I recently picked up a 1947 IWC jumbo - 37mm yellow gold case, teardrop lugs, cal. 88 sub-seconds; archive extract gives ref. 380. The crystal is bothering me and I'd appreciate advice from those who know these watches.
The dealer fitted a domed acrylic that sits tall on the case. As the side-profile photo shows, the crystal wall rises almost vertically from the bezel before doming over - my suspicion is it's a generic high-dome part rather than anything close to original spec. It adds noticeable thickness to an otherwise slim watch and distorts the dial badly at oblique angles (second photo).
Two questions:
- What replacement would you recommend? Is there a known correct part, or a good low-profile equivalent ) in this size that a watchmaker could source? I'd rather fit something that is as slim as possible.
- Wouldd a flat crystal be a sensible option on a watch like this, or would it look wrong against the case style? Interested in views from anyone who's tried both.
Photos attached, including side profile. Recommendations for a UK watchmaker familiar with vintage IWC would also be much appreciated.
Thank you!
