The IWC Schaffhausen Da Vinci collection was redesigned and reproduced for this years Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), with the Swiss manufacture opting for a more classical, round design as opposed to the more angular design from previous years. Although the move is considered to be a safe move from the Swiss company, it is fast becoming very popular amongst the watch enthusiasts and collectors of today.

What has become so telling in recent years, is the fact that IWC Schaffhausen chronograph watches are becoming more and more visible on peoples’ wrists. This is not only testament to the beauty and desirability of this brand, but also the wearability and confidence to wear such a stunning watch out in public. This gives the watch a whole new light to it, especially when reviewing it from the perspective of the wearer.

It seems as if the IWC folks have taken to heart the mantra “when in doubt, go round”, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Amongst the changes at IWC, the re-styled Ingenieur and Da Vinci collection has taken away the harsh angular lines in favour for a more rounded design. Although many would consider this a ‘boring’ move, the Swiss company have certainly made up for this with finer details and intricacies on the dial, simply designed to blow you away.

One thing that is unmistakeable is the incredible beauty of the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in red gold, and without a doubt, one of the highlights of this years SIHH 2017. Along with the overall look of the watch, the dial proposes a serious, purposeful, balanced, and its quality of execution matches its look and serious price point.

The watch also features the incredible Caliber 89630; which combines the Kurt Klaus moon phase indication system and the double chronograph counters in one sub-dial – the first IWC to do so in its history. The moon phase is also incredibly accurate – with an accuracy of one day in 577.5 years.

The soft look of the applied gold indices contrast beautifully against the sharp, angular, pointy hands – a subtle but impressive detail nonetheless. IWC’s some 30-years experience in designing beautiful elegant watches, and have certainly mastered the art of making dials look understated whilst highlighting the beauty of the technicality and mastery of the mechanism.

Something which is also just as impressive is the year display function at the 7 o’clock position. The year function includes a ‘supply the century’ slide bearing the figures 22, 23 and 24 for the years 2200 to 2499.

Amongst the impeccable quality of the moon phase and year display, the IWC Da Vinci Calendar Chronograph features a 12-hour chronograph function with an automatic flyback, just to complicate the complications further on this impressive movement. The Caliber 89630 runs on a frequency of 4Hz and has a power reserve of 68 hours, which is recharged by the genuinely massive 18K red gold winding rotor – that winds in both direction. IWC claim that the 68 power reserve can be maintained whilst the chronograph function is in motion.

The case is 43mm wide and 15.5mm thick and is available in 18K red gold and steel. All in all, the new design IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph is a simply stunning looking watch that merges both an old school design without looking to pretentiously vintage. Price for the IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in Red Gold IW392101 is £34,500 and steel variant IW392103 is £25,500.