TITAN OF THE DEEP
With the new Aquatimer Automatic 2000, IWC Schaffhausen upholds its tradition for timepieces with extremely high pressure-resistance. Its titanium case and reduced design are reminiscent of a model with iconic status: the Ocean 2000 created by Ferdinand A. Porsche in 1982.
IWC started its success story with the manufacture of diver’s watches in 1967 with the first Aquatimer, which boasted a revolutionary pressure-resistance of 20 bar. In the 1980s, when IWC was commissioned to make watches especially for commando frogmen and mine clearance divers, its ex- cellent reputation as a manufacturer of professional diver’s watches was already well established. At this time, IWC was also the only watch company in the world able to mill titanium. This corrosion-resistant, light and virtually indes- tructible material is particularly suitable for diver’s watches. In partnership with Ferdinand A. Porsche, the designer of the legendary Porsche 911, IWC created six versions of diver’s watches for military use, including a watch for mine clearance divers, with the first completely nonmagnetic mechanical movement. This was crucial to survival during the tricky job of deactivating magnetic fuses. Parallel to this, in 1982, IWC began producing the Ocean 2000 sports diver’s watch with an external rotating bezel, likewise de- signed by Ferdinand A. Porsche. It was the first series- produced diver’s watch in titanium with tested pressure- resistance to 200 bar, which is equivalent to a depth of 2,000 metres. “The first Porsche that can dive”, as the ad- vertising slogan ran, wrote diving history not only because of its pressure-resistance. There was also the austere func- tional design, the new case material and a screw-in crown with triple sealing, all of which marked an important step forward in the development of IWC’s diver’s watches. Today, the Ocean 2000 watches designed by Porsche are style icons and much sought-after collector’s items. In 1998, IWC reinstated the traditional Aquatimer name and launched the Aquatimer GST Automatic 2000 in titanium as part of a new sports watch line. Six years later, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 was first unveiled to the public. Like the original 1967 Aquatimer, it had an internal rotating bezel that was set via a self-sealing crown at “4 o’clock”. But with its next generation of the Aquatimer Automatic 2000, in 2009, IWC had already reverted to the tried and tested external rotating bezel. Before the watch’s market launch, the team formerly around Jacques Cousteau tested the functionality of the new “2000s” in the Red Sea and gave it their seal of approval.
A RELIABLE DIVE BUDDY
Built for extreme depths, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 (Ref. IW358002), water-resistant to 200 bar, maintains IWC’s tradition of manufacturing timepieces with extremely high pressure-resistance for professional and ambitious amateur divers. The Aquatimer’s main job is to provide a reliable way of measuring dive time, which is limited by the amount of compressed air in the tank. Digital diving computers long ago took over the job of continuously tracking dive time, but experienced divers still swear by an additional time- keeper as a backup system for underwater missions. The reliable IWC-manufactured 80110 movement is eminently suited to this purpose. The case’s water-resistance to a depth of 2,000 metres should be viewed as a safety re- serve. Besides, during a dive, static water pressure is com- bined with the dynamic pressure generated, for example, by movements of the arms. But even at maximum attain- able depths, diving with the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 is definitely playing it safe.
INSPIRED BY THE PORSCHE DESIGN FOR THE OCEAN 2000
Like all the new IWC diver’s watches in the current collec- tion, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 in titanium is fitted with the innovative external/internal rotating bezel system. The internal rotating bezel can only be turned anticlockwise. This ensures that even if a diver moves the bezel acciden- tally, he does not exceed the time at which he can return safely to the surface without the need for decompression stops. A sliding clutch system concealed under the cover at “9 o’clock” transmits the movement of the external bez- el to the interior of the case and the internal rotating bezel. In the rounded recessed grips on the titanium bezel and the extremely reduced dial design, watch lovers will spot references to the Porsche design for the Ocean 2000. The milled-out sections typical of the design not only make it easier to turn the external rotating bezel when wearing gloves; they also give the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 an optical sensation of lightness, despite the fact that the case, at 46 millimetres, is 2 millimetres wider than its predecessor in stainless steel. The traditionally elaborate finishing on the case, with its contrasting polished and satin-finished sur- faces, helps underscore the upmarket appearance of the new collection. The black dial has a three-dimensional struc- ture that creates an optical balance to the imposing size of the case. Leaning on diver’s watches of the past, the indices with their green luminescent coating are divided by a fine strip. In order to exclude any chance of confusion under- water, the Super-LumiNova®* coating comes in two different colours: green for the displays relevant to the dive and blue for the hour display. The watch also features a rapid- advance date display. The central hacking seconds can be stopped simply by pulling out the crown.
PATENTED IWC BRACELET QUICK-CHANGE SYSTEM
The corrugated rubber strap adjusts flexibly to fluctuations in the girth of the wrist. Thanks to the IWC bracelet quick- change system, swapping the strap for a bracelet or vice versa is a snap. A longer version for use with a dry dive suit is included with the watch. In the new Aquatimer collection, IWC reverts to its earlier practice of showing water-resistance on the back of the watch: the impressive pressure- resistance is shown in bar alongside the stylized fish. The back is also embellished with the engraving of a classic helmet for deep-sea divers.
* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova® trademark.
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AQUATIMER AUTOMATIC 2000
REF. IW358002
FEATURES
Mechanical movement – Mechanical external/internal rotating bezel with IWC SafeDive system – Date display – Central hacking seconds – Luminescent elements on hands, dial and internal rotating bezel – Screw-in crown – Back engraving – IWC bracelet quick-change system
MOVEMENT
- IWC in-house calibre 80110
- Frequency 28,800 A/h / 4 Hz
- Jewels 28
- Power reserve 44 h
- Winding automatic
WATCH
- Materials titanium case, black dial, black rubber strap, pin buckle in titanium
- Glass sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant 200 bar
- Diameter 46 mm
- Case height 20.5 mm