IWC is regarded by many as the Swiss watchmaker that has inherited German engineering and Bauhaus aesthetic. In 1982, Porsche Design collaborated with the brand and launched the Ocean 2000, the first extremely pressure-resistant diver’s watch that functions on dives of up to 2,000 metres.
In 1982, renowned German industrial designer Ferdinand Porsche and IWC worked together to develop an anti-magnetic diving watch for the German Navy. Later the same design was released to the market by Porsche Design as the Ocean 500 and Ocean 2000 with water resistance level of up to 500 and 2000 metres respectively. Both models feature a titanium case and chain, and an IWC Cal. 3752-1 automatic movement. IWC has also released professional diver’s watches based on the Ocean 2000 since then, including Aquatimer Deep One which was the first watch equipped with a mechanical depth gauge system. On the bezel there are are three scales in alternative yellow and white: the inner one is the minute scale, the middle one is rotatable for monitoring dive time, while the outer is for indicating water depth from 0 to 45 metres.
IWC launched the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Edition “35 Years Ocean 2000” earlier this year. Utilising the same features of a titanium case and water resistance to 2000 metres, the new watch has an additional helium release valve, while the recessed grips on the rotating bezel pays tribute to the original design. The watch is limited to 350 examples.
