• Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    Dear Forum,

    I hope you can help me with a bit of history on my newly acquired watch.

    The case is serial no. 704XXX, with Swiss hallmarks “IWC Scafusia”, “Big Bear”, “Small Bear”, “N” and 0.900.
    The movement is Calibra 64, with the serial no. 627XXX
    The watch is working, but needs restoration.

    Pictures iwc.home2m3.dk :
    iloapp.home2me.dk/data/_gallery/public/3/139910451855401400_resized.jpg?width=1920&height=1440

    iloapp.home2me.dk/data/_gallery/public/3/139910452077435100_resized.jpg?width=1920&height=1440

    iloapp.home2me.dk/data/_gallery/public/3/139910452954449300_resized.jpg?width=1920&height=1440

    iloapp.home2me.dk/data/_gallery/public/3/139910453836981800_resized.jpg?width=1200&height=1600

    What I have found out so far is that the movement must be from 1915, and that the case is 1913 later and manufactured in Neuchatel, Switzerland.

    I have also found the watch described in “IWC Catalog/Pricelist 1914 – German”
    Silber 900/1000 Goldkrone. (Although it is listed as Calibra 63, which must be a mistake)

    iloapp.home2me.dk/data/_gallery/public/3/139910455537834800_resized.jpg

    Based on the hallmarks and the fact that it is “Coin silver” I conclude that is can’t have been made for export to England.

    Could you tell me if it is a rare or an ordinary watch, and maybe also an indication of value.

    I would also like to know if there is a way to get an official IWC certificate on the watch.

    Thank you in advance.

    Jan

  • Michael Friedbergpanorama_fish_eye

    Member since: 23/07/2010
    11 years

    Nice watch! For those interested in trench watches, I wrote an article some 14 years ago, which can be found by clicking here.

    The watch is not uncommon --I have seen many, including with signed dials-- but still not seen all the time. The more-in-demand ones have signed dials. The watch appeals to true collectors, since it is small and fragile by today's standards. I especially like them. We can't appraise here but prices seem to fall (at least to me) within a 1000 to 2000 Euro range for silver models, depending on condition and dial.

    You can get a certificate of authenticity from IWC but they are now costly. Details can be found via searching this forum (see the magnifying glass on the upper right).

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    Dear Michael,

    Thank you for a fast reply, and an interesting article.

    You write in the article "One report states that International Watch Company’s first wristwatch was produced in 1914." I guess that makes my watch a very early one. I also understand that a few years after the calibra was changed to a 64T. Do you have any idea how many of "my type" was produced?

    I have learned from another of your articles that most movements were cased in UK. Does it make my model more attractive as it is a pice fully produced at IWC in Switzerland ?

    Sorry for all the questions, but it's a new but very interesting area for me.

    BR
    Jan

  • Michael Friedbergpanorama_fish_eye

    Member since: 23/07/2010
    11 years

    Hi Jan--

    Since my old article I've seen several earlier ones. I once owned one from 1911, but yours is a typical early date, since the style seemed to die down in popularity by the early 1920s.

    I don't have specific numbers for trench watches but there were many calibre 63 and 64s produced and most of the later production was used in wristwatches. The total production of cal. 64 was about 41,440 and production stopped in 1917 (then cal. 64T replaced it, in 10,800 examples through 1932).

    To my knowledge the market doesn't command an premium for fully Swiss made ones. Perhaps it should, but not here.

  • Paul Bloemenpanorama_fish_eye
    Master 〚✅〛

    Member since: 28/03/2001
    11 years

    Nice to see that red accents are not a whim of the last few years!

    Kind regards,
    Paul

    What you do may not be so important, but it is very important that you do it well. (my variation of a saying by Gandhi)

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    Hi,

    I’ll like to close this tread with some updated information.

    I have now got an confirmation from IWC museum that my watch is manufactured by IWC in Switzerland, and exported to Denmark in 1917.

    At the same time I have been able to track down the owner of the watch. Nis Peter J. (1901-1986) bought this watch in Kolding, Denmark in 1917, 16 years old, after saving his apprentice salary for several month.

    i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj601/jan164/NisPeter1975_zps7e3a6de5.jpg

    He used this watch for the rest of his life. See photo from 1975, with a proud owner. His son kept it in a drawer for 30 years, before selling it on an auction.

    i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj601/jan164/Urvaeligrk_zps803faa2b.jpg

    The watch is now serviced and gently cleaned, and equipped with a replica leather strap.

    i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj601/jan164/TrenchWatch_zps4897bfbb.jpg

    Thank you for your interest and your help.
    Jan

  • Bill B.panorama_fish_eye
    Master 〚✅〛

    Member since: 09/08/2006
    11 years

    I'm not sure what posting protocol you tried, but this method works

    i95.photobucket.com/albums/l156/wbarker75/HowtoPostaPictureRev4-2_zpse4a98889.png

    Bill

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    Thank you Bill. That is the description i have followed. And it workede fine when used in start of my post. I have also tested the image URL. I can see that others have faced the same problem resently.
    Jan

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    .

  • Michael Friedbergpanorama_fish_eye

    Member since: 23/07/2010
    11 years

    Hi Jan,

    Interesting.

    If the watch was made in Neuchatel, it isn't by IWC. Did you mean that the case was made in Neuchatel? Or the movement, made in Schaffhausen, was cased there? More explanation would be interesting.

    Also, the problem you had with posting images is that you tried to show an album between the IMG brackets. An image should be in the format xxxxxx.jpg --that is, a single image ends in a .jpg extension.

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    Hi Michael,

    Sorry for my ignorance causing a mistake.

    IWC museum just verified that their records showed movement and case match, and it was produced by them and exported to DK.

    I made the assumption that the “N” stamped under the case number, was indicating Neuchatel as production site.

    After your comment, and a bit of research i believe that "N" referes to the Assayer´s office.

    Great with some expertise to rely on,

    Jan

  • Mr. Ralph Ehrismannpanorama_fish_eye
    Master 〚✅〛

    Member since: 28/03/2001
    11 years

    www.vintage-iwc.ch/bilder/w77_kkk.jpg

    Time flies, Passion stays !

  • Mark Flemingerpanorama_fish_eye
    Master 〚✅〛

    Member since: 07/07/2013
    11 years

    Very nice early Wristwatch. What a wonderful find!
    Where did you get the photo of the owner? Did it come with the watch?

  • Mr. Jan Hansenpanorama_fish_eye
    Apprentice

    Member since: 03/05/2014
    11 years

    The auction-house relayed a request from me to the seller, that I was seeking information on the watch history. I received a nice letter from the seller (son of the owner), with some history and the nice picture.

    The owner was to young to be a part of WW1, but he joined the Danish forces in 1919. Most of his life, he was Ranger in a big forest. And he played an active role in the Danish resistance during WW2. Always wearing his precious watch, for more than 80 years.

  • Mark Flemingerpanorama_fish_eye
    Master 〚✅〛

    Member since: 07/07/2013
    11 years

    That is fascinating,
    Thanks for sharing.

  • David Anthonypanorama_fish_eye
    Graduate

    Member since: 28/11/2007
    11 years

    Jan,
    You'll see from my thread on my 1919 watch that IWC are now refusing to service watches which were cased in England. They also refuse to supply parts to independent watchmakers. So I think the fact that your case is an IWC one should add to its value.