Press release -
IWC – Timeless Classics at Auction
At this autumn’s international auction at Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers in Copenhagen, we focus on Swiss wristwatches from IWC with many of the well-known models, including Ocean 2000 designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1982.
"The classic wristwatches from IWC are highly sought after today – on par with Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega. This time we present the legendary IWC Ocean 2000, which was designed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche himself. The watch was the first diving watch made of titanium and is also waterproof down to 2000 meters – it was even designed without a helium escape valve. In other words, Ocean 2000 was cutting edge, when it was presented in 1982," says Kristian Haagen, wristwatch specialist at Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers.
The Ocean 2000 watch itself was produced by IWC and is today considered one of the most successful diving watches that has ever been produced. It is quite extraordinary for Bruun Rasmussen to be able to offer two of these watches – in "almost like new" condition no less.
Watchmakers, Modern Technology and Hydropower
IWC – The International Watch Company – is 150 years old. It was established by the American watchmaking pioneer, Florentine Ariosto Jones, who founded the company in Schaffhausen (Switzerland) in 1868. He drew on the help of eminently qualified Swiss watchmakers, modern technology and hydropower sourced from the nearby River Rhine to manufacture watch movements of the highest possible quality.
Historic Timepieces
IWC’s watch family consists of several historic timepieces: The Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci and Portofino – most of them are represented at the upcoming auction. They represent the broad range of the company’s watchmaking expertise: from robust watches for everyday use to professional sports watches. The auction also presents exclusive wristwatches from other legendary brands such as Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe.
Auction: Thursday, 21 September at 7 pm, Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen
Preview: 14-18 September at the same address
View all IWC wristwatches
View all the lots with wristwatches
Topics
Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers is one of Scandinavia’s leading international auction houses, and one of Denmark’s oldest. It all started on 6 October 1948, when Arne Bruun Rasmussen conducted the first traditional auction in the saleroom at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen. Today, Jesper Bruun Rasmussen stands at the helm of the family-run business together with the third generation of the family, his son Frederik and daughter Alexa, and the company’s CEO Jakob Dupont.
In 2004, the first online auction was launched, and today the auction house has expanded to include departments in Copenhagen and Aarhus and representations in Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, Italy, Thailand and the US. About 100,000 lots are put up for auction each year at the traditional auctions and daily online auctions. Here you can bid on everything from art, antiques, modern design and jewellery to books, coins, stamps, wine and weaponry.
