SIHH 2017 – IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks you should already be aware that 2017 is the year of the Da Vinci for IWC. In layman’s terms that means that Schaffhausen-based manufacturer has completely overhauled the Da Vinci collection this year, complete with a return to the more traditional (and in my opinion, more attractive) round case. Included within this newly revamped collection is the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”, a special watch with an ulterior motive. Read on to find out what it is.

New models will be coming thick and fast from IWC at SIHH 2017 however one in particular stands out; the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”. Sure, it’s not the most complicated model in the new collection, or even the most exciting to be completely honest but it can do something none of the other watches can; help people. Disadvantaged children and young people to be exact. Part of the proceeds from the sale of each watch go directly to the Laureus Foundation and contributes to the funding of its projects. Now doesn’t that make you feel good inside?

The Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” is no charity case however. This is a legitimate timepiece with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from IWC, including a manufacture movement. The in-house, automatic 89361 chronograph calibre with 68-hour power reserve to be precise, belonging to the same 89000-calibre family as the 89630 calibre powering the new IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph we told you about last week. There’s no Perpetual Calendar of course but the Da Vinci Chronograph Laureus Edition does offer a chronograph with fly-back functionality.

The watch is offered in a very wearable 42mm x 14.5mm stainless steel case and has been paired with a gorgeous blue dial. The dial lay-out is similar to IWC’s popular Portugieser Chronograph, with the hours and minutes shown on the central dial and the small, hacking seconds shown on the sub-dial at six o-clock which also has a date window cut into the bottom of it. The hour and minute counters have been combined in a totalizer at “12 o’clock”, and there’s also a red-tipped central seconds chronograph hand.

Like other models in the new Da Vinci collection we’ve already shown you, the case of the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” features IWC’s newly developed moving horns with curved lugs to ensure that the black alligator leather strap by Santoni fits your wrist perfectly. What does set this particular model apart from the others however is what’s on the back. One of the hallmarks of all Laureus special editions is an engraving on the case back. Traditionally the brand organizes an annual children’s drawing competition within all the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation projects worldwide. The motto this year was “Time Well Spent”, and the jury singled out a drawing by 12-year-old Hou Ye from Shanghai. Despite a mental handicap and limited motor abilities, Hou Ye is a passionate participant in the Special Olympics East Asia. His winning picture shows himself on skis, laughing happily as he sets his own personal best time. Very inspiring.

Although this particular model is a limited edition it gives us a pretty good idea of what we can expect from the brand in terms of the new non-limited Da Vinci Chronograph. Stay tuned for more details on that as SIHH 2017 gets underway.

Specifications of the 2017 IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”

• Case: 42mm diameter x 14.5mm height – stainless steel, movable lugs – sapphire crystal on front, engraved case back – water resistant to 30m
• Movement: Calibre 89361, in-house – Automatic – 4Hz frequency – 38 jewels – 68H power reserve – Flyback chronograph – date.
• Strap: Santoni alligator leather strap in black with stainless-steel folding clasp
• Reference: IW393402
• Price: 13,700 Euro (subject to changes)