Inspired by HMS Beagle, the brig-sloop which transported Charles Darwin on his voyage to the Galápagos Islands in 1832 (the vessel’s portholes, nautical instruments and fittings were all cast in corrosion-resistant bronze), IWC’s Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Charles Darwin” was a highlight of this year’s SIHH Watch Fair in Geneva.
Complete with 30-bar water resistance (to 300m depth), this unique take on IWC’s classic Aquatimer is the first example of bronze being used in the Swiss marque’s timepieces. Designed to take on a patina and darkening hue over time, the watch features a contrasting contemporary black rubber strap, while the Darwin-inspired theme continues on the case back, where a portrait of the famed naturalist is engraved.
The watch also boasts a 68-hour power reserve, a minutes and seconds stopwatch function, date display and luminescent bronze hands and indices on the matte black dial, making it perfect for diving in the Galápagos, or a dip in Guildford Lido.
£8,250 by IWC
Photo Credit: Bruno Drummond
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