Case: Titanium case. Water resistant to 2000 meters. Unidirectional rotating inner bezel with hour scale. Signed.

Dial: Black white white markings. Date window at 3 o’clock. Hours, minutes, and seconds. Sapphire crystal. Signed.

Movement: In-house automatic caliber A30120. 21 jewels. Power reserve of 42 hours.

Reference: IW329101.

Case Number: 6088xxx.

Diameter: 42mm, thickness: 14.5mm.

Circa: 2017.

Condition: Like new, presented with original box and papers.

More about IWC:

The use of titanium in watch cases is a modern development, having been pioneered by IWC in the 1980’s with the Porsche Design “Titane” model. In the 1970s, IWC developed a series of new strategies for targeting new markets, including working with Porsche Design to produce sportier watches. In 1982, the Ocean 2000 diving watch – reference 3500 – was shown at Basel Fair and featured a titanium case. Titanium was appealing for a number of reasons, including its lightweight, resistance to corrosion, and antimagnetic properties. However, because it is difficult to work with, it is challenging to produce a large number of watches in titanium cases.

IWC was determined to use the material and consequently developed their own fabrication techniques. Not only did they succeed in producing a titanium case for a series of watches but produced a case that had improved water resistance – to depths of 2000 meters. The cases were machined in such a way that a back case gasket was not needed, since the fit of the case back screw threads and case were so precise.

The present watch is one in a limited edition series of 350 examples to mark the 35th anniversary of the Ocean 2000 in 2017. Sized down from the original model, which had a diameter of more than 48mm, and a thickness of almost 21mm, the present example is more wearable when not wearing a dive suit.