Is it possible to restore this watch ?

I have my late father's IWC which is in very bad condition.
It was purchased new in the late 1970s or very early 1980s.
Dad died in 1985 and the watch was then given to my husband who wore it every day until it stopped working.
We took it to a reputable independent jeweller who couldn't repair the movement, so they replaced it with a non-IWC movement....
Yes, I know, we were very young and foolish and didn't know any better.
The watch was worn until it stopped working again and has now lain in a drawer for many years.
Would it be possible to restore it if I take it to the IWC boutique in New Bond Street, London ? or will they laugh me out of the shop ?
Don't know what to do....
It has great sentimental value and I'd love to be able to have it brought back to life.
I have a couple of photos but am embarrassed to post them here.
Thank you and I'd be grateful for any advice offered.

Well, it goes without saying IWC can't work on non IWC movements and if the watch does not have its original movement in it, as a general rule IWC won't be able to service it.

But, don't despair! It sounds like you want to restore the watch to be a "full /complete" IWC again. So it may be possible to locate a replacement IWC movement and have a competent watchmaker restore the watch to 100% IWC (parts).

First step is to identify what watch/movement you have/need - so the good folks here might be able to advise, but for that you need to post photos of the watch.

Oh, thank you Mark.
Yes, you're absolutely correct - I would dearly like to have the watch restored "to be a "full /complete" IWC again"; (unless it's prohibitively expensive that is).
I'll post some photos. and any details I can find later today.
Thanks so much for your response.

If you have the original movement then it's not a lost cause. Sadly IWC like other watch makers is not letting third parties have access to their spares. So the days of a competent independent watch repairer servicing decent watches is going to become less and less.

Thank you Greg - I'm probably on a hiding to nothing then as I don't have the original movement.
Oh if I'd known then what I know now !

Here's the pics:
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The inside of the back cover is stamped with the IWC logo at the top, and below that: INTERNATIONAL WATCH Co.
and below that: SWISS

and below that: R810A
and below that: 1948362

Thank you again.

Hi,
it doesent look so bad, it looks like the original Movement is still in place. What i see on the picture is a IWC 8541 movement on wich the automatic winding system has been removed. You dont need to find a movement replacement but you need to find the parts for the automatic winding only. Might be hard to find also, but as far as the base movement is still original, i could imagine that you can have it serviced at IWC Schaffhausen and they will add the missing parts during service. it might be worth a to give it try.

br
cromagnonman

Thank you very much Cromagnonman - I continue to be amazed at the knowledge displayed on this forum.
Encouraged by your comments, I have looked closely at the movement and the numbers are: C8541B and then, underneath, 1972392.
How clever you are.... I can't imagine how you knew which movement from my poor quality photo.
I had thought that the entire movement had been replaced, and I am very grateful for your reply and will now pluck up the courage and take it to the New Bond Street boutique.
I will update here when I have done so.
Many thanks again to all who have posted.

Rob, the watchmaker at New Bondstreet is first class and repaired a fault on my VC Inge, also rotor related, in about 40 minutes.
Good luck with the repair of the 8541 and I hope a new rotor can be installed to bring it back to life.

Thank you Mark,
I hope to visit New Bond Street next week.
Fingers crossed....

I still wonder about the initial "repair" by a "reputable independent jeweller". He just took the rotor out, and after that the watch functioned again? As a hand-wound?

The ignorant are innocent, but that jeweller (the word says it all, I guess) should not be ignorant, he thus is a first class charlatan: I wonder if he could be sued to pay for the cost of the subsequent repair. I think I know the answer...

Kind regards,
Paul

Thank you Paul.
Yes, the watch functioned for a time after the "repair".
Stupidly, we were naive in trusting the watch to a local jeweller.
But, at that time, we didn't know any better, assuming the watch to be a run of the mill gent's watch of the type seen in any high street shop.
International Watch Company wasn't a name we'd ever heard of (this was a very long time ago).
In fact, it wasn't until fairly recently that I became aware of the possibility of having the watch restored / repaired at an IWC outlet.
I'll just hope that IWC won't laugh me out of the shop when I take it in next week.

Thursdaychild, regarding your last comment. Absolutely not - no one is going to laugh here (or at Any boutique) at this job. all you will get, is RESPECT for bringing it in and giving a watchmaker a chance to restore (actually repair) the movement.

IWC will run one check - to see if the case and movement serial numbers match the original sales records and if they do - IWC will repair the watch. You will primarily have 2 options - a basic repair service (where the watch will work like clockwork on return) or the option to SPA the watch and have the Wizards of Schaffhausen restore it to like new! These days, most Richmond / IWC service centre also have case polish/refinishing facilities and watches come back from basic services looking spiff too!

BTW - The movement is a calibre 8541, dating from the year 1970.
The case was most probably produced around 1969 and delivered up to 1972.

According to the Date Your IWC Applet.

Mark,
I am greatly encouraged by your comments - thank you so much.
I hope to visit the London boutique tomorrow or Wednesday and will report back here when I have done so.
Your info. is greatly appreciated too and the dates make more sense to me after speaking with my sisters regarding just when dad bought the watch.
It seems he would most likely have purchased it in 1972.

Dad always told me "it's a good make" but I hadn't realised just how good a make IWC is until now.... (since joining this forum and doing some reading).....

Fingers crossed, looking forward to the outcome!

Thanks to all who have commented here.
I took the watch to the IWC boutique in New Bond Street today and it is being sent to Switzerland for their opinion.
(The watchmaker in the boutique wasn't too sure that the Swiss would consider restoration, so we will have to wait and see).
He did say that the work needed would be costly and, perhaps, that the watch doesn't have the monetary value to warrant the cost.
But, the sentimental value to me may make it worth it....
We shall have to be patient and wait for the verdict.

However, I found the London boutique staff to be very approachable and they were more than helpful.
And absolutely no laughing was heard anywhere....
The watchmaker offered to have it in working order again on the spot - indeed, he tightened one tiny screw and it started working immediately.

I am very grateful for the advice and opinions given to me on here, without which the watch would still be hiding in a drawer.

As an aside to this particular topic, I also took in the gold ladies' watch that I asked about on another thread, and that is on it's way to Switzerland too. I'll update that thread later.
Many thanks once again.

Getting the watch restored is the goal. Fully understand that sentiment. Took me 10 years to get my Dad's watch restored with the help of eBay and a working uncased movement complete with dial and hands and it was working when I opened my purchase. Just needed a couple of parts exchanged and a good service thanks to a kindly soul. Am so glad I managed to get it done.

Well the good news is that it is, indeed, possible to repair / restore the watch.
I have received an email from the Bond Street boutique detailing the list of work that needs doing.
The not so good news is that it's going to be rather expensive.
I'd just like to ask you good people if you think I'm completely crazy for wanting to spend twice (at least) what the watch would be worth in monetary terms to bring it back to life.
I am inclined to go ahead because dad loved the watch and my husband loved the watch and wore it himself until it no longer functioned.
And monetary value means not a jot compared to sentiment.
However, the Scrooge in me is sitting on my shoulder screaming "HOW MUCH ??" in my ear.
I'd just like to mull it over with a few IWC enthusiasts here if no-one minds.
Oh, and the work is expected to take approximately 20 weeks.
Thoughts anyone please ?