IWC Cal. 53 H6 No. 565996 – A.W. / Saaz Provenance & Carl Suchy Karlsbad Box

Dear IWC collectors,

I am researching the provenance of an IWC 14k gold hunter pocket watch originating from an old collection in Žatec (formerly Saaz), Bohemia.

Movement: IWC No. 565996
Calibre: 53 H6
Case: 14k gold, all three covers hallmarked
Monogram: A.W.

The watch is accompanied by its period certificate and a Carl Suchy & Söhne watch box associated with Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary).

My provenance research has led to Albert Wussin of Saaz, from a prosperous local hop-growing/agricultural family. I have also located period material connecting the Wussin name with the Saaz Gewerbeverein.

I would be very grateful for help with two questions:

1. Can movement No. 565996 be traced in IWC production or delivery records, particularly to a retailer or destination?
2. Is there any documented connection between IWC and Carl Suchy & Söhne in Karlsbad, or are comparable IWC watches known with Suchy boxes?

Any information concerning Albert Wussin, Saaz, would also be very welcome.

I will attach photographs of the watch, movement, hallmarks, certificate and Carl Suchy box.

Many thanks for any help.

Knut Lehmann
Berlin, Germany
Private collector & provenance researcher

IWC records of this time do not allow to establish the retailer, who sold the watch, or the end customer. IWC sold its watches to wholesalers, which in turn sold them to retailers. IWC noted only the name of the wholesaler.

Until the end of WW I, and according the case and movement number given the watch was sold in about 1914, the Bohemian market was mainly supplied via wholesalers of Prussia (Preußen). As well some wholesalers with offices in Vienna were active in Bohemia. However it appears there market share was substantially lower than the marketshare of the Berlin wholesalers.

After WW I, when CZ became a new state of its own, new trade structures evolved. As part of this restructuring Carl Suchy & Sons became one of several wholesalers which distributed IWC.

No info here on the endcustomer with the initials AW/the entrepreneur you spotted.

Best regards

Th. Koenig