charles Darwin Foundation, which takes its name from the father of modern biology, researches, works and teaches in this laboratory of evolution and champions the fight to maintain the balance between the ecological uniqueness of the island group with economic and touristic challenges.
Galapagos needs help. IWC has given a commitment, starting in the Darwin bicentenary year of 2009, to make a significant contribution in support of the Foundation generated by the proceeds from the sale of the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands. At the same time, the result of the continuing development of its family of diver’s watches – the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands – is an attractive, useful and extremely sporting symbol of this collaboration: black like the lava of the volcanic islands born from the ocean, and white like the clouds floating by above them. An intricate relief engraving of a giant tortoise on the back of the case, surrounded by the inscription “Tribute to the Charles Darwin Foundation – Galapagos Islands”, represents the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Islands.
Speaking of volcanos: The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands features a matt black rubber coating, produced by a complex vulcanization process, turning the 44-mm diameter stainless steel case into a visual experience. Every individual case is permanently bonded to this warm-to-the touch, yet at the same time impact-resistant and non-slip material under pressure and heat in a special mould. A similarly black rubber strap is attached to the case with the new bracelet quick-change system** of the new Aquatimer family.
The new Aquatimer watch family as a whole has undergone an eye-catching transformation with the newly developed external rotating diving bezel with its indexing in steps of one minute, which can be adjusted only in an anti-clockwise direction. In contrast to the mechanics of the inner rotating bezel, which is adjustable via a crown, the non-slip external bezel offers two advantages: it can be operated more easily when wearing gloves immediately before the dive. And it affords a far better opportunity to highlight the brilliance and luminosity of this important diving parameter (in combination with the minute hand). This external rotating bezel is a new design and will now be a component part of all the Aquatimer models. Its measurement scale comprises of a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring, printed underneath, which fits accurately with the surface of the bezel. The underside of the sapphire crystal ring is coated with a thick layer of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment, which shines through the non-printed surfaces or numerals of the sapphire crystal ring as the light fails. This “evolutionary” innovation contributes to safety.
The second advantage: the innovative bracelet quick-change system** permits the bracelet or strap to be removed from the watch and replaced by another by the manual release of a mechanical locking mechanism within the lug. No tool is required for this purpose. And only a few seconds are needed for this “flying” exchange, in which the rubber strap can be exchanged for a longer hook-and-loop strap, for example, which also enables the watch to be worn over the diving suit.
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, as a chronograph with a pressure-resistance that has been tested to 12 bar, is equivalent in technical terms to its proven predecessor, the Aquatimer Chrono-Automatic, with a power reserve of 44 hours when fully wound and aggregate time recording up to 12 hours. The lettering on the dial and the rotating bezel is still in a highly contrasting white against the black background. Only the small seconds hand features yellow as an indicator used for checking the function.
Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands
Ref. IW3767
Ref. IW3767
Features
Diver’s watch in a stainless steel case with a special coating of vulcanized rubber, with an external, newly developed rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small seconds hand with stop function, new bracelet quick-change system**; relief engraving of a giant tortoise on the case back
Movement
Calibre 79320
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 25
Power reserve 44 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel, completely coated
with vulcanized rubber
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 140 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Chronograph Ref. IW3767
Plenty of time for diving
Aquatimer Chronograph
Aquatimer Chronograph
The Aquatimer Chronograph of the 2009 generation of diver’s watches also has a new face – and the familiar colours.
Black and signal yellow – even ten years ago, these were the signature colours of the GST Deep One and later the Aquatimer family. The distinctive combination of deep blue and coral red has also adorned many a special edition of the diver’s watches from Schaffhausen. A glance at the dial of the Aquatimer Chronograph in stainless steel immediately makes it clear that this new generation of the Aquatimer is a harmonious further development.
Admittedly, its diameter of 44 mm means that is has increased a little in girth – but also in legibility. This is primarily attributable to the newly developed external diving bezel. It is characteristic of this genre of watches, and it also gives the new Aquatimer its face. As well as its particular luminous power: the multi-component construction of the rotating bezel provides space for a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring to which a concentrated coating of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment is applied to its underside.The rotating bezel with “background lighting”, with its indicator arrow set to the colour-highlighted minute hand, indicates the elapsed dive time – under all conditions of visibility. Including during night dives.
Apropos colours: in the model with a black dial, the minute hand, the small seconds hand and the quarter segment for the first 15 minutes on the rotating bezel remain in signal yellow – as in the previous Aquatimer watch models. In the variant with a blue dial, these indicators are coral red – a very attractive, maritime combination.
In both cases, however, the colour scheme was also selected with functionality in mind: yellow and orange are filtered out under water only at a great depth. The rhodium-plated inner dials of the chronograph’s minutes and hours counters add a touch more elegance.
The Aquatimer Chronograph is also a good friend in the technical sense: proven technology is on board in the form of the self-winding 79320 calibre chronograph movement. The chronograph of the watch, which is water-resistant to 12 bar, is also capable – in addition to the rotating diving bezel – of being used to measure times under water. The lighter-coloured inner dials make it easier to read aggregate times –including in normal use.
The following bracelets and straps are available for both models: the practical and rugged IWC bracelet system in stainless steel, or a black (depending on the model also blue) rubber strap with a pin buckle. An innovative bracelet quickchange system** has been used for the new Aquatimer family: a locking catch – located directly within the bracelet or strap lug on the inner, protected side of the bracelet or strap – can be released by finger pressure, and the bracelet or strap can be exchanged in a matter of seconds.
An optional hook-and-loop strap allowing the watch to be worn over the diving suit, can also be fitted in this way.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Chronograph
Ref. IW3767
Ref. IW3767
Features
Diver’s watch in a stainless steel case with an external, newly developed rotating bezel, mechanical chronograph movement, day and date display, small seconds hand with stop function, new bracelet quick-change system**
Movement
Calibre 79320
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 25
Power reserve 44 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 210 g
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 146 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold Ref. IW3769
Elegance under water
Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
The Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold is the watch that lets you change directly from your wetsuit into your dinner jacket. It is a sporting timepiece at the very top of the range. The new Aquatimer generation demonstrates once again that elegance is not at variance with a highly functional sports watch.
The new Aquatimer Chronograph in its 44-millimetre case made of red gold 5N guarantees in a quite unique way that the timepiece can be attractive and exclusive in spite of its extremely rugged nature. This is a genuine diver’s chronograph, water-resistant to 12 bar. A particularly thick coating of Super-LumiNova®* luminous pigment beneath the sapphire crystal ring of the new external rotating bezel, adjustable only in the safe direction, ensures super-clear legibility. Including during night dives.
The new Aquatimer Chronograph possesses a precision mechanical heart in a class of its own with the exclusive IWC-manufactured 89360 calibre movement. Incorporating the efficient, IWC double-pawl winding system and designed to resist shocks and vibrations, this is the proper power unit for a watch that is worn not only with an evening suit. But also under water, on a boat or wherever the going gets tougher.
The first chronograph movement developed by IWC is equipped with a so-called flyback function. A running stop sequence can be ended simply by depressing the reset button, without the need for any intermediate step, and the chronograph will begin a new measurement instantaneously. It also has applications when diving – for example in order to measure the rate of ascent, which should not exceed ten metres per minute.
The exclusive 89360 calibre –with small seconds hand and date functions – can do even more: it displays the long stop times on an inner dial by means of two hands like a second analogue time display. This is also not unpractical when diving: for example, this feature can be used to time the absolutely essential rest period at the surface after the first dive before making the next descent. Furthermore, the chronograph of the 89360 calibre does not overload the energy balance of the movement.
The watch in the red gold case is equipped with black dials and bold luminous indices. Red lettering on a white ground (for the first 15 minutes of the measurement) contrasts with white lettering on a black ground on the rotating diving bezel. The ring, which is only adjustable in a single, anti-clockwise direction and engages at intervals of a minute, can of course also be used – in addition to the chronograph – for any other form of time recording or as a “knot in the handkerchief” as a reminder of a particular appointment. The Aquatimer Chronograph has not only a spherical sapphire glass with an anti reflective coating on both sides, but also a sapphire glass back, which allows an unobstructed view of the movement.
The Aquatimer Chronograph is equipped as standard with a rubber strap. Using a new bracelet quick-change system**, however, it can also be replaced by a longer hook-and-loop strap, so that the watch can be worn over the diving suit.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold
Ref. IW3769
Ref. IW3769
Features
Diver’s watch in a red gold case with a flyback chronograph and analogue display of longer stop times on an inner dial; IWC manufactured movement with double pawl winding system and integral shock absorption system, date display and small seconds hand with stop function; newly developed external rotating bezel, new bracelet quick-change system**
Movement
Calibre 89360
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 40
Power reserve 68 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material red gold 5N
Glass sapphire, spherical, antireflective
Back see-through sapphire glass back
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 12 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15.5 mm
Weight
Watch in red gold with rubber strap 185 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Ref. IW3568
The new face of the Aquatimer diver’s watch
Aquatimer Automatic 2000
The diver’s watch from Schaffhausen has found a new form – and a new peak form at that. In a manner of speaking, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 is still the “nec plus aqua” of the family. It is pressure-resistant to 200 bar.
When first introduced by IWC Schaffhausen in 1967, the Aquatimer caused a sensation with its water-resistance of up to 20 bar. Even then, its name was already a buzzword for this still-young sporting activity. Nothing has changed in this respect.
Remaining underwater with scuba equipment is an adventure of limited duration. Safe diving demands the precise observation of specific rules. To slightly adapt the old, familiar saying: time is not money, but life or health. It is reassuring to know that there are now handy dive computers, which relieve the diver of the need to calculate the depth, dive duration and even decompression times. But never without the reliable reserve of a dependable diver’s watch!
With the new Aquatimer Automatic 2000 as its basic model, the diver’s watch from Schaffhausen has found a new form – and a new peak form at that. This relates not only to its pressure resistance of up to 200 bar, but also to the increased case diameter of 44 mm. Because underwater, greater size also always means greater clarity. The newly developed external rotating diving bezel, which has taken the place of the previous inner bezel, is primarily responsible for the new face of the 2009 Aquatimer generation. There are good reasons to support these new design amendments and IWC, has extensive experience of case manufacture. Now, for reasons of functionality, it has opted for the “external” variant of this crucial component part of a diver’s watch. This was an almost “evolutionary” step was facilitated by new materials. Functionality ranked foremost in all the associated considerations: the rotating bezel had to be easy to operate under water, even when wearing gloves– of course only in the anti-clockwise direction for safety’s sake – and capable of indexing in steps of one minute. It also had to make a further significant improvement to the legibility of the recorded dive time, even under the poorest lighting conditions.
The engineers at IWC came up with a compelling idea: a rotating diving bezel with “background lighting”. Pressed into the multi-component bezel is a 4-mm wide sapphire crystal ring, to which a concentrated coating of Super-Lumi-Nova®* luminous pigment is applied to its underside. The system is thus particularly suited to night dives.
The minute hand corresponding to the marker triangle of the rotating bezel is strongly highlighted in colour in order to eliminate any possibility of confusion. The Aquatimer Automatic 2000 is available in two different dial variants: in black, with a signal yellow quarter segment for the first 15minutes on the rotating bezel, and with a yellow minute hand and a yellow arrow tip for the central seconds hand. Its kinship with the previous Aquatimer family is immediately obvious in this colour combination. Signal yellow also has a functional significance – it is filtered out under water only at a very great depth. A second variant of the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 has a white dial, the quarter segment on the rotating bezel is white and has orange numerals, and the hour hand and the tip of the seconds hand are also orange. The family name “Aquatimer” also appears in the “small print” on the dial.
From a technical point of view, the new Aquatimer Automatic 2000 – like its predecessor – is equipped with the reliable 30110 calibre automatic movement. It has a date display, and the seconds hand can be stopped for adjustment of the watch by pulling out the crown (screwed-in in normal operation).
Two bracelets and straps are available for both models: the practical and rugged IWC bracelet system in stainless steel, or a black (depending on the model also blue) rubber strap with a pin buckle. An innovative bracelet quick-change system** is also used for the completely new Aquatimer family: a locking catch – located directly within the bracelet or strap lug on the inner, protected side of the bracelet or strap –can be released by finger pressure, and the bracelet or strap can be exchanged in a matter of seconds. An optional, extended hook-and loop strap, allowing the watch to be worn over the diving suit, can also be fitted conveniently in this way.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova trade mark. The rights of the third party to this trade mark are protected.
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.
Aquatimer Automatic 2000
Ref. IW3568
Ref. IW3568
Features
Diver’s watch, pressure-resistant to 200 bar, with a mechanical movement and automatic winding, with a newly developed external rotating bezel for optimal legibility and the new bracelet quick-change system**, date display, central seconds hand.
Movement
Calibre 30110
Vibrations 28,800/h
Jewels 21
Power reserve 40 h
Winding automatic
Case
Material stainless steel
Glass sapphire, convex, antireflective
Crown screw-in
Water-resistant 200 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 14 mm
Weight
Watch in stainless steel with stainless steel bracelet 211 g
Watch in stainless steel with rubber strap 147 g
** The Aquatimer bracelet quick-change system has been developed by IWC under a patent license from Cartier.