Property of an Eclectic Asian Collector
12
IWC
Ref. 3502
Porsche Design Ocean 500
A fine and attractive titanium diver’s wristwatch with date and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$20,000 - 40,000•€2,200 - 4,400$2,600 - 5,100
HK$25,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- IWC
- Year
- 1985, Switzerland
- Reference No
- 3502
- Movement No
- 2’398’577
- Case No
- 2’351’196
- Model Name
- Porsche Design Ocean 500
- Material
- Titanium
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3752, 21 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Titanium IWC bracelet, max length 170mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Titanium IWC deployant clasp; signed Porsche Design
- Dimensions
- 34mm diameter
- Signed
- Movement, bracelet and clasp signed, dial and clasp signed Porsche Design
- Accessories
- Delivered with IWC certificate of authenticity confirming production of the present timepiece on 15 August 1985.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
• The IWC Ocean 500, designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and launched in 1983, is a highly collectible diver’s watch known for its pioneering use of full titanium construction. A smaller sibling to the Ocean 2000, it offers water resistance up to 500 meters.
• The Ocean 500 was also marketed as a ladies’ watch, as indicated by its relatively compact 34mm case diameter. One of the most distinctive features of ref. 3502, compared to other titanium watches from the IWC x Porsche Design collaboration, is its noticeably darker surface finish that appears almost black. IWC referred to the coating material as TiCON and claimed it to be ten times harder than pure titanium. According to the catalogue, this material was used exclusively for the Porsche Design dive watches references 3500 and 3502, as well as the SL Automatic models 3517 and 4417. The present 1985 example is fitted with an early dial, which only bears the “Porsche Design” signature along with its logo, and is paired with a first-generation bracelet. These features suggest that it is an earlier production example of this reference.
• The partnership between IWC and Porsche Design, which began in 1978, is regarded as one of the most iconic collaborations in watchmaking history. The Ocean 500 exemplifies this legacy, combining IWC’s technical expertise with Porsche’s design innovation. Its robust titanium case, integrated bracelet, and heavily lumed black dial reflect a perfect blend of form and function. The watch not only pushed the boundaries of material use in the 1980s but also introduced a new design language that remains influential. Today, the Ocean 500 is celebrated for its historical significance, enduring aesthetics, and its role in shaping the future of collaborative watch design.
• The Ocean 500 was also marketed as a ladies’ watch, as indicated by its relatively compact 34mm case diameter. One of the most distinctive features of ref. 3502, compared to other titanium watches from the IWC x Porsche Design collaboration, is its noticeably darker surface finish that appears almost black. IWC referred to the coating material as TiCON and claimed it to be ten times harder than pure titanium. According to the catalogue, this material was used exclusively for the Porsche Design dive watches references 3500 and 3502, as well as the SL Automatic models 3517 and 4417. The present 1985 example is fitted with an early dial, which only bears the “Porsche Design” signature along with its logo, and is paired with a first-generation bracelet. These features suggest that it is an earlier production example of this reference.
• The partnership between IWC and Porsche Design, which began in 1978, is regarded as one of the most iconic collaborations in watchmaking history. The Ocean 500 exemplifies this legacy, combining IWC’s technical expertise with Porsche’s design innovation. Its robust titanium case, integrated bracelet, and heavily lumed black dial reflect a perfect blend of form and function. The watch not only pushed the boundaries of material use in the 1980s but also introduced a new design language that remains influential. Today, the Ocean 500 is celebrated for its historical significance, enduring aesthetics, and its role in shaping the future of collaborative watch design.
IWC
Swiss | 1868With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world's leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining high precision with masculine design. Vintage wristwatches such as the oversized Portugieser, Aquatimer, Ingenieur and the B-UHR pilots watch are especially desirable for collectors.
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