Manufacturer: IWC Year: 1971 Reference No: 1811 Movement No: 1’971’853 Case No: 1'931'393 Model Name: Yacht Club Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 8541, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 36.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by IWC Certificat confirming production of the present watch and its subsequent sale on July 6, 1971
Catalogue Essay
In 1967, IWC launched the “Yacht Club” model, an obvious effort on part of the company to enter a new market segment. The model was intended for young, dynamic and debonair audience. The name says in fact it all: it is a watch that can be worn in the suave atmosphere of a yacht club while sipping champagne and admiring a Sardinian sunset, but robust and reliable enough to be worn during the preceding regatta.
Part of the “Club” family, together with the Polo Club and Golf Club, this model was by far the most successful of the three, both at the time of its commercialisation, and in current times with collectors.
The present timepiece is a unique specimen of this landmark watch: in depth research discloses that it was sold in Hong Kong in July 1971. Unfortunately, IWC archives do not provide detail on watch dials, but accurate examination of both sides of the dial and the fact that even the date ring has been realized in the same particular tonality prompted us to believe in the absolute originality of the timepieces. In order to dispel any possible doubt, the watch - together with its green sibling (successive lot) - was physically sent to IWC. After in depth examination, they concluded that the dial is a 100% original IWC product, and was most probably originally fitted on this timepiece. While the absence of a dial record prevented IWC from mentioning the dial on the Extract, David Seyffer - Heritage director of IWC - was kind enough to provide this comment:
"The two dials are highly rare; They are a design experiment from IWCs dial supplier. Only a few dials of the two variants exist. They were available in green and blue. Additionally, there was the corresponding date disc in the same colour. Officially, Yacht Club watches with these dials were never advertised. This makes the two pieces really very special.”
We deeply thank the IWC Heritage Department for their support in researching these pieces.
With 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.