Despite constant criticism, fashion has often rallied behind good causes. The artistry and craftsmanship within the luxury retail field have been put to good use in helping out noble endeavors. At times, upscale brands partnered up with organizations to fulfill certain causes. One such collaboration is between IWC Schaffhausen and the Charles Darwin Foundation to help preserve the Galapagos Islands. They released a series of timepieces for this and one of them was the “La Cumbre Volcano” Aquatimer Chronograph.
Compare IWC Aquatimer Prices Online
Release date: January 2016
Price when reviewed: $8,147
IWC Schaffhausen is known for their state-of-the-art Aquatimer collection. These diver watches are among the best of their kind in all of the luxury timepiece market. In January 2010, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer released a series of limited edition Aquatimer watches to shed light on their partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation in helping save the Galapagos Islands. The three models represented various sites in the Galapagos Islands, one of which was La Cumbre Volcano in Fernandina island. Today, its namesake watch is priced at $8,147 a piece.
Specifications:
- Diameter: 44mm
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistant: 300 meters
- Power Reserve: 68 hours
- Frequency: 28,800 vph
- Strap: Black rubber
- Buckle: Tang buckle
Pros
A strong feature of the “La Cumbre Volcano” Aquatimer Chronograph is its striking black and red colorway. The matte black finish accented with blood red details capture the intensity and the heat of the volcano this watch was named after. This is made even more evident with the engraved image of the said volcano erupting, located on the back of the case. Always favoring durability, the stainless steel case is covered with high-quality rubber, assuring its strong durability.
Cons
Since this watch has a specific and noble cause behind it, the people in IWC Schaffhausen could have designed it a bit better. The watch would have made an exponentially bigger impact had it displayed more designs that immortalize La Cumbre Volcano. In terms of noble causes, particularly when luxury brands intervene, optics are extremely vital. Design-wise, the watch’s overall aesthetic could have been miles better and maybe even become a stand-out piece in what is already a beloved collection.
Compare with:
- Breitling Chronomat 41
- Parmigiani Tonda Métrographe
- Longines ‘Legend Diver 36mm’
- AVI-8 Flyboy Centenary
Image Credits: Instagrammer News (featured image), Monochrome-Watches, Element In Time, Chrono24, Meertz World Of Time, Govberg Jewelers (article images).
