Winding system in a Da Vinci Kurt Klaus Perpetual Calendar

Hi,

This is my first post as I am doing some research for a potential trigger-pull. Just wondering if anyone can help me with these two questions:

1. Does the Kurt Klaus Da Vinci use the Pellaton winding system, or another automatic winding design? If the latter, what system is used? For most other contemporary watches, particularly the 50 and 89 calibres, the accompanying literature usually says "Pellaton automatic winding". So I'm wondering whether its mention is omitted for the Kurt Klaus because it is understood to be present since the Pellaton system is a hallmark of IWC, or if it is indeed absent in that model.

2. Has the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar (before the current 89 calibre digital date-month model), i.e. the 79 calibres running off the Valjoux 7750 base, ever been offered in a see-through sapphire back? I know the Kurt Klaus has the limited edition number and portrait of Herr Klaus etched on the case back, but I was wondering if that took the place of an opportunity to admire the workings of the movement within.

Many thanks for any advice here. I hope this is the right forum and my apologies in advance if it is not.

Hi JBay,

Welcome to the Forum.

Here are the specifications of the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Edition Kurt Klaus

Ref. IW3762

Features
Perpetual calendar in a tonneau-shaped case with a mechanical chronograph movement, chronograph with perpetual moon phase display and four-digit year display, engraving Kurt Klaus on the back; limited editions: platinum 50 ex., white gold 50 ex. exclusively in IWC Boutiques, rose gold 500 ex.

Movement
Caliber: 79261
Vibrations: 28,800/h / 4 Hz
Jewels: 39
Power reserve: 44 h
Winding: automatic

Case
Material: platinum, 18 ct. white gold, 18 ct. rose gold
Dial: silver-plated (platinum), slate-grey ardoise (white gold),
silver-plated (rose gold)
Glass: sapphire glass, convex, antireflective
Crown: screw-in
Water-resistant: 3 bar (30 m)
Diameter: 43 mm
Height: 15.15 mm

So no Pellaton winding system.

To answer your second question, you might need to do a IWC Workbook Search to see if any had a sapphire back.

Cheers from the cellar

Wow, ok that's very useful and to the point.

I hadn't known of the Workbook resource. I've since downloaded the workbook for 3762. That will come in useful for authenticating a pre-owned. (Pity it isn't updated with the stainless steel case and does not include the weights, but it's still immensely valuable.)

Thanks, Cellar!