Swiss decorative limited edition hunting cased watch Circa 1982

Gold pocket watch by International Watch Co.
–
A Swiss 18 carat yellow gold hunting cased keyless pocket watch designed by Professor Ernst Fuchs of Vienna, circa 1982. This watch features a very fine manual winding bridge movement with intricate hand engraved gilt bridges adorned with swirls, a lever escapement and Glucydur screw balance. The moulded gold dial is a carved representation of the sun, surrounded by a chapter ring with engraved Arabic numerals.
–
The front of the case displays a swirling pattern representing the day and sunlight with a scarabaeus in the center. The scarabaeus, a creature of the day that faces the sun, displays iridescent colours like a rainbow, representing the spectral composition of sunlight. The back of the case is adorned with a central embossed face surrounded by stylized stars, symbolizing the night. This side represents the light of the stars and the reflected light of the moon according to Professor Fuchs. Case and movement signed. Comes with a presentation box, a guarantee booklet dated December 16th, 1982, a swing tag and booklets.
–
Diameter: 55 mm
–
Signed: IWC International Watch Co Schaffhausen
–
The movement is functioning well. The dial is in good condition with the original hands intact. The case is in good condition showing light surface scratches and minor tarnishing at the hinge.
–
The Scarabaeus Fuchs has reference No. 5420 and the present piece is numbered 153/2500.
–
According to the sales brochure, the lead time for each watch was a full 18 months. The case was designed by Professor Ernst Fuchs and completed by the world famous bronze caster Venturi. The watch has been practically untouched and unpolished since the 1980s. This watch was originally intended to be produced in an edition of 2.500 pieces. All watches that have been sold on the market have lower numbers. Today it is assumed, that only about 150 pieces were made in 18 carat gold.
–
Ernst Fuchs was born on February 13th, 1930 and he died on November 9th, 2015. Fuchs was a renowned Austrian painter and visionary architect of the late 20th century, a draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer, composer, poet and singer. He is further recognized as a founding figure and leading member of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism. Known for his eccentricity and prolific output, he collaborated on numerous significant architectural and design projects across various artistic fields.

In 1972, he acquired the derelict villa of Otto Wagner in Hütteldorf, which he restored and transformed. The villa was inaugurated as the Ernst Fuchs Museum in 1988.

Fuchs studied sculpture with Emmy Steinbock in 1943, attended the St. Anna Painting School where he studied under Professor Fröhlich in 1944 and entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in 1945 where he began his studies under Professor Robin C. Anderson, later moving to the class of Albert Paris von Gütersloh.
–
International Watch Company Schaffhausen (IWC) was founded in 1868 by Florentine Ariosto Jones (1841–1916), an American engineer and watchmaker from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been a director of E. Howard & Co. in Boston, America’s leading watchmaking company at the time.

He established the company intending to combine modern engineering technology from the U.S. with the craftsmanship of the Swiss to manufacture high quality watches exclusively for the American market. Then, wages in Switzerland were relatively low although there was a ready supply of skilled watchmaking labour mainly carried out by people in their homes. Jones encountered opposition to his plans in French speaking Switzerland. People feared for their jobs and the work they did at home because he wanted to open a factory.

In 1850, Schaffhausen was in danger of being left behind in the Industrial Age. At this stage, watch manufacturer and industrialist Johann Heinrich Moser built Schaffhausen’s first hydroelectric plant laying the cornerstone for future industrialization. He probably met Jones in Le Locle and showed great interest in his plans. Together, they laid the foundations for the only watch manufacturer in northeast Switzerland: the International Watch Company in Schaffhausen.