105th Auction

2021/11/13

Lot 150

International Watch Co.
Yacht Club

An attractive vintage wristwatch with an extremely rare blue marbled dial

Sold

estimated
12.00020.000 €
Price realized
15.000 €
specific features
Case
Steel, screw back, IWC buckle.
Dial
Blue marbled.
Movement
Automatic.
Case no.1931121
Ref.R811AD
Cal.8541B
Diam.36 x 43 mm
Circa1968
Ctry.Switzerland
Wt.200 g


In May 2021 Phillips, Geneva auctioned a Yacht Club with an identical blue marbled dial and another with a green marbled dial for approximately CHF 22,500 each.
IWC Heritage Department Curator Dr David Seyffer noted: "The two dial versions are highly rare; they are a design experiment from IWC's dial supplier. Only a few dials of the two variants exist. They were available in green and blue. Additionally, there was the corresponding date disc in the same colour. Officially, Yacht Club watches with these dials were never advertised. This makes the two pieces really very special".
This Yacht Club is in excellent condition; the cushion-shaped steel case, measuring 36 mm in width, has still crispy edges and the bevels of the matt finish is clearly visible. The mirror-polished bezel offers a beautiful contrast to the polished surface of the case.
The blue marbled dial with matching blue date ring is stunning and reminiscent of a starry night sky. The dial bears the applied IWC logo and the date aperture has a dark, applied frame.