Has anyone heard of a cal 9725 key wound?

Yes, I have

Its is a modified version of the c9720.
It was used in two watches, the famous "Varion" Ref 5410 and the shown Ref 5306. This calibre is since quite a while on my whish list, but the watch on ebay is much too expensiv for me. (There the chain for the key is missing; the origial price 1979 was CHF 6'750.- env. €5500; it is my my rule to pay for a used watch about 50% of the "new" price) I know we should not discuss prices here, its just the history of it ;-)

I missed one for quite a resonable price due to my travel activity. (sitting in a plane during the auction)

regards

Ralph

Here the catalog page:

Very interesting find. I learn a lot reading your posts - thank you!

Thank you for this interesting post. I was quite surprised that key wound pocketwatches were made not that long ago. I thought that they were replaced by the crown wound versions years and years ago!

Kind regards,

Clemens

I saw the calibre number and thought "recent",then the words key wound and thought "very early" add the two together and I was confused especially by the photos which suggests a quality piece well made and well finished and quite recent.
What era is this from?

In the 1970s when IWC first coped with the quartz crisis, they toyed with being a pocket watch specialist and produced this plus many others. In 2002 I wrote an artless on all these recreations, which can be found by clicking here.

While they are nice watches,these modern recreations have no interest to me personally.

Checked the model number and noticed the dial is down as Imitation Enamel, anyone got any further info on what imitation enamel is?

I also have some watches with the imitation enamel. I have not much more info on it:

• It was used, because it is less sensitive on shocks, to prevent damadge!
• It was used, because it became very difficult to get high quality, (real) enamel dials!!
• I dont like it too much!!!

Ralph

I once asked, and was told it was basically a form of glossy paint-like coating.

I don't want to be impolite. For me it looks just like a kind of shiny paint. But it is not as brilliant, bright as the enamel. the "Imitation Enamel" seems also to be missing "depth" of the enamal dial.

But behind a mineral glass, giving also some shine and reflections it is not as bad as I wrote.

ADDITION:
I also remember a discussion I had with Mr. King concerning this dials. He told me, IWC was searching for a producer of enamel dials for this "high grade" watches with complication. But the results of the test dial where such disappointing (bubles, holes etc.), IWC had to look for an other dial type. That the producer of the dials has disappeard has two reasons: firstly the Wrist watches, which where made mostly with metalic dials (the fall done, and for the an enamel dial this is the "dead") and as Michael mentioned also the Quartz Watch Crises reduced again the chances for high quality pocket watches with enamel dials.

Interesting piece!

With their place in IWC's history book (revenues probably helped keep IWC afloat in those difficult time, untill the company got acquired).

The "Varion" needed a key wound version of the c.9720. As he sale of the "Varion"
war poor (high price), I suppose that the Ref.5306 is a follower for the already built key wound movements?!?

Key Wind? A curious response to a technological challenge. This is after making a few pocket watches with the Beta 21 Quartz movement.

Clearly this was a confused time and an existential crisis for the company. Thanks goodness for the appearance of Herr Blumlein shortly thereafter.