IWC will soon start selling its new flagship: the 2009 model year Aquatimer Deep Two (refs. IW354701 & IW354702) diving tool. Being a direct descendant of the now discontinued GST Deep One instrument, the instrument also features a built-in mechanical depth meter: a complication that you will rarely find while searching for a luxury diver.
Capable of measuring depths down to 50 meters, the device features two indicators: one (blue) for the actual depth and one (red) for the maximum depth reached by a diver.
The measurement device is built around a special membrane located inside an additional crown on the left side of the oversized 46-mm stainless steel case.
The deeper you submerge the watch, the stronger the water pressure forces the membrane inside the case, actuating both red and blue levers. The red lever always shows the maximum depth, but you can release it with the smaller button ergonomically placed at 4 o’clock, just below the depth gauge “sensor.”
Well, while you still can’t call this a “professional” diving tool, because its water resistance is limited at 120 meters (for example, the Favre-Leuba Bathy V.2 and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Pro Geographic Navy SEALs feature water resistance of up to 300m) it is still a nice watch to have if you are not into professional scuba diving and prefer some occasional snorkeling to go deeper underwater in some heavy, dangerous-looking gear.
Just like the rest of the 2009 Aquatimer family, the Deep Two features an external PVD-coated rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale and a simple and highly legible dial with prominent markings and huge hour and minute hands with enough luminescent compound on them both to make the hands more contrast in broad daylight and more readable in total darkness.
The bezel finish, by the way, is a bit of a disappointment since, in this price range, you would be right to expect something more durable and scratch-resistant like a ceramic ring or something similar. Well, perhaps someone at IWC decided that the presence of an advanced depth meter justifies the higher price (the Swiss brand plans to sell the Deep Two at an MSRP of approximately $16,000 depending on where in the world you currently live.)
The Aquatimer Deep Two sports the same IWC caliber 30110 that we have already seen in many other collections of the brand, including the tiny Ingenieur Midsize 34 mm and some Portofino models.
It is based on the well-known ETA 2892-A2 and features some “mission-critical” components removed and replaced with those made to higher IWC standards.
IWC will offer the Aquatimer Deep Two either on a stainless steel bracelet (Ref. IW354701) or on a rubber strap (Ref. IW354702 and IW354703.)
See also: Argonaut 1000 TQ diving instrument by CX Swiss Military
Photos: IWC
IWC Aquatimer Deep Two (ref. IW354703) specification
Price range: $16,100 (MSRP)
Movement: IWC caliber 30110 (based on ETA 2892-A2 blank movement,) Swiss Made
Winding: Automatic (self-winding)
Functions & Complications: Hours, minutes, central seconds hand, date, mechanical depth meter
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Diameter: 46.00 mm
Height: 15.50 mm
Dial: Black
Hands: Red with white Superluminova
Water resistance: 12 BAR (120 meters)
Strap: Rubber
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflective, 1.90mm thick
Back: Solid, engraved