IWC Schaffhausen - Collector's Forum

IWC Schaffhausen - Collector's Forum
Collectors Forum
  • search
Home / Contemporary timepieces / The Amalfi sisters part 1 aka the ref 3703
  1. Threads
  2. Contemporary timepieces
chevron_left Contemporary timepieces

The Amalfi sisters part 1 aka the ref 3703

  • forum 15 replies
  • last reply by ducsurfer 28 Feb 2011
  • Last
  • link
    Mr. Tonny Berteloot
    Moderator 3567 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 1:06 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 1:06 a.m.
    link

    The Amalfi chrono, ref 3703

    users.telenet.be/tonnyb/duo%20front.JPG
    In the early nineties, IWC build a classic chronograph, called Amalfi.
    I found it in the 1991,92 and 93 catalogues. I saw a publication of IWC that it was sold
    between october 1991 and july 1995, but in the catalogue I have from 1991, there
    is a pricelist from april 1991 with the ref.3703 already mentioned.
    The prices were for the YG 16.900 DM and for the PT model 25.100 DM.
    To give an idea of the price setting I looked at the prices for the ref.3750
    Da Vinci perpetual and that was for the YG 24.700 DM. The price for the
    Ref.3540, the YG Ingenieur perpetual was 22.650 DM.
    So you can say that the price for the Amalfi was very high, being only
    a chronograph.
    I heard that that was the reason the Amalfi was not a bestseller.
    Numbers I have are in total 1066 ref. 3703 made ; 170 in PT , 768 in YG with white
    dial and 128 in YG with black dial.

    As you can see, the design was inspired by the Grande Complication and the round
    shapes, the domed crystal and the stepped case of the Da Vinci Perpetual .

    users.telenet.be/tonnyb/amalfi%20and%20gc%20back.JPG
    users.telenet.be/tonnyb/da%20vinci%20crown.jpg

    The dials seems to be in porcelain, but I couldn’t find any confirmation on that.
    part 2 : www.iwc.com/forum-en/topic/226647.html

  • link
    Michael Friedberg
    Moderator 11468 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 3:29 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 3:29 a.m.
    link

    Tony, nice watch. A few quick technical comments:

    1. The dial can't be porcelain; that would crack. I know of no ceramic dials, but I'd guess you mean enamel. That's theoretically possible, but I doubt it for any chrongraph (too difficult for the subdials, etc.). I suspect it's shiny coating, like on the FA Jones wristwatches.

    2. While there's some similarity to the Da Vinci, I'd argue that the Da Vinci takes it's stepped case from the decade-earlier 3710, and the crystal on the Amalfi is raised, more like the 3710. But that's of course a "chicken or the egg" historical reintreptation by me ;)

  • link
    Bill B.
    Master 6724 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 5:26 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 5:26 a.m.
    link

    Tonny,

    Congratulations. Your persistence and patience have paid off. It's nice to know the Amalfi has landed with its new owner and will have a home with a sister as well. Thanks for sharing your photos with us.

  • link
    Greg Steer
    Master 2688 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 5:48 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 5:48 a.m.
    link

    Classic watch. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your pictures.

    Cheers from the cellar

  • link
    roberto muraglia
    Master 2108 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 6:06 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 6:06 a.m.
    link

    Finally! I was waiting for this.

    Congratulations Tonny! Thank you for sharing!

    It was worth to wait.

    MF has written:

    Tony, nice watch. A few quick technical comments:

    1. The dial can't be porcelain; that would crack. I know of no ceramic dials, but I'd guess you mean enamel. That's theoretically possible, but I doubt it for any chrongraph (too difficult for the subdials, etc.). I suspect it's shiny coating, like on the FA Jones wristwatches.

    Theorically it could be possible, since melting point for copper is 1083°C while porcelain is slightly below 1000°, maybe Tonny meant "porcelain effect", something we (in Italy) call "porcellanato", sort of "look like porcelain".

    Thank you Michael for the further info about this charming watch, so, no enamel dial, ok!

    Regards,

    roberto

  • link
    Cinq
    Master 5431 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 7:14 a.m. 29 Nov 2010, 7:14 a.m.
    link

    Two lovely sisters Tonny! Good to finally see some pictures of them.

    Kind regards,

    Clemens

  • link
    Stuart Mogell
    Connoisseur 391 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 2:13 p.m. 29 Nov 2010, 2:13 p.m.
    link

    Nice pair.
    I found one too. A little worn, no accessories but still quite lovely.

    i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/smogell/IWC%203703/IMG_0235.jpg

    i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/smogell/IWC%203703/IMG_0233.jpg

    i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/smogell/IWC%203703/IMG_0236.jpg

  • link
    Mr. Ivan Melbourne
    Master 1918 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 5:13 p.m. 29 Nov 2010, 5:13 p.m.
    link

    Tonny
    A great pair of watches.
    Congratulations

    Ivan
    iwcforme

  • link
    Rave
    Master 3148 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 8:05 p.m. 29 Nov 2010, 8:05 p.m.
    link

    Having had the opportunity to have a long hard look at the platinum Amalfi, I can confirm it is an absolutely stunning watch. Photos do not do justice to platinum. You have to hold it and feel the weight. The dial is mesmerising and the solid back with its engraving gives the watch a certain quality that is lost with display backs.

    Congratulations, Tonny.

  • link
    Justin Breen
    Insider 74 posts
    29 Nov 2010, 9:49 p.m. 29 Nov 2010, 9:49 p.m.
    link

    Well done Tonny. A stunning pair of watches.

    Regards,
    Justin

  • link
    dzul
    Master 3985 posts
    30 Nov 2010, 12:25 a.m. 30 Nov 2010, 12:25 a.m.
    link

    Beautiful sisters, Tonny! Thanks for the photos and congratulations on a superb acquisition to your collection.

  • link
    Evan Nanos
    Master 652 posts
    5 Dec 2010, 8:27 a.m. 5 Dec 2010, 8:27 a.m.
    link

    Tonny, congrats! Indeed very mesmerizing dial.
    Thanks for posting the pictures

    Cheers,
    Evan

  • link
    8541
    Master 4484 posts
    5 Dec 2010, 10:42 a.m. 5 Dec 2010, 10:42 a.m.
    link

    Tonny Hi,

    Excellent catch ! ..and interesting discussion about the dial.

    Now, why don't we organize a little BeNeLux CTG - get Nicky to bring along her consulting hat and some tools, and we can open it up an take a look :~)

    Jokes aside though - I would urge you to continue the quest of finding out the dial material. a) because it is most interesting and b) probably you will find that like this watch, it's something limited.

    Enjoy this timepiece.

    Best regards
    Mark

  • link
    Richard Sheridan
    Master 4181 posts
    6 Dec 2010, 2:01 a.m. 6 Dec 2010, 2:01 a.m.
    link

    Tonny - A sublime pair. The blued hands on the yellow gold are a nice contrast. I dare say that the backside of the Amalfi is as interesting.

  • link
    Larry Seiden
    Master 1243 posts
    6 Dec 2010, 5:19 a.m. 6 Dec 2010, 5:19 a.m.
    link

    Tonny,

    What a great set of twins! You can never go wrong with a classic. And in this case, you have them both.

    Beautfiul!

    Best,
    Larry

  • link
    Martin Haener
    Apprentice 4 posts
    28 Feb 2011, 11:50 p.m. 28 Feb 2011, 11:50 p.m.
    link

    have any of you ever seen any unworn 18k Amalfis being offered?

There are no more posts in this thread.


SHARE

facebooktwitterpinterestLinkedInWeibo

FEEDS

RSS Feed / Atom Feed

Contact

Contact Our Concierge

Email +1-800-432-9330
Back to iwc.com
Conditions of Sale
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE