IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide

Complicated mechanical timepieces — those that do anything beyond simple timekeeping — are engineering marvels that have to be seen to be fully appreciated. A calendar watch that tells you the day, date and month? Yep, those exist. And they’re powered by springs and gears.

One such complication that’s esoteric even by independent watchmaking standards is the tide indicator, which gives the wearer information on the Earth’s tides — high or low, spring or neap — and when they’ll occur relative to the time of day. Only a handful of such watches have been designed over the years, the latest of which comes from a major Swiss brand in the form of the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide.

Executed in a striking 44.6mm 18k 5N pink gold case, it’s surely a statement piece. But the value here is more than skin deep: inside the watch beats the IWC cal. 82835, an automatic movement with 60 hours of power reserve that calculates the time, the moon phase for both northern and southern hemispheres, and times for high and low tide. The double moon phase indicator, a signature of IWC’S, also indicates relative tide strength.

Who needs such a watch in 2020? Possibly no one. But that’s not why folks buy mechanical watches. The sophistication of the engineering and the beauty of the design are enough to justify the Moon & Tide’s existence — even though justifying its $33,100 price tag to your accountant might be a bit harder.

Specs

Movement: IWC cal. 82835 automatic

Water Resistance: 60 meters

Diameter: 44.6mm $33,100