The Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 in IWC Schaffhausen’s new Da Vinci collection is a ladies’ watch with a moon phase display that’s both luxurious and technically sophisticated.

There is a choice of three models: one in red gold with a bronze-coloured alligator leather strap, one in a stainless-steel case with 54 diamonds on the bezel and a dark brown alligator leather strap, and one in stainless steel with a dark blue alligator leather strap, all with silver-plated dials.

The watch has a diameter of 36 mm, a moon phase complication, a semicircular crown and elegant materials. 

The recessed inner circle, which adds a more pronounced three-dimensional structure to the silver-plated dial and emphasiwes circularity as a design feature of the line – together with the richly coloured Santoni alligator leather straps – complements the feminine appeal of the watch that is water-resistant to 3 bar. 

The new lugs with their moving horns ensure that the strap fits perfectly round the wrist and is comfortable to wear. 

The mechanical 35800-calibre automatic movement powers this model, while pulling the crown enables stopping of the central seconds to set the watch. 

The “Flower of Life”, a geometrical figure with several regularly overlapping circles and object of intensive study by Leonardo da Vinci, is engraved on the case back.


HARMONY 

The version in 18-carat red gold (Ref. IW459308) is the outstanding gem among the trio.

An impressive ensemble in gold, it comprises a 36-mm case, striking horns, a semi-circular crown and a bronze-coloured alligator leather strap by Santoni with a pin buckle. The gold-and-blue moon phase rounds off the harmonious overall impression. 

While the actual length of a lunar month is 29.53 days, the classic moon phase design has a gear train that rounds it down to 29.5 days. The gear train advances the disc automatically by a single tooth each day to depict the correct phase of the moon. When necessary, the display can be adjusted via the correction button at “2 o’clock” using the pin supplied with the watch. 

A total of 54 white diamonds encircle the stainless-steel model (Ref. IW459307). A dark brown alligator leather strap with a butterfly clasp complements the model with the diamond-set bezel. On the silver-plated dial, the shades of gold used for the numerals as well as the hour and minute hands alternate with the blue of the seconds hand and harmonize with the gold-and-blue moon phase display.

In the case of Reference IW459306 in stainless steel, the dial, moon and stars are finished in shimmering silver while the displays, sky and Santoni leather strap with its stainless-steel butterfly clasp are all dark blue. The power reserve for the three models is 42 hours.

The Swiss watchmaker honours Leonardo da Vinci’s contribution to the common understanding of aesthetics during the Renaissance with an engraving of the “Flower of Life” on the back of the watch. In his notebooks and sketches, the artist focused his attention intensively on the mathematically designed circular structure, in which there are no irregularities and everything is interconnected. Its basic geometry is the source of several mathematical and universal laws, such as Pythagoras’s theorem, Platonic solids or the golden section, as well as findings on human proportions.

IWC relaunched its Da Vinci collection this year with six new models - the Automatic 36, the Automatic 40, the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph, a special Chronograph Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and the Automatic Moon Phase 36.