THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: IWC
MODEL: 1811
YEAR: 1970
BOX/PAPERS: NO/YES (IWC Certificate of Authenticity)
CASE DIAMETER: 36mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
For the discerning collector, this is a truly extraordinary opportunity to own one of only two known examples of the IWC Yacht Club made with a rare and captivating green Aventurine dial. Aventurine being a gemstone found in a deep blue hue, and as per this dial - a vibrant dark green. The Yacht Club model itself, introduced in the late 1960s, was a stylish yet casual timepiece, the Yacht Club series set the stage for future integrated sports watches, offering both luxury and practicality in a mildly water-resistant steel case.
While green dials are now en vogue, this piece predates the trend by decades, offering an aesthetic and rarity that more modern pieces struggle to replicate and housed in a perfectly proportioned 36mm case. What makes this example so unique is the Aventurine dial - a mesmerising, texturised shade of green said to have been a design experiment by IWC’s supplier. Its pattern evokes a Florentine metal finish, but in exquisite green hues, making this one-of-only-two known with our research indicating only one other in green coming up for sale, alongside an equally rare blue-dial variant.
The attention to detail in this model is astounding. The date wheel, matched to the dial’s aventurine texture, is a delightful detail you may miss at first glance. The case remains sharp and well-preserved and retains its original fish crown, GF bracelet, and clasp. Light surface wear to the case is present but the dial remains in pristine condition, with no signs of corrosion or fading.
The 1811 is powered by the IWC calibre 8542 movement, featuring the innovative Pellaton winding system - also found in the iconic 812 Aquatimer and Ingenieur models of the era. Benefitting from a recent service it runs at an exceptional +2 seconds per day, at 300 degrees of amplitude with 0.2ms of beat error.
Accompanied by an IWC certificate of authenticity, this 1811, with its scarcity and dial variant, combined with its impeccable condition, makes this a truly exciting example of an already beautiful reference.
David Seyffer - Heritage Director of IWC provided The 2021 Phillips ‘Geneva Watch Auction: XIII’ the following statement;
"The two dials are highly rare; They are a design experiment from IWCs dial supplier. Only a few dials of the two variants exist. They were available in green and blue. Additionally, there was the corresponding date disc in the same colour. Officially, Yacht Club watches with these dials were never advertised. This makes the two pieces really very special.”