Continuing a legacy of preservation since IWC began working with the Charles Darwin Foundation in 2009, IWC now turns their considerable attention to solving the issue of increasing numbers of shark species facing extinction. The result is the IWC Aquatimer Shark Edition, an effort which Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen aims to raise awareness of the 100 million or so sharks caught each year while living in environments which suffer from depleted food resources, further impacting the endangered species.
Exclusive Special Edition: IWC Aquatimer Shark Edition
The special edition of the Schaffhausen manufacture’s Aquatimer diver’s watch comes in a limited production of 500 watches as denoted by the caseback engraving of a unique hammerhead shark. The IWC Aquatimer Shark Edition is a chronograph edition exclusively packaged with Michael Muller’s TASCHEN book “Sharks” from which this special edition diver’s chronograph draws its name.
Michael Muller has been a photographer for the last 30 years. For the last decade he has focussed on shark species all across the planet using his patented underwater strobe lighting system. (PPR/IWC/William Bradford)
Though he is best known for his striking portraitures of celebrities including Joaquin Phoenix, Robert Downey Jr., and Hugh Jackman. His other work involve the dramatic style promotional materials for Iron Man and Wolverine films. His most influential work to date remains the photographer’s signature up-close underwater shark photography already featured on international media channels like the Travel Channel and in globally circulated magazines like Entertainment Weekly; now, his work is also found together with the IWC Aquatimer Shark Edition.
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Sharks” (Ref. IW379506) is limited to 500 watches. The engraving on the case back depicts a group of hammerhead sharks swimming. The distinctive grey dial was inspired by the colour of many sharks. Enclosed in a stainless-steel case, the timepiece is driven by an IWC-manufactured 89365 calibre. (PPR/IWC)
The limited production diver’s chronograph comes with the collector’s edition TASCHEN book signed by Muller and presented in the equally thematic bite-proof metal shark cage. Limited to 500 watches, the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Sharks” (Ref. IW379506) with distinctive grey dial is reminiscent of the hues presented by the silvery slate grey skin tones of the myriad of shark species.
The Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Sharks” (Ref. IW379506) is limited to 500 watches. The engraving on the case back depicts a group of hammerhead sharks swimming. The distinctive grey dial was inspired by the colour of many sharks. Enclosed in a stainless-steel case, the timepiece is driven by an IWC-manufactured 89365 calibre. (PPR/IWC)
Ensconced within a stainless steel case and powered by the in-house IWC 89365 calibre, the diver’s chronograph is rated to a depth of 30 bar and deatures a yback function, a self-winding system and a power reserve of 68 hours. Dive times can be set using the mechanical external/internal rotating bezel; these features join the iconic IWC collection’s design elements like high visibility internal rotating bezel and the IWC SafeDive system which ensures that the internal rotating bezel can only be adjusted in uni-directionally much like a how a traditional dive bezel would operate.
The “Sharks” bundle, comprising a limited-edition watch and a copy of the limited-edition book, is available to buy in IWC boutiques now.
A 12 foot shark turns off 2 feet from Michael Muller’s lens. These sharks normally avoid contact with humans at all costs, but in the last decade a group of Divers have gone diving with this group of sharks repeatedly. With each dive the sharks got more and more comfortable with their presence. (PPR/IWC/Michael Muller)
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Reviews without a price are pretty worthless.