The Kurt Klaus perpetual calendar movement which lies at the heart of the IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar was engineered to be easy to set and manufacture. Through a twist of the crown, and the date, day of the week, month, moon phase, year, and century advance forward. Each day that passes across the face of this watch will never be seen again. Unlike perpetual calendars that can be corrected with pushers, once a day passes on this watch, it is gone. While this may be seen as a weakness in the movement’s design, it also helps the watch to act as a memento mori. While traditional perpetual calendars tell time through a four-year cycle that repeats without end, Kurt Klaus perpetual calendars remind us that time is linear and finite.

The watch is relatively unique, in that it has a century complication. It will be necessary at the end of the 22nd Century to replace the century indicator with a new part, denoting subsequent centuries. Fortunately, this IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar was delivered with a vial containing a piece which may be used to denote years until the end of the 25th Century. Thus, its makers have envisioned it to be both durable and finite – fabricating a new part will be necessary to tell time in the 26th Century.

The IWC 3540 is housed in an antimagnetic gold case, which fits easily on the wrist due to its 34mm diameter and 9mm thickness. The case has two hinged endlinks which add to its length, while enabling it to conform to the wearer’s contours. The screwdown crown and sporty appearance make the watch potentially suitable for any situation. If it is not worn daily, there is no need to store it on a winder, as the calendar can quickly be updated with a turn of the crown.

It is rare to see an object designed with the intention that it will last centuries. This is more than a watch – it is a daily reminder that time is precious.