IWC's Technological Breakthroughs of 2026 - IWC-ProSet

IWC introduced its first perpetual calendar featuring the IWC-ProSet® bi-directional precision adjustment technology. Designed in 1985 by master watchmaker Kurt Klaus, the Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Ref. IW3750) emerged as a revolutionary classic in the history of perpetual calendar timepieces. Even back then, the concept of "breakthrough" was already deeply ingrained in the spirit of IWC watchmaking. This perpetual calendar module achieved full functionality using a mere 81 components, and—remarkably—allowed for all adjustments to be performed via a single crown; the day, date, month, year, and moon phase could all be precisely set with just one control element. Furthermore, it marked the first time a four-digit year display was incorporated into a wristwatch; operating in strict accordance with the Gregorian calendar, it requires only a single manual correction in the year 2100, thereby firmly establishing IWC’s unassailable position in the realm of high-end watchmaking. The best IWC replica watches at captainthewatch.is.

More than forty years later in Switzerland, IWC has once again reinvented the adjustment logic for perpetual calendars. Through a synchronized gear system, the brand has achieved seamless, bidirectional calendar adjustment—thereby conquering the core technical challenge of perpetual calendar timepieces: enabling adjustment in both forward and backward directions. Among today's leading Swiss haute horlogerie brands, only a select few possess the capability to implement this feature; IWC, once again, has succeeded.

Most perpetual calendars currently available on the market—whether utilizing the traditional multi-button layout or IWC’s classic single-crown design—typically support only unidirectional, forward adjustment. The former requires the use of a specialized tool to individually set the year, month, day of the week, and date until reaching the day immediately preceding the target date; one must then advance the time past midnight to trigger the automatic calendar rollover. If one inadvertently sets the wrong month—or worse, the wrong year—the only recourse is often to stop the watch and wait for the correct date to arrive, or to send it in for professional servicing—a process that is both time-consuming and inconvenient. IWC’s single-crown system offers greater convenience in adjustment, allowing the entire calendar to be set using just one crown. However, prior to this innovation, it too was limited to unidirectional, clockwise adjustment; if an error occurred during setting, one had to wait for the watch to run forward until the correct date aligned again. If the setting error was significant, the watch would often need to be sent to an authorized service center to have the case opened for manual correction.

Simply put, the key advantage of a bidirectional, reversible perpetual calendar is the ability to adjust the calendar in both forward and backward directions—anytime, anywhere—using the crown alone. Even if you overshoot the desired date, you can simply rotate the crown in reverse to correct it, effectively "turning back time." As illustrated in our animated demonstration, the entire perpetual calendar function can now be adjusted using nothing more than the single crown. From a technical standpoint, traditional perpetual calendars rely on a lever-based transmission mechanism, which is inherently irreversible. IWC, however, has built upon the architecture of its classic Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar movement by integrating a completely new gear train system specifically designed to enable backward adjustment.

IWC has successfully integrated this bidirectional, precision-adjustable perpetual calendar module into its Calibre 82665. This movement features the brand’s signature Pellaton automatic winding system, and is further equipped with a nickel-phosphorus alloy escapement and a silicon balance spring. By once again incorporating a silicon balance spring into a mass-produced timepiece, IWC enhances the movement's anti-magnetic properties, offering owners greater peace of mind during daily wear. The watch's mainspring is wound via the bidirectional oscillation of a rotor; it boasts a power reserve of 60 hours, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and features 34 jewels. Furthermore, components within the winding system subject to high stress—such as the oscillating weight and pawls—are crafted from zirconium oxide ceramic. This material is virtually wear-resistant, thereby significantly enhancing the durability of the movement https://www.captainthewatch.is.