Probably this has been discussed before but I'm not sure about one question:
Is the Da Vinci completely out of production?
It's not in the current catalogs but still in the collection on this website. Is it still available with the 3 models shown here or is this just to help the dealers to sell their stock?
Without any knowledge at to the fate of the DV line, I would guess the reason would be to help shift the stock through the dealer network. But what for the future? A new DV series or new named line or nothing to replace it?
There was a statement by MF which said something like "New Da Vinci beyond 2016" - without guarantee for correct repetition.
I think I've heard also something quite some time ago that there won't be another Tonneau shaped Da Vinci. So most probably it will be round again.
I'm quite sure we will see some more fantastic Da Vinci sooner or later.
Probably as late as
[ul]
[li]2018 - for IWC's 150th anniversary[/li]
[li]2019 - for Da Vinci's (the watch not the man) 50th anniversary[/li]
[li]2019 - for Tilo's (the man not the watch) 50th anniversary (lol)[/li]
[li]before 2018 - for not waiting 3 more years for a legendary watch line[/li]
[/ul]
Originally, next year was going to be the year of the Da Vinci, with new models replacing current ones. I suspect that's why the current models aren't in the new catalog.
However, for several reasons including the recent revaluation of the Swiss franc that plan has been deferred. Next year will feature a different product line.
Thanks MF for spilling the beans - so to speak!
So we need to wait a while - but I'm sure when they arrive piece for piece, as they have been for this years Portugueiser collection - all masterpieces!
Michael, can I put my name down now for the SIHH when the Da Vinci is relaunched! Please! :-)
I'm not sure anyone can answer this, but have all the pieces of the Kurt Klaus LE been produced?
Thanks,
Larry
The steel version was limited to 3000 pieces, the rose gold version to 1000 pieces. To me that is very much for a limited edition of quite expensive watches, in a line that lacked the popularity of the Portuguese. So my guess is that they were not all produced. Although not quite a Da Vinci fan, I must say these Kurt Klaus watches looked quite nice to me.
Kind regards,
Paul
I share your opinion Paul, I think especially the 3000 in steel were not all done which makes them even rarer now.
I think these are very beautiful watches although not everybody's cup (or tonneau) of tea.
I would welcome a return to the round case DaVinci - with some eccentric lug configuration - but not quite like the Previous round-cased DaVinci of the 1980s-2004 models. The vintage DaVinci Perpetual dial and hands appeal to me very much / but the lug setup looks dated to me - not like the classic appeal of the Portuguese. I consider the DaVinci a very important watch in the history of IWCs "renaissance" and contribution to motivating the market appeal of mechanical watches.
Regarding the counts of LEs of the Edition Kurt Klaus - it was 1,000 edition of Red Gold, 500 Pink Gold, 3,000 Steel, 50 White gold, 50 Plat. Certainly, it's anyone's guess if all the red gold and steel editions were made...
I wonder what the Swiss franc has to do with it. Consistent product policy should not be dependent from the exchange rate.
Two quick comments to some of the above posts:
"Out of production" is a difficult term, since production is never continuous. I doubt that the production agenda, for example, is producing any Worldtimer Pilot's watches or some Ingenieur models in 2015. The production schedule is busy producing primarily Portuguese and Portofino models, especially the newer models. That doesn't mean that some of the other models are discontinued, but only that they may take a backseat for a while.
The Swiss Franc has gone up considerably against the Euro. Expensive models, when they become more costly, sometimes don't sell as well. It may make prudent business sense to produced some less expensive models in some economic environments, since presumably they might sell more and produce more profit.