348 - IWC / Intern. Watch Co. - Ernst Fuchs Scarabaeus

IWC / Intern. Watch Co. - Ernst Fuchs Scarabaeus A rare, limited-edition Schaffhausen hunting case pocket watch, "Scarabaeus-Fuchs"; case decoration after designs by the famous artist Prof. Ernst Fuchs of Vienna Movm. No. 2358626, Ref. 5420, Cal. 9826F, Case No. 2300686, Dimensions 56 mm, circa 1982, Limited 201/5000, Weight 161 g, Origin Schweiz, Original box, Accessories Case: Sterling silver, gold-plated, inner lid with engraving, glazed movement. Dial: Gold-plated. Movm.: Bridge movement, elaborately engraved, lever escapement, Glucydur screw balance. The front of the case shows a swirling pattern symbolising day and sunlight; in the centre sits a scarab beetle, a creature of the day that faces the sun ("The scarab beetle has the iridescent colours of a rainbow. It shows the spectral composition of sunlight", Prof. Fuchs). The back is decorated with a central embossed face surrounded by stylised stars, symbolising night ("The reverse side is the opposite of the scarab: the night. It is the light of the stars and the reflected light of the moon, of the dead stars", Prof. Fuchs). The dial is a carved face of the sun framed by a chapter ring with engraved Arabic numerals. The exquisite movement exhibits elaborately hand-engraved gilt bridges decorated with swirls. Ernst Fuchs (1930-2015) was an Austrian painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, architect, stage designer, composer, poet, singer and one of the founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.