This was brought up here by the previous owner of my watch in 2004 but I'd thought I'd give it a second try to see if there was any new light on the matter.
I've purchased a near NOS IWC ref 819 AD (1819) cal 854b
Everything is spot apart from the dial? I have purchased the watch with an educated guess that it is a marriage.
Now the questions the previous owner has owned the watch for around 14 years he sent the watch to IWC around 2004 via watches of Switzerland and he questioned the dial then. It came back fully serviced with no mention of any discrepancy regarding the dial?
The watch has an engraving from a German company in 1972, the watch seems to have hardly ever been worn every bit is mint and not over polished or finished. So if it's so well looked after and spotless why would it have ever needed a dial change?
Another option is the possibility of a special dial at purchase but I cannot find another the same, the IWC, Shaffhausen and automatic print is really nice and appears to my untrained eye original. The numbers and markers do look slightly bubbly under a loupe they don't seem as raised and very flat?
Another option is the watch was purchased by somebody prior to 2002 wanted more of a military look and this was married off but the dial plate looks very good quality and looks every bit IWC?
I'm very puzzled and intrigued by it.
I'm hoping you guys could help.
