Every now and then we run into watches that are true ‘rare birds’. How often do you get to see a diving watch equipped with a perpetual calendar? Not very often, right? The IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ is one of those watches that you rarely see in the wild and one that is worth talking about in our ‘rare birds’ section. Released in 2017 in a limited edition of 50 pieces to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Aquatimer —launched in 1967—, this watch was one of those ‘sleepers’ that barely any watch media —including us here at WCL— talked about. And most that did, didn’t even publish any live pictures of it. As you guys know, here at WCL when we run into an interesting watch like this one, we are always certain to capture it in all its glory with our live photography.

The IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ is fitted with a massive Ceratanium case —marks the first use of this material at IWC back then— measuring 49 mm in diameter by 19 mm in thickness. Since perpetual calendars are already quite challenging from a horological standpoint, now just imagine combining it with a 12-hour coaxial flyback chronograph inside a diving watch that is water-resistant to 100 meters. Pretty impressive don’t you think?

Ceratanium features IWC’s special alloy that combines titanium with ceramics —similar in properties to the pioneering Cermet alloy released almost a decade ago by Audemars Piguet. Ceratanium is light and robust like titanium and, at the same time, similarly hard and scratch-resistant like ceramic with a very unique matte sheen. The IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ is equipped with a black rubber strap with pin buckle making it very easy to wear and ready for aquatic adventures right out of the box.

Featuring a perpetual calendar that is very easy-to-read with digital date indication at 9, digital month indication at 3, and leap year indication at 6 o’clock, the only thing missing on this watch is having the day-of-the-week indication that for some of us is extremely important. Other than that, this diving watch has it all including the highly contrasting minute hand with its red outline and the red accents on its unidirectional rotating bezel.

The IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ is powered by the same movement that powers the IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month, the IWC automatic calibre 89802 with a power reserve of 68 hours. The movement is blackened throughout most of its components including the oscillating weight and visible via the display case back.

This rare bird is one of those watches that we would love to own one day. At the time of its release, the watch sold for $46,800 USD; however, considering that IWC watches still get heavily discounted nowadays —a very uncommon practice in today’s watch market— we are confident you could find a NOS —new old stock— or mint one in the mid to low $20Ks.

For more info on IWC click here.