Pre-Owned IWC IWC Aquatimer GST 2001 40970078/AS08851

Despite being a relatively modern wristwatch, the IWC Aquatimer Reference 3536 has a storied history. 

It represents the triumphant return of the classic Aquatimer line in the modern era, which was first launched in 1967 with the Reference 1815. This original model was IWC's first attempt at a dive watch, released in an era when the brand had tough competition from brands such as Rolex, Blancpain, and DOXA.

At the time, IWC was known mainly for its pilot's watches, epitomized by their legendary Mark XI. Despite the developing dive watch market caused by the emergence of recreational SCUBA diving, IWC seemed resistant to enter the fray. With the Fifty Fathoms’s association with Jacques Cousteau and the Submariner's as-then unsurpassed depth rating of 200m, there seemed little room for improvement in dive watches. 

But IWC quietly developed a prototype of the watch that would become the Aquatimer in 1964, releasing the Ref. 1815, powered by the same automatic movement used in the Ingenieur, the Calibre 8542. In appearance the Aquatimer owed much to that storied timepiece, giving it a similar dial and bracelet. However, the Aquatimer featured a thicker crystal and case, with patented compressor case sealing technology and a rotating inner bezel to help it withstand greater depths. 

Despite the poor performance of the Reference 1815's successor, the 1816 — and the encroaching Japanese quartz technology looming on the horizon — IWC continued to develop new Aquatimer models, the most iconic of which was the Ocean 2000. Designed in concert with Ferdinand A. Porsche in 1978 and released in 1982, it was IWC's answer to the latest, hottest quartz watches styles: a mechanical watch with an unusual, distinctive case completely different from that of the iconic, Gerald Genta-designed Ingenieur. Like the Heuer Bundeswehr, the Ocean 2000 was also developed for the German military, and was the first dive watch with a case made of titanium. This reference revitalized a foundering line, and was its benchmark until the release of the GST Aquatimer in 1997.

The GST Aquatimer (Ref. 3536) is IWC's answer to the notion of a “professional dive watch” posed by the Rolex Sea-Dweller. It combined a classic, sturdy round case with an elegant dial featuring distinct Bauhaus influences — yet lest its appearance deceive you, it featured a depth rating of 2,000m!

The Reference 3536 was available in stainless steel with a black dial (Ref. 3536-002), titanium (Ref. 3536-001), and in stainless steel with a white dial (Ref. 3536-003). This particular -002 example dates from the early 2000s, and saw a production run of just 6,000 pieces. Featuring \ a 42mm stainless steel case with a signed, screw-down crown and a push-down, unidirectional, rotating dive bezel with a black insert, it sports a luminous, matte black dial with applied indices, color-matched black date window at 3 o’clock, and a highly legible luminous stick handset.

Paired with a matching, integrated stainless steel bracelet and powered by the workhorse ETA Calibre 2892 automatic movement, the overall picture is of a dive watch that forms a perfect alternative to more mainstream professional-grade divers. While somewhat bulky and imposing, its sturdy build and clean, legible dial make this piece an eye-catching option for any dive watch enthusiast!