====== Klaus, Kurt ======
**Kurt Klaus** is a contemporary watchmaker and engineer associated with [[IWC]].

===== Biography =====
Kurt Klaus was born in Eastern Switzerland, near [[Schaffhausen]], on October 26, 1934. He studied watchmaking in the Western part but returned to Schaffhausen to work for legendary watchmaker [[Albert Pellaton]], starting there in January [[1957]]. Klaus developed movement prototypes for Pellaton and worked closely with him throughout his remaining years at IWC.

In the 1980s, Klaus determined that the best way for mechanical watches to regain prominence was through technical development. He set about developing an innovative perpetual calendar module that would set IWC apart. Released at the [[Basel Fair]] in [[1985]], the [[IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar]] watch is seen today as a turning point for the industry and for IWC in particular. Klaus' [[perpetual calendar]] module, incorporated into [[IWC 79261|IWC Cal. 79261]], featured an innovative design in which all aspects were operated using the crown rather than specialized pushers on the case.

Klaus next engineered a [[grand complication]] watch using his perpetual calendar. Released in [[1990]], the [[IWC Grande Complication 3770]] would be produced in limited numbers for decades. A [[2003]] re-launch, as the [[IWC Portugieser Grande Complication]], remains in production and still features Klaus 1990 [[IWC 79091|Cal. 79091]]. Klaus was also involved in the development of the extremely-complicated [[1993]] [[IWC Il Destriero Scafusia|Il Destriero Scafusia]] grand complication. Another important development under Klaus was [[Richard Habring]]'s addition of a [[rattrapante]] hand to the Da Vinci in [[1995]]'s [[IWC 79251|Cal. 79251]].

The next great work by Klaus was the restart of [[manufacture]] movement design and construction. He lead the development of [[IWC 5000|the Cal. 5000 family]] of movements, which brought back the [[Pellaton]] winding system along with a [[double barrel]] mainspring design giving the [[IWC Portugieser 2000]] a [[7-day]] power reserve.

Klaus would remain at IWC until the present time. In the 1980s and 1990s he worked with both [[Giulio Papi]] and [[Richard Habring]] at the company. Despite retiring at age 65, he continues to work with the company, advising at their watchmaking school, serving as a brand ambassador, and remaining involved in some engineering projects.

In [[2011]], Klaus' history was commemorated in a special edition of the [[IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar]] chronograph that he helped develop.

===== References =====
  * "Q&A with Kurt Klaus", QP Magazine, January 2011
  * "IWC Da Vinci Reinvention", QP Magazine, Issue 27, 2007


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