IWC Aquatimer

When one thinks of a dive watch, IWC isn’t a brand that springs immediately to mind. Despite other companies taking the lead in the dive watch race, however, the Schaffhausen-based firm has contributed significantly to the aquatic scene. Their compressor-cased Aqautimers from the late 1960s have since become collectible classics, while the Ocean 2000 designed with none other than Ferdinand Porsche was one of the first titanium-cased divers. All in all, the pilot’s watch-focused company has had quite an impact on the design of undersea timekeepers. This particular diver, a Reference IW356805, features a 44mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a luminous black & white sapphire insert, and a luminous glossy white dial with applied indices and a matchign handset. Powering this Aquatimer is the workhorse Valjoux 7750 automatic movement with roughly 48 hours of power reserve. Paired to a black rubber strap with a stainless s