How old is it?

Greetings fellow IWC'ers.
Here I find myself again in the dark corridors of IWC, it's the smell you know. I hope the technicians are in a good mood today, because I have to ask something (grovel grovel).

I've just bought yet another IWC. You see, I can't help it, once you've owned one, you just keep on going. My therapist pulled her hair out when I told her. "I thought you were cured"......sorry. She's cheap and really doesn't understand. (more hair goes).

Anyway, I've sized down a bit and have now acquired a IW500106, which I describe as the mink dial Portuguese 7 day Power reserve. It's my third Portuguese of this particular model, two in steel, this one in white gold. I LOVE the colour of the dial. It says something.

Of course it came with it's box, instructions (?) and all the bits and pieces. It also came with the standard IWC Card with everything printed on it, accept for one thing....... the date!

The condition is excellent, but I can see some evidence of polishing (slight) and one or two tiny tiny marks on the case. At a big guess I'd say 2009, but I could be decades out. PLEASE, anyone got an idea...
Case Number is **. Movement number is*.

I promise not to drop it this time, crack it against any walls, destroy the winder button (big pilot) or loose it completely leaving under the bonnet of my car!...(sorry).

In anticipation, a big thank you.

Mark, Amsterdam.

Greetings again.

It's nearly a week now, many many views and NO PERSON has any sort of answer for me? Has no one from IWC read my request?

I do find this a bit strange. I thought the IWC forum was all about IWC's, yet for what I consider such an easy question, ....... silence.

I really would appreciate an answer from someone who has some knowledge.

Mark

I checked and came up with post 2003 and that was as much as I could find. Sorry.
As a suggestion if you know the dates of the other two use a bit of maths to date the WG model.
The case is likely to be newer than the movement especially since its gold where a finished case in precious metal sitting on the factory shelves is earning nothing so it makes no sense to have a large stock of one case design waiting for a movement and dial to come off production.

The calibre should be 50010, if so, the date is 2004.

Thank you all for your answers. So, somewhere around 2005.
OK. The movement is 'so' perfect, it looks like a 2011.
I am waiting on IWC to give me some history, because either it hasn't been used, or they have serviced it...(movement is absolutely perfect).
Mark

Hi Mark,

Congrats on yet another ref 5001. Like you I have a three ref 5001s.

DateYourIWC (I'm not sure how well it does for recent models), deduces your casing was produced around 2006. It cannot date your movement as it is too recent:

Findings and tentative datings for:
Movement number 2,963,072
Case number 3,153,873
Main findings:
Summary
No valid entries found for movement number 2,963,072. Only movements with numbers between 6,501 and 2,265,400 can be dated with this tool.
The case was most probably produced resp. delivered around 2006.
Valid entry in "Index of Movement Numbers"
n/a
Valid entries in "Index of Case Numbers"
2003-2006 2,950,000-3,181,000 External evidence not confirmed by IWC, but deducted from datable watches

what calibre 5000 is yours ? this will help to date it further. there are a few different calibre 5XXX. this table is helpful, but accurate only to prior Cal. 51011: www.iwcforum.com/Movements/Calibre5xxxxChart.jpg

Ha Ha, out of the dark corridors, Shing!... Thank you Shing for your very informative information. I have dug around in the insides of the watch and found C51010. (hiding under the balance wheel). Looked at the chart, but it only confirms the technical data. I wonder whether IWC keep a record of any repairs to watches they have. I've sent them the details......

On another note, regarding the 5000 series watches, between the lugs (arms that hold the strap) is some rather course machining, as though not finished. I've seen this on a number of my 'quality' IWC's... white gold & platinum. I have this polished out so the case between the lugs has the same beautiful shine as the rest. The sides of the watch I leave matt of course.

Does anyone else find this course machining between the lugs ugly or unfinished?. Looks awful (to me).

Thanks again Shing. A true Master!

Shing may be a true master, but after 1974 the info in DateYourIWC is anecdotal. Leosweenypod works for IWC and his information should be reliable.

I believe that the space between the lugs should be matte, to match the case sides. Obviously if you have different taste, that's fine.

One begins to wonder......who knows anything around here! I know the corridors are dusty and dark in certain parts of Schaffhausen....

As for the matt between the lugs, yes, this is standard, but why? The grade of matt finish is much courser than on the side of the case and looks un-finished. Unlike a Rolex Shell, where the strap/band actually covers this area of the case completely, with the Portuguese for example, this area is left 'naked and open'. It looks 'unfinished' or that the intension was to cover it up, but was left exposed. Polished, it looks beautiful, reflecting the edge of the strap. Take a look at your IWC. You will see what I mean. A detail, but never mentioned before!
Thanks again for your interest in my subject. Mark