Da Vinci and Novecento

The 2007 novelties seen the fabulous release of a new Da Vinci range. Being in SIHH during that time I was caught up in the emotion of the event and the new Da Vinci family and recently I have been asking myself was it the best thing for the Da Vinci family for the new Tonneau cases to join the famous round and also the earlier "hexagonal" cases of the early Da Vinci's.

Clearly a watch is more than how it looks and having a daring evolution and in fact an innovative evolution to the current Da vinci range was quite a big (if not a very big) step.

Other IWC sub-families have not had perhaps such a big design evolution.......or maybe there has been if I sit down and study the evolution of all of the sub-families. Something for this evening...?

Although the Novecento family had relatively small impact for IWC I feel that the 2007 Da Vinci's are more related to the Novecento family and can see them more in this light......

Any thoughts on this or other related evolution of IWC sub-families ?

Andrew

Andrew's Code

I can see the resemblance with Novecento although it looks more JLC to me in the appearance and the “heart” of it than IWC. However IWC had filled a gap in the current collection and made a giant step forward with this model both in terms of technology and aesthetics.
I believe the 89000 caliber family will dominate in the market. I do like the looks and the innovation involved in the Da Vinci.
But most of all I like the name hasn't changed.

Thank you Andrew for such an interesting thought.

Best regards
Argiris

My formula: Da Vinci = Chronograph + perpetual cal

I don't necessarily see a relation between the DaVinci and the Novecento. The Novecento is not a true IWC watch for me as I lack the idea of a "maschine" on my wrist (The Novecento is much too small and thin).
I believe the old DaVinci became an icon because it combined the chronograph and the perpetual calendar at an affordable prize. We could make a bet when we will get the tonneau shaped DaVinci with caliber 89000 and a perpetual calendar module as a true successor for the old DaVinci icon. In my opinion the change to the tonneau shape was a "must" to differentiate the new DaVinci from the Portugieser family (and not to "canibalize" the Portugieser sales).
As a conclusion: I like the tonneau shaped DaVinci because this watch continuously raises discussions with friends and relations (much more than any other of my watches including the tourbillon)
Urs

Not sure I see the similarity at all

other than the non-round cases. I never had a Novocento, but as far as I know, they are rectangular and to the thin side. The DaVincis, on the other hand, are quite the large chunks. I really like the new movement and the way the elapsed minutes read so intuitively, just like the main time hands.

Am I missing something more subtle in the comparison you are drawing?

I cant organise

my thoughts so well to explain what I am "feeling" - but one theme is I would have prefered to see the new Da Vinci movements in round cased watches. I think there was enough innovation in the movement alone to merit - without adding on top of a tonneau innovation as well.

Andrew